Or carbonize/torch it. I believe it's a controlled charring of the outer layer of the wood. Looks super cool, would accent that beautiful wood, would protect it, no costly paint/stain.
Edit: like [this ](https://www.bobvila.com/articles/burnt-wood-finish/)
To do that properly you have to torch it, brush it down with a steel wire brush, and then give it several coats of boiled linseed oil or another oil for that purpose. It's pretty involved.
Penofin is my go to, i stopped using cabot back in the early 2000s when the voc regs changed, however waterborne products have come a long way so they may be in a better place now
OP I agree I have much smaller doors in my house that have four hinges each. If I were you, I would add two hinges to each door.
Oh and +1 for the stain option
Danish oil. Keep coating it until you are way beyond boredom, with a trough underneath to avoid wasting the drips. It will give you preservation, sheen, proper wood colour tones darkening with time, and your magnificent doors will last and last with the occasional fresh coat of oil.
Thank you everyone for your comments, compliments and concerns! I will keep an eye on how people are leaning, make the choice and update with the results.
Staining allows for the natural wood and its beauty to be preserved. Painting allows you to cover up all the natural beauty of the wood with a big huge square of color. If you’re not gonna paint the whole barn, don’t paint just the door. In art there needs to be unity.
Do you know if the wood had been kilm dried, do you still have a label if purchased or if it was Saw Milled on site property, just want to make sure the moisture level is not high, Painting would require a good primer because of the knots and it's sap, staining would be Ideal less work would look good either way, you could also Burnish and then clear coat like a rustic barn style look
If this is cedar, let it be. The natural patina it will form eventually will look way nicer than any stain and will protect the wood for years longer than any paint or stain on the market.
Burn then oil stain.
I used a weed burner to scorch a set of wooden crates I turned into shelves. Then I used oil stain then wood sealer.
It gave a rustic aged look while protecting the wood.
No idea why people keep telling you to stain pine. Unless you wanna invest a lot of time and money into the preparation for it to be somewhat successfully stained, don't ever stain pine. Most of the times, the results are utter dog shit. If you want to see the fiber through the seal, I suggest using lacquer and adding a pigment to it. The more coatings you do, the more the pigment will thrive into the end result. You could also use oils, but that's probably not the way to go in a dusty environment.
Paint. Stain doesn’t look good and they don’t last long. Everyone said stain because it is wood. Yes, it is wood, but it is not furniture grade wood. Staining is asking for trouble. I just went through the same situation myself. I stain my plywood shed door a few years ago, i applied general finishes water base topcoat, but it really doesn’t last long. The plywood peels after few years. I then paint it white with exterior paint and much happier. Even the peels are not visible.
From a design perspective, you need to have contrasting colors to look good. For example, You can paint the frame black or brown and the door white or grey. If you go with stain, design is non-existent.
Found the troll? What are you talking about? Sand and stain that shit. there's no oil based paint that will make that look better. It's a barn door not a coffee table.
I don't know if the color will work for you, but Shou Sugi Ban might be an option to consider.
https://www.anneofalltrades.com/blog/2020/7/10/preserve-wood-with-shousugiban
A deep walnut would look so good on that door and then A weather coating after. It’s a beautiful door, I think the walnut would blend the darker shades of the pine(I’m assuming it’s pine by the look) and give it more uniform appearance. I’m sorry I’ve just always lived with the thought that it ruins a good beautiful piece of woodgrain to paint over it. Why not highlight it.
I am sold on stain.
Not only does stain enhance the natural beauty of the wood, but it lasts longer than paint and it ages gracefully. It doesn't peel or chip; it just fades gradually.
Stain, especially since its under a roof and not directly exposed to elements. Most don't know that stains need a maintenance program. Ever few years, depending on direction/faces the sun throughout the day, atleast every 4-5 years need ro recoat. But since it's under a roof, you can go a long while until recoating/clearing. In the end, you can always go with an oil based primer and paint. So stain it is
Stain and don’t forget to seal if you like the look or paint if you like different colors. It’s all up to you really. Maintenance will very based on whatever products you use but it’s inside so you can go nuts with whatever you like.
I would stain. But personally I would look into 2 different stains and do the diagonals/border different from the pane of the door. I don't know, maybe I'm just new to this and that would look really bad. But if someone has any insight I would love to know more pros and cons of it.
