Dangit, now what?

[ol Curt]

Put ash bed wood in and had decided on a blue stain and clear coat. Wife and son say the ash is too pretty to cover up with anything but clear!

Comments?

[Bears63]

Sorry Bob, but I have to agree with your wife and son. I think ash is a really beautiful wood as is, I would just seal it with a clear and leave it at that. But, it's still your truck and you have to do what you prefer.

[Pop's C-10]

clear...

[chevy_man5]

I like the Blue stain on there!

Maybe meet your wife and son in the middle, and lighten up the stain? A lighter blue might match your truck better too. More like a light blue tint to the clear? I don't know if that is possible.

It would look good either way though!

[Budman56]

either way it will look good, at the end of the day its all about what you want!!!!

[ol Curt]

Will a good clear coat sprayed on seal the wood up sufficiently?

[oem4me]

Meet in the middle and do something trick. First, use a sealer to regulate absorption, then use a blue colored grain filler to highlight the grain. Next, clean or sand the color off the surface, leaving the blue grain. Clear coat over that, and WOW!
Google "grain fillers" if you are not familiar with them, and always experiment with scrap first. Have fun.

[pdxhall]

It seems to me that the blue stain doesn't compliment the blue shade of your truck. If you're going with blue stain I think you should try a different hue. That said, I like oem4me's idea.

[Surfdaddy]

Natural ash is real pretty and you won’t have to worry about it fading. Clear coat it and everyone will say whoo that nice!

[jimmydean]

I say tint the clear with blue. But the ash does look very nice.

[OrrieG]

Clear it, that is nice wood.

[Woogeroo]

It's your truck, do it your way.

-W

some wood finish information from mar-k.

http://www.mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_i.html

http://www.mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.html

http://www.mar-k.com/final_summary.html

http://www.mar-k.com/june_2010_update.html

[Turkey]

stain it

[ol Curt]

Originally Posted by pdxhall

It seems to me that the blue stain doesn't compliment the blue shade of your truck. If you're going with blue stain I think you should try a different hue. That said, I like oem4me's idea.

i just felt like the light part of the wood matches the truck. the picture of the plank laying in the bed is a bit misleading in that one corner was brushed on and is darker and the bulk of the piece is wiped on.

[Alan's Classic]

The ash in my bed with clear Helsman it's an outdoor finish

[jocko]

i just drooled... Dang, Alan, that is gorgeous. Ok, so now I vote clear too....
I DO like the blue - but agree with pdx, not necessarily with light blue - I think it would look killer on a dark blue truck (personally).

I'm a little torn, like I said, I DO like the blue, and I do like the idea of thinking outside the box (get it...? Ha!) but since it's ash, it's so nice cleared it's hard to argue with that. If it were stock hard pine or even oak, the blue might be a better option, but ash is sweet!

Don't forget about lamppost black.... I never think of it as much of an option, but done right, it looks REALLY good (even if it is stock).

Having said all that, sometimes you have to go against the grain (get it...? I'm on a roll).
and follow your gut. If it's what YOU like, that's all that matters.

[ol Curt]

Well, as always, I have to say Alans looks fantastic!

[ol Curt]

Alan, is that the MinWax stuff? I think that is what I have. Is that just brushed on or sprayed?

[Alan's Classic]

Thanks guys

Originally Posted by ol Curt

Alan, is that the MinWax stuff? I think that is what I have. Is that just brushed on or sprayed?

I tried brushing with a bristle brush and didn't like it then sprayed it. Still had issues. I had several attempts and still not completely happy with it. It looks good in pics. Actually I'm being very picky over stuff most will never see. Yes, it is the minwax stuff. I should have tried a foam brush.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rich 5150 69]

I too like the natural, but could be swayed with the blue hue...glad its your call Curt...LOL either way your truck looks great!

[SS Tim]

I'd say go with the stained look. Been saving this picture for a while and I still like it.

[Alan's Classic]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

I'd say go with the stained look. Been saving this picture for a while and I still like it.

That's awesome.

[LSXTravis]

Holy Crap,

I never thought my days of being a guitar picker would lend me to saying this...I had a guitar made by Ed Roman guitars in Las Vegas about 10 yrs ago and I had it made in blueburst....it is a variation of the original stratocaster and les paul sunburst but it is absolutely gorgeous. Here is the link to check on the guitars that Ed has done in blueburst over the past 25-30 yrs. If you did your bed like this or each individual board then OMG how cool would that be??? Here is the link to his blueburst sunburst page....

http://www.edroman.com/customshop/color/sunburst.htm

If you like it great...if not well that is cool too!!!!

Travis

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Meet in the middle and do something trick. First, use a sealer to regulate absorption, then use a blue colored grain filler to highlight the grain. Next, clean or sand the color off the surface, leaving the blue grain. Clear coat over that, and WOW!
Google "grain fillers" if you are not familiar with them, and always experiment with scrap first. Have fun.

I was going to say clear until I saw this......I have to agree, this would look sick!

[ol Curt]

I have been saving the same pic!! I thought the light tones in the board really pick up the light blue of my truck. I felt if I could get several clear coats on top of it and buff it out, it would give some depth to the finish.