New Pipe Rack Build Need Opinions On Finish

[missionpipe]

Just completed my latest pipe rack project and am getting ready for finish:

The finish will be hand-rubbed, but I'm not sure to go light, dark, or in between. I'm angling toward a light red/mahogany like my last:

but I tend to get hooked on one color for multiple projects.
The rack is solid red oak. Any opinions on color/shades and what would look good with your pipes?
Thanks,

Paul

 

[jkrug]

That colour looks great on your first rack and I think it will look excellent on your new rack too. Nice job on both racks by the way. Look forward to seeing #2 finished. ::

 

[dadgy]

There's some lovely grain there, and you've built it well it appears. I'd go with a nice light blonde and a high gloss varnish to show it off. Anything but a dark stain.

 

[deathmetal]

I favor the lighter colors. The world is dark enough without darkening our wood objects to match.

 

[tarheel1]

I am sure it will look great whatever stain you use, but my preference would be for a bit darker cherry or mahogany than your last one.

 

[mcitinner1]

Golden Oak!

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I think a lighter stain will really make that grain pop.

 

[clickklick]

I second the golden blonde!

 

[cossackjack]

A little different - a green stain, shaded somewhere between Hunter green & Olive.

Green offsets the colors of most pipes & stems.

 

[ericthered]

This might not be doable if it's already assembled, but looking at the unfinished pic made me wonder what it would look like "two-toned". Like the pipe-rest pieces a blonde/natural finish and the rest a caramel/medium brown? I have very little experience with wood-working/finishing, but that's just what jumped to mind looking at the pic.

 

[averagegent]

A lighter stain would really work with that, what a beauty! Just make sure to show us when it's finished!

 

[danielplainview]

Nice craftsmanship! Anyway you decide to stain that will look great.

 

[dmcmtk]

I like it, nice wood. I would also try to keep it as light as possible, or natural. Whatever finish you use, even without any stain is going to bring up the color of the wood. Time to do some tests on some scrap pieces...

 

[dochudson]

I like a nice white-wash type stain

 

[coffinmaker]

Is that white oak?

 

[mso489]

I had a Two Cousins gift certificate translated into a pipe stand with "old barn wood with weathered-looking red paint." They gave me my choice between that finished product and a more conventional version, but I love the old barn wood look. It's not everyone's desire, but it is a good option for some. When I said I'd take the old barn wood look, the Two Cousins people said that they'd choose the same one.

 

[ejames]

There's some lovely grain there, and you've built it well it appears. I'd go with a nice light blonde and a high gloss varnish to show it off. Anything but a dark stain.

Golden Oak!

+1

 

[missionpipe]

Thanks for all your opinions and kind words. I am finishing the rack now and will post some pictures as soon as possible. As for the colors:
Golden Oak - I really like Golden Oak and light finishes in general. My desk is golden oak, as are the oak panels above my fireplace mantel. As I plan on placing the rack on the mantel, I think I need something a little darker to offset.
I really liked deathmetal’s comment on light colors: “I favor the lighter colors. The world is dark enough without darkening our wood objects to match.” I never thought about it that way, but maybe that’s why, generally, I favor light wood over dark.
Green Stain and Two-Toned – I really wish I had thought (or asked) of both of these before assembly! I think a green stained (or painted) interior, or just back and rest, and the remaining a light or natural would look terrific. I can’t figure out a way to do this now without the colors bleeding into the adjoining parts. I’ll just have to keep building.
Barn wood – I’m always on the lookout for barn wood and have experimented with various methods for aging wood. I think I will do a project with this finish, but I’ll use a softer wood, like pine or cedar. Better yet, maybe I’ll find enough actual barn wood.
mso489, I would love to see your barn wood finished rack. Can you post a few pictures?
White wash – Funny you should mention that, my last project was whitewash over a gray stain, to fit in with a Florida décor. Like the barn wood, I used a softer wood.
mso489, I would love to see your barn wood finished rack. Can you post a few pictures?
I’m thinking of a low-slung, 7 pipe (rotation) mantel piece for my next project. It probably won’t be as deep, so a dark color made be in order.
Thanks again for all your help!