Post #489577 by AlohaStation on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 7:31 AM

Stain soaks into Palm - there's no sanding it off once applied. If you want, I often save most sanding till after I apply poly. The poly "glues" the fibers of the Palm (especially the Sabal palm I have used lately) together and allows you to get a smoother finish. I have found that 3 naturalish colors are easy to create with the palm...
First is natural - the wood looks very white till coated, then it has a rich yellow/brown tone.
Second is stained (darker colors have a better effect).
Third is burnt or painted black.
*Four is to leave the wood completely natural for a more dull white. Eventually it will turn gray, especially if left in the elements.

Palm is very porous and will absorb whatever you put on it, affecting the color. Experiment before diving in. When finished and sanded Palm has a beautiful look and feel.