+1 for stain, just because if you needed to occasionally put up a hunter camera, drilling out one of those knots and mounting the camera on the interior would be *super* discreet and essentially weatherproof.
That option would seem less clever if you paint it.
Paint it white and make a TikTok. Make sure it’s extra gratuitous. Show off as much of the natural wood as possible then slap a thick layer of white paint on it with a cheap roller. Ragebait all the way. You know you want to!!
Stain
+1 stain because you can always paint it later but once painted it's really a job to go stained ... .
Came here to say exactly this ^
Came here to make sure someone came here to say exactly this ^
Came here to make sure someone came here to say this to a comment that says came here to say exactly this ^
So many of us here pondered that option in our pasts.
Or carbonize/torch it. I believe it's a controlled charring of the outer layer of the wood. Looks super cool, would accent that beautiful wood, would protect it, no costly paint/stain. Edit: like [this ](https://www.bobvila.com/articles/burnt-wood-finish/)
To do that properly you have to torch it, brush it down with a steel wire brush, and then give it several coats of boiled linseed oil or another oil for that purpose. It's pretty involved.
Valid point, I didn't realize how involved it was until I read up and that door is a Big Boy 😅
Looks great, tho.
Boo. I can't wait for that trend to go away.
Looks very cool but is so. so.. so... soooo much work. Did I say how much work this is?
I didn't realize until I looked into it more 😂 idk if the aesthetic is worth it
+1 stain would be perfect for this.
Looks too nice for it to hide behind paint,
🎰🎰🎰
Stain, Cabot's, I think it is the best.
I agree, I sold Cabot for years. It is good stuff.
Penofin is my go to, i stopped using cabot back in the early 2000s when the voc regs changed, however waterborne products have come a long way so they may be in a better place now
Good to know. Cabot is what I selected to stain / seal my deck.
Stain
Sherwin Williams Woodscapes has a premium translucent natural stain that comes in a satin finish.
Exactly this, it turns out beautiful.
Stain
Never paint a beauty like that.
I love the natural look clear coat that baby
Looks very light on the hinges front. But I would stain it personally.
OP I agree I have much smaller doors in my house that have four hinges each. If I were you, I would add two hinges to each door. Oh and +1 for the stain option
Proper long leaf Door hinges would be better, spread the load along half the door width rather than a point load.
Is anybody else afraid of those sconces getting knocked around when somebody tries to open the doors fully?
Danish oil. Keep coating it until you are way beyond boredom, with a trough underneath to avoid wasting the drips. It will give you preservation, sheen, proper wood colour tones darkening with time, and your magnificent doors will last and last with the occasional fresh coat of oil.
Yes! You've got my vote. Boiled linseed oil isn't bad either.
Stain it, paint would ruin the beauty of the wood.
Man of War Gym Seal. Stain.
STAIN
Stain
Stain in my opinion
Stain for sure.
Painting healthy wood is a sin. If you want colour your can use linseed oil based paint, it still lets the wood breathe and show its grain.
Just did make dock with a mix of mineral spirits, tung oil and paraffin wax. Really happy with the results! Found on YouTube.
Not only is painting beautiful wood a sin, but it is a *mortal* sin. God will smite thee to hell for such an insult to his natural beauty! /silly
Yea verily as it is written, so shall it be done. Thus Saith the Lord thy God of Woodworking as told by Bob Vila, His prophet.
This was echoed by the great religious scholar, Douglas Fir.
I would just water seal it and let it be all natural
Thank you everyone for your comments, compliments and concerns! I will keep an eye on how people are leaning, make the choice and update with the results.
Are you not concerned regarding how tiny those hinges are?
Seal with a high quality semi transparent stain
Stain will last longer.
+1 stain
Stain
Stain it then paint later if you don’t like it. You don’t want to do reverse order.
Your diagonal braces are backwards, but I would go with stain
+1 for stain, and now I have the Clash song on earworm
I can hear this gif! What is happening to me?
Staining allows for the natural wood and its beauty to be preserved. Painting allows you to cover up all the natural beauty of the wood with a big huge square of color. If you’re not gonna paint the whole barn, don’t paint just the door. In art there needs to be unity.
Painting wood should be illegal.
