Douglas Fir door dilemma

[Cocobolove]

Hey, this is my first thread so bare with me while I learn the site please.

I am currently TRYING to finish a douglas fir 6 panel exterior door. I stained it with a dark mahogany colored stain, now I am having a LOT of trouble getting my polyurethane to come out right. I just got done with a mahogany door, and it turned out perfect. As far as I know I did everything the same, except for the stain. Obviously I didn't stain the mahogany. I am using Minwax high gloss polyurethane, (same as other door) and the best finish I can get is about like 80 grit sandpaper. Please if anyone has any suggestions, please help. I am almost to the point of sanding it all the way back down and starting over from bare wood.

Thanks, Matt

[Don]

Hey, Matt. I'm sure others will chime in here as well. Without seeing your doors I'm going to simply guess that the fir door, which is a softwood, is simply suffering having it's grain raised. I don't know what you used for a stain, but if it was water based then there's your answer. The mahogany door didn't do that because it's, well, mahogany -a hardwood. Different woods react differently.

Read the directions on your urethane. Hopefully the material can be lightly sanded and re-coated after an adequate drying interval. On softwoods such as this your best plan of action is a good sanding and cleaning job followed by a good quality thick oil wiping stain (I don't like minwax) then a coat or two of sanding sealer, then your topcoat. The finish will then be like glass.

Your problem now may be that in order to get the door as smooth as you would like you might compromise your stain work.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

All the best, Don

[Cocobolove]

Thanks man, I'll give it a shot. If it don't work I might need a shot though:)