Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/stain

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Expert: - 2/17/2010


Question

wood sample
My husband is building a bathroom vanity for my daughter and she wants the stain to be a black brown colour. I tried a dark stain and found that the grain is nice and dark, but the rest of the oak is much lighter. Should we use a solid stain to achieve the look she wants.

Answer
Hi Sylvia, Oak is so hard that it won't soak up a typical oil stain...a dye stain is what you should try..my guess is she's describing "coffee" or "espresso" type finish, and these are done with dye staining and 'toning' techniques (spraying colored clears),it isn't possible to do these with an oil stain.You can get a nice effect with a coat or two of General dye stain and then use a Gel stain over that, then a good Exterior clear Urethane.Hope that helps- post back if need be. Regards- Greg
http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2020491/General-Finishes-Water-Based-Dyes-.aspx

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2005555/GENERAL-Gel-Top-Coat-and-Stains.aspx

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020362/22040/Exterior-450-Semi-Gloss-Finish-Qu...

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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