My wife has me making her a new headboard for our bedroom as well as a barn type sliding door going from our bedroom to the bath as it is just an open passthrough currently. She found a headboard online made from an old door and liked the idea, but trying to find an old solid wood door was very difficult, so I decided to make one. She also liked he idea of using old wood, so we went out to a recycled lumber place and picked up some reclaimed Douglas Fir that came out of a building that was constructed in the 1800's. It has a lot of character as well as spliters so it will require some careful sanding so that I don't injure myself as well as keeping the patina. Here is a cellphone photo in my garage. 

I want to keep the original colors and I don't want to put on stain or use a  film finish on it like Poly or Endurovar so I was chewing on an oil and wax finish but I have never done that. So what would you suggest?

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

Allen

Have you thought about tung oil? Once your done applying the coats, you can finish to any sheen you and the Mrs. prefer. Just a though.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

Thanks Wayne.

I posted this over on the Wood Mag forums and Steve the finishing guru chimed in with the possibility of the wood absorbing oil differently which could cause blotching. I had not thought about that and it makes sense especially with how dry this wood is. So I will shoot it with shellac and then do a few coats of thinned varnish wiped on.

Here is a photo of the headboard. The sliding door will be similar in design. I will be adding in a shelf and crown on the top as well as 2 sconces for lighting. It will be hung on the wall using cleats.

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

Allen

Looks great. Glad you got it worked out. Maybe post some finished photos too?

Best of luck with it.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.