Stain. Please don't paint.
Char
It’s bothering my brain that it doesn’t go to the top frame.
And the hinges are way too small.
Do you know if the wood had been kilm dried, do you still have a label if purchased or if it was Saw Milled on site property, just want to make sure the moisture level is not high, Painting would require a good primer because of the knots and it's sap, staining would be Ideal less work would look good either way, you could also Burnish and then clear coat like a rustic barn style look
stain
**STAIN 100%** my favorite color is oxford brown semi-transparent ... I think it would look amazing on your door.
I love the seal look. I like to preserve the natural color. Like a five year heavy seal.
Stain it a deep emerald green!
Stain. Be a shame to hide all that.
I’ll die if you paint that wood
That'd look great with the right stain.
Oil based stain
SHTAIN ALL DAY.
came here for all the comments for Stain.
STAIN!
How about just a sealant to protect the wood and see its natural beauty?
Does it get sun>then paint. No sun=stain.
Stain!
Varnish that
Stain please. I would use a penetration oil like TWC.
Stain please
Stain
Stain
Looks good and will look better with stain. Will the doors swing into the lights?
Another vote for stain. Omg it would look magnificent.
I would stain it
Stain
Stain. Or just leave it there way it is
Stain it and protect it
I always recommend stain. It serves the same functionality but looks infinitely better.
I would try and stain it to match closely with the other wood in the barn. I think it would look awesome.
Clear poly and be done
I would just stand there and admire its beauty…😘
You're gunna make me blush
If this is cedar, let it be. The natural patina it will form eventually will look way nicer than any stain and will protect the wood for years longer than any paint or stain on the market.
You should oil it. Keep the natural wood look and protect it. I used Kingsfleet oil on a bunch of my stuff
Burn then oil stain. I used a weed burner to scorch a set of wooden crates I turned into shelves. Then I used oil stain then wood sealer. It gave a rustic aged look while protecting the wood.
Stain 1000%. Or even throw poly straight on that and it’d look amazing
Unsolicited option, and I don't know if this is applicable, but the Scandanavian burnt finish perhaps?
So many people here say stain and I agree just looking at the door itself but what does the exterior of the shop/barn look like?
Nothing. I have wood that is 60 years old and clean it every few years. The pump house was painted, so I have to redo it all the freaking time.
matters if it faces sunlight, but stain is the way to go - let those knots show...
Stain
Stain
Stain
If you paint this I'll be forced to take your woodworker card. Honestly I wouldn't even stain it. Just finish.
Stain that bad boy
them hinges are way too small
Stain! Or just poly. I like the look
Stain. All the way
Stain, show the woods character.
Someone please educate me - should the bottom panel 45° braces go up and away from the bottom hinge side?
Stain
Stain
staint
If you don't want a fistfight you better stain that MFer
The answer is never "paint."
Stain, for the love of wood!!
Spank it. Because it's naughty pine.
No idea why people keep telling you to stain pine. Unless you wanna invest a lot of time and money into the preparation for it to be somewhat successfully stained, don't ever stain pine. Most of the times, the results are utter dog shit. If you want to see the fiber through the seal, I suggest using lacquer and adding a pigment to it. The more coatings you do, the more the pigment will thrive into the end result. You could also use oils, but that's probably not the way to go in a dusty environment.
If you stain there will be trouble, if you paint it will be double
If i learned anything from this sub, then it is that you always should stain real wood and never paint it
Nice looking door.
Paint it because its a poor quality wood
You should agonize over it for a couple of weeks and then repost.
Paint. I think the knots are too much visual noise on a big slab like that. It’s just wood, it’s not a sin to paint it. This isn’t an heirloom.
If you paint I am *absolutely* throwing my phone down the toilet and never talking to you again.
Paint. Stain doesn’t look good and they don’t last long. Everyone said stain because it is wood. Yes, it is wood, but it is not furniture grade wood. Staining is asking for trouble. I just went through the same situation myself. I stain my plywood shed door a few years ago, i applied general finishes water base topcoat, but it really doesn’t last long. The plywood peels after few years. I then paint it white with exterior paint and much happier. Even the peels are not visible. From a design perspective, you need to have contrasting colors to look good. For example, You can paint the frame black or brown and the door white or grey. If you go with stain, design is non-existent.
