Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Stain for white oak?

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Expert: - 1/23/2009


Question
I am building a house and I am having white oak cabinets. I am wanting them stained a really dark brown with no red at all (maybe like an espresso color). My painter says that you cannot stain white oak a really dark color and the only way to get even close is to use a new alcohol stain that is really expensive. Is this true? Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Kasi, I wouldn't use Oak if you want a dark finish like this. It is true that you'll need a dye stain to get them dark, but Oak looks strange this dark, it's just not a natural color for it, and it is not easy to do. Alcohol dye stains are neither "new" or expensive....dye stains have been around for thousands of years, and modern ones are available in a waterbased or solvent (alc./Methanol) based formula. The problem is that stain alone will not give you an "Espresso" type finish, it will just give you dark stained Oak. These finishes are accomplished using a multi part finishing schedule utilizing, stain(s), Toners (colored clear coats), and catalyzed topcoats to produce a deep, rich,furniture grade finish. Some of these finishes can have 15 or more individual steps, and are typically not the realm of a painter. It takes experience, knowledge and the right materials to produce these types of clear finishes, and can't be achieved with stain and Poly. They are sprayed on in several different steps, and rubbed out to the final sheen. This is the realm of the Pro finisher, and this is who you would need to contact to get a professional finish of this type. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive to have a custom finish done, and you won't find anyone to do it on site, so this is typically why people order their cabinets factory finished. In the long run, it's cheaper, and the factories use state of the art facilities, materials, and techniques to produce a furniture grade finish that will be tough enough to last for 25+ years and meet the KMCA standards for durability. Here's a link that explains this type of finish, and some of the steps to achieve it, and two links for Dye stains...hope that helps- post back if need be- Greg

http://www.kraftmaid.com/doorsfinishes/index.cfm?navigationid=33900

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=7234

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=20491

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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