I’m building a cabinet/breakfast bar for our new backyard studio. I went shopping for red oak, but didn’t care for the stock I saw. For reasons I cannot explain, and fathom even less, I chose some very lovely hard white maple. It is behaving beautifully with machining, and like a dream under my smoothing planes. In its raw state, it is a stunning material. I’m using it for the Shaker door frames and drawer fronts, with prefinished birch plywood for the panels. All will be full overlay on the carcases.
Now the rub. I haven’t the first notion how to finish it. It is almost stark white, and it’s going into an entryway to the main room, which is filled with red oak pieces. Years ago I made a bunk bed for my kids from hard white maple and finished it with clear shellac. I didn’t mind the white look in that room. FYI, the counter will be birch butcher block.
So, what for the maple? I have a pound of orange flake shellac handed down from my brother-in-law, so I might try some different cuts on the many off cuts I have from this project. But after a cursory read through this forum, I’m hearing folks say shellac gives a surface color that could chip off, and does not penetrate into the wood. Should I also try some dyes on the scraps?
Should I keep it on the white side or substantially change the color?
The truth is that finishing in general just seems awfully time consuming. I’d like to get the cabinet in before this trip around the sun is over. (Read: looking for the lazy man’s option)