Replies

1. 
   ScottMatson | Dec 16, 2004 02:27am | #1

   Hey Bruce,

   I'm doing a cedar ceiling right now. I used Watco oil, natural finish, and it looks great. All it changed was to darken the tone of the cedar a little but it brought out the grain figure and offers an element of protection as well. I like oil because it's a wipe on, quick way to go, almost no cleanup--just as simple as you can get. On a ceiling you obviously don't need a hard shell finish, so for me oil is a no brainer.

   That's my vote,

   Dog

1. 
   jimblodgett | Dec 16, 2004 04:38am | #2

   Hey Scott, is that you?

   Bruce - I'm doing a cedar ceiling in a kitchen and greatroom next week and I sprayed it one coat with a sanding sealer then a second coat of satin poly - water based.

   I don't like to leave cedar unfinished because it gets real flat looking after a few years.  And I don't like oils because of the noxious fumes they emit as they dry. 

   I was pleasantly surprised at how that waterborne finish brought out the highlights of the grain without darkening the background colors in the boards.  These are all second growth WRC, so they are pretty light, virtually none of that real dark cedar you get with old growth.  And the house I'm working on is really small, so I was affraid of getting too dark, making the place seem smaller yet.  I guess the approporiate look depends on several factors, really.

   You installing that 1x4 planed side showing, or rough?  Is it band sawn? 

1. 
   BruceM16 | Dec 16, 2004 08:36am | #3

   Dog & Jim

   Now this is interesting......

   My impulse is to go with MadDog and do the Watco. Ok, Cedar is thirsty and will suck up a bunch of oil, but the original wood will remain intact.

   And then along comes Jim, who says over those years ahead, the wood will flatten out and lose that 3 dimensional look that we all love in new cedar and Redwood. So seal it and cover it.

   Hmmmmmmm.

   And Jim....on the Oregon Coast (home of Western Red Cedar), you get your 1 X (whatever) with a finished side and a rough sawn side from the local mills. I used rough sawn outside and will use the finished side on the inside.

   Now, I need to digest these thoughts on Cedar finish.

   Any other thoughts?

   Thanks for the optinions

   BruceM

1. 
   zendo | Dec 16, 2004 05:36pm | #4

   Bruce I cant vouch for the oil, but I do use waterborne on many wood interiors.  The second coat is killer, and so on.  You would be surprised how much it brings out the color even in pine.  Do some tests.  Couple of companies I have used- Minwax Polycrylic, and Ben Moore StaysClear. 

   The only thing about the oil is will the dust and smoke over the years attach to the oiled surface and make your problem worse?  Just a thought.  Even if you dont have a wood stove, candles and other emissions produce offgas, even from the basement.  This may have something to do with the flattening. 

   For the big shine, I have heard a lot of guys in Knots using lacquer on ceilings to keep the wood from darkening.  They were talking about it a week or two ago.

   Oh and if you use waterborne, read the directions.  Everyone assumes it is safe, but you have to pick your illness.  Oil causes central nervous system damage, water causes reproductive problems.  The fumes from either up at ceiling level are intense even with a brush. Work safe. 

   Im sure any will look great.

    

    

2. 
   woodguy99 | Dec 16, 2004 06:07pm | #5

   I would second Jim on the waterborne poly.  Won't darken over time, and Watco or other oils (or oil-based poly) might make the wood darker than you would want. 

   On exterior VGR Cedar ceilings I have noticed fingerprints and even footprints show up after a year or two on unfinished surfaces, so I would sand the cedar and get at least one coat of finish on (spray it, if you have the resources) before installation.

2. 
   ScottMatson | Dec 18, 2004 01:38am | #7

   Hey Jim,Yes, it is me. Good to see you man. Good tip on the poly--I'm not a big poly guy in the first place but sounds like you've done well with it. One reason I chose oil was I was definitely not worried about it darkening the wood, because that is kind of how I wanted it to turn out anyway, but that was worth mentioning. So far it looks good.
   Out,Dog

2. 
   MGMaxwell | Dec 16, 2004 07:05pm | #6

   Check the Penofin website and look at their interior finishes, stains, and clear finishes.

   Depending where you live might make you want to think twice about using the rough side out. In bug ridden Florida, I've got a million spider webs that are impossible to remove from my cedar T&G.

3. 
   NickNukeEm | Dec 18, 2004 01:46am | #8

   Finished a sunroom interior with redwood t&g paneling.  Finished the paneling with Watco Danish oil.  Needs a new coat every so often, moreso if exposed to UV.

    

   I never met a tool I didn't like!