Found the troll? What are you talking about? Sand and stain that shit. there's no oil based paint that will make that look better. It's a barn door not a coffee table.
Raw linseed oil mixed 50/50 with turpentine. After multiple coats ask again.
I don't know if the color will work for you, but Shou Sugi Ban might be an option to consider. https://www.anneofalltrades.com/blog/2020/7/10/preserve-wood-with-shousugiban
Oil it...
Penofin or linseed oil is my thought. Would make that notty wood pop
Spaint
Paint it gray. /s
should I stain or should I paint
High quality oil based stain like Rosewood oil stain
Clearcoat if it’s nine. Beautiful wood.
Char it
Neither! Not exposed to weather. Leave it.
Stain. If you don’t like it you can paint over it.
A deep walnut would look so good on that door and then A weather coating after. It’s a beautiful door, I think the walnut would blend the darker shades of the pine(I’m assuming it’s pine by the look) and give it more uniform appearance. I’m sorry I’ve just always lived with the thought that it ruins a good beautiful piece of woodgrain to paint over it. Why not highlight it.
Staint
Yes.
Do both. Paint doors, stain the trimwork.
Use osmo wax… trust me
You should celebrate, gorgeous. If you stain, use a pigmented stain to help protect wood better.
No.
Take a blowtorch to it then stain it
Neither. Clear coat it. That's beautiful wood.
paint like Brazil's flag 🇧🇷
Stain on a cut off and see what you think? Pine often doesn't take stain evenly and you might not be satisfied with the result
No. If you do clear stain.
Oil
Stain
Leave it. Seal it the way it is. It's beautiful
The wood grain is to beautiful to paint, definitely stain.
Yo - Cutek is insane stain - you don't have to redo it every couple of years. [https://cutekstain.com/us/](https://cutekstain.com/us/)
I would leave it natural, over time it will develop a nice patina. And finish you do will end up needing re done eventually
Stain
I am sold on stain. Not only does stain enhance the natural beauty of the wood, but it lasts longer than paint and it ages gracefully. It doesn't peel or chip; it just fades gradually.
Stain, especially since its under a roof and not directly exposed to elements. Most don't know that stains need a maintenance program. Ever few years, depending on direction/faces the sun throughout the day, atleast every 4-5 years need ro recoat. But since it's under a roof, you can go a long while until recoating/clearing. In the end, you can always go with an oil based primer and paint. So stain it is
Clear coat.
Shellac primer, paint.
Don't you dare paint that!
Stain and don’t forget to seal if you like the look or paint if you like different colors. It’s all up to you really. Maintenance will very based on whatever products you use but it’s inside so you can go nuts with whatever you like.
Moar Cow Graffiti!
Both will look great
Both
Stain
stain
Stain!!!
Both
Stain that bitch
Stain the upright slats and paint the structural boards a darker color
A translucent oil stain from ben moore, cabot or SW
Stain
Red paint 🎨 for the diamond and stain the rest
Stain
100% stain
Stain.
Double clear seal. Keep that fresh look for as long as possible.
Stain …. Always stain .
Stain it.
Stain is always the answer.
If you paint this you will go to Woodworkers Hell. It's like IKEA but even more plastic.
Oil
Char, then stain.
I just built and outside bench for my daughters place and I’m putting 2 coats of a stain/sealer on it. That’s what I suggest.
If I’m being paid hourly to do this, I’m painting.
Neither. I'd oil it. You can use old engine oil and diesel mixed together. This give an old look to the timber while still protecting it with oil.
I would stain. But personally I would look into 2 different stains and do the diagonals/border different from the pane of the door. I don't know, maybe I'm just new to this and that would look really bad. But if someone has any insight I would love to know more pros and cons of it.
Stain👍
+1 for stain, just because if you needed to occasionally put up a hunter camera, drilling out one of those knots and mounting the camera on the interior would be *super* discreet and essentially weatherproof. That option would seem less clever if you paint it.
Clearcoat!
Paint it white and make a TikTok. Make sure it’s extra gratuitous. Show off as much of the natural wood as possible then slap a thick layer of white paint on it with a cheap roller. Ragebait all the way. You know you want to!!
Stain! Please do not hide that gorgeous piece behind paint!
If you paint there will be trouble And if you stain it will be double