Steel Door Fix-Up
It's easy to give your plain steel doors the look of rich wood. An inexpensive wood-graining tool and a heavy-bodied wood stain are the keys to this decorative-finish technique. You can apply the finish while the door is on its hinges, but it's easier if you remove the door and lay it on padded sawhorses.
Rate your skill- Suitable for beginners, though experience with decorative paint finishes is helpful. First, practice your wood-graining technique on a painted metal or wood surface.
- Cost: Less than $30.
- Mineral spirits; wood stain; polyurethane
- Lint-free cloths; masking tape; wood-graining tool (available at hardware stores and home centers); paintbrush
Steel doors usually come primed white, gray, or tan. If your door is colored, apply a neutral base coat and let dry. Mask off glass and remove all hardware. Wipe the door with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits.
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Step-by-Step
While the instructions are for a steel door, it appears as though the artisan is working with a wood door. I would love to do this technique if mine and tpruitt (above) questions were resolved. Love this website! Dot
6/8/2011 02:16:55 PM Report AbuseYou missed instructions in step 3 - it appears another color was applied over the "graining" technique - before the polyurethaning. Otherwise, this would have been a VERY helpful article for my current needs.
10/26/2009 01:57:30 PM Report Abuse