Black paint finish

[Bill Bianco]

I've started building a cabinet with poplar.   I wish to have a black gloss finish.  I'm not an experienced "finisher".  I don't see much in way of stains in black at the common home stores.   I have also been told that attempting to stain poplar black really won't work out.   I see one of the nice projects on the site, a kitchen bar, was finished with a high gloss black paint.      Would you agree that for a basic black finish to stay with a paint vs stain?   Also,  it would seem that in order to avoid brush strokes it might work to use a couple/three cans of spray paint e.g. Krylon.    But somehow my guts says don't try that.   Are there any strong opinions of do's or don't here?  thanks for your thoughts.

[Tim Grace]

I have tried a black stain for a small project. It worked Ok, but I wasn't looking for a high gloss on it.

I have sprayed a flat black (Mickey mouse band saw box) on pine using Rustoleum High Performance spray, and it worked better than I had anticipated, especially on pine with no seal coat below the paint.

Working with poplar I think I would sand to 320 grit. Raise the grain and lightly sand at 320 again. Use a good sealer (a couple of light coats of dewaxed shellac).  Scuff with scotch bright. Then lightly spray with your black paint. Use many light coats with a scuff between coats.

[Nick Rutter]

You could use an Ebony wood stain followed by a couple of coats of clear varnish. It would look mega.

Google "BLACK FRIARS", their wood stains are fantastic. 

You can use a beeswax instead of varnish too if you prefer.

Good luck.

[Ken Darga]

Zinsser makes very good products

1. Sealer

http://sevenspaint.com/docs/tds/Zin%20clear%20shellac.pdf

2. Primer-sealer

nothing is better at permanently blocking stains and wood knots

Works with any top coat.

https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/zinsser/p...

I use the primer-sealer on wood before applying the paint, 

so as to obtain a evenly finished top coat.

I sand using 220grit, before applying the primer-sealer.

Remove all sanding dust before applying the sealer.

Poplar is a porous material that is uneven in color.

Some areas of poplar is a greenish color.

Without a primer-sealer, you won't get an even finished color.

NOTE:  some black stains will not produce a evenly colored finished surface.

TOP COAT

Thin the 1st coat of paint with a 25% cut.

I want the first layer coat to be a thin film.

NOTE:  If spray painting, use a spray booth.

A simple suitable size spray booth can be a wall(s) of cardboard; such as a cardboard box from a large appliance, plastic drop cloth, or the like.

[Bill Bianco]

Thank you Tim, Nick and Ken.   Your input has certainly pointed out gaps in my knowledge.   With your input I think I should be able to get this at least 'pretty good'.    I'll probably post the project in about a month  (would like to get it sooner,  but playing in the garage  unfortunately is not my main occupation).

[Nick Rutter]

You're welcome Bill. practice on some off cuts, you'll soon get it mate,

Good luck, we look forward to the pics.

[Ken Darga]

Bill,

RE "Black stain"---it's like a "dye-like" material---

it will not cover the imperfections and color variations in poplar wood.

The variations will be visible when a varnish like material is applied over the black stain.

Beeswax---

is a paste-like material.

It's a waxy sticky substance.

I wouldn't use or recommend it, for your application.

The wax will attract and hold dust/dirt particles, 

and be difficult to maintain a clean-like surface.

Before using beeswax on your finished product,

make some sample test pieces, so as to see for yourself the problems you'll run into.

[Brian Johnson]

I recently had the same question regarding staining birch plywood a deep black color.

The research I did led me to try black leather dye. This dye in fact. https://amazon.com/Fiebings-USMC-Black-Leather-32oz/dp/B00AO6LRFW/r...

Worked wonderfully! The blackest black color I've ever used. Doesn't raise the grain. A little went a long way. Used a foam brush. Had no problem with overlap strokes showing up.

The pics are of an equatorial platform for a large telescope.

[Kirby Bradley]

Try a General Stain it works very well. It is available through Lee Valley in Canada, not sure where you are.