J M O N Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 So I picked up Cornman's Jubilees as you may have seen in the Garage sale section. The bass bins have an unfinished wood veneer panel on the front. I would like to finish that wood panel before I set up the Jubilees as their home will be on the second floor and I don't want to move them between floors more than once. As I have several other Klipsch speakers in walnut oiled finish, I think I would like to get close to that color. Cornman was not sure what the wood veneer was but it may be raw birch and it does look like that to me. I'm looking for stain suggestions that would get this unfinished wood to approach the color of the Klipsch walnut oil finish. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I know you didnt ask for my opinion... but staianing that rawness would be a sin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J M O N Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 I know you didnt ask for my opinion... but staianing that rawness would be a sin. Father please forgive me for I will be sinning... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Lol... you'll find a good resolution here. Just about everything has been done at one time or another. What about a layer of veneer? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zim. Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 x 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J M O N Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share Posted October 25, 2015 I've heard of difficulties with birch so I will need to confirm if it is birch or not. Unfortunately, it does look a lot like birch. Veneer will probably have to be the next step if staining doesn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted October 25, 2015 Moderators Share Posted October 25, 2015 Do you have some photos. The Jubes at the time that Cornman ordered his came either all birch, or could could have it come with a finished veneer center panel, in Walnut, Cherry, and I am not sure what else. There are more than a few folks on here that have gotten Jubes with that veneer panel. It sounds like raw birch to me. Are the backs painted black, or is it all raw? The other thing that people do is make grills for those front openings, and I am sure you have seen photos of those before. If someone can post Khorn decorators that were stained that will give you a good idea of what it will look like stained. The ones I have seen in a darker stain came out looking great. Travis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I know you didnt ask for my opinion... but staianing that rawness would be a sin. but at least the stain isn’t from a potted plant sitting on top of the speakers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I agree on the birch issues. The only time I have seen a stain work well enough on birch is a very dark stain, past the walnut stage. I'll try to take a picture that shows this but don't hold your breath due to my lack of a decent camera and transference skills. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J M O N Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share Posted October 25, 2015 Do you have some photos. The Jubes at the time that Cornman ordered his came either all birch, or could could have it come with a finished veneer center panel, in Walnut, Cherry, and I am not sure what else. There are more than a few folks on here that have gotten Jubes with that veneer panel. It sounds like raw birch to me. Are the backs painted black, or is it all raw? The other thing that people do is make grills for those front openings, and I am sure you have seen photos of those before. If someone can post Khorn decorators that were stained that will give you a good idea of what it will look like stained. The ones I have seen in a darker stain came out looking great. Travis Photos can be found from Cornman's orignal ad in the garage sale section (links below). He couldn't remember if he orderd birch or something else but it does look like birch to me. Other than the front panel, the rest is black. https://community.klipsch.com/uploads/monthly_10_2015/post-18394-0-41340000-1443893163.jpg https://community.klipsch.com/uploads/monthly_10_2015/post-18394-0-68980000-1443893195.jpg https://community.klipsch.com/uploads/monthly_10_2015/post-18394-0-59980000-1443893222.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Photos can be found from Cornman's orignal ad in the garage sale section (links below). He couldn't remember if he orderd birch or something else but it does look like birch to me. It sure looks like birch to me also. Very tough to get an even stain unless you want to go very dark. Bill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 http://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/staining-wood/how-to-stain-wood-evenly-without-getting-blotches-and-dark-spots/print 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I think absent ordering a different front panel, the default would in fact be birch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 This is raw birch, with a sealer, Min-Wax professional red mahogany stain and water-based satin polyurethane finish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Birch can be a bit uneven in accepting stain unless prepped. Try this before applying stain, I have used it on birch plywood with nice results. http://www.rockler.com/general-finishes-pre-stain-wood-conditioner 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Very nice work John. Good to hear from you and see your work. John was at the first pilgrimage and came on a Ducati (?). WMcD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanm84 Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Color is one thing, grain is another. Walnut veneer might be a good way to go. That way you get both color and possibly a little grain match. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 (edited) Hi, Gil!! LOL! I flew to Hope for the first one, but rode my Triumph to the first one in Indy. Still have the Duc, I don't ride it a lot, but I can't bear to sell it. It's time for another long road trip on the Concours14, got the jones going on. Edited October 30, 2015 by John Albright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenarrow Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 That looks like birch or maple due to the lack of grain... Tough to stain as mentioned... very un-even absorption especially the thin plywood layer you'd be dealing with... On the other hand: Oiled birch ages VERY well; it gets a little darker and warmer year after year... If you want Walnut -- Use Walnut. It's not that expensive or hard to do one large, flat surface. Let's face it, those speakers are awesome and you'll be staring at them for years: do it right the first time and feel good about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Buy a few sheets of 1/4" veneered walnut ply (or particle core which actually takes the veneer better). Easy enough to cut out and put on the fronts. Take the extra materials and build nice looking "picture frames" for the bog ole horns. Finally, make some grills and cover the sides of the bass bins in a nice fabric. You will have a beautiful pair of speakers and be out of pocket maybe $100 or a little more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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