Replies

1. 
   Tao | Feb 14, 2004 01:30am | #1

   Maple doesn't take pigmented stains well at all.  Best thing would be to use a dye stain under the pigmented stain.  Also, if you stop sanding at 150 to 180 grit, the wood will take pigmented stain better.

   I would recommend Transtints from http://www.Homesteadfinishing.com

   Michael R.

   
   

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   Edited 2/13/2004 5:31:39 PM ET by Woodwiz

2. 
   bill_1010 | Feb 14, 2004 02:36am | #2

   ON top of woodwiz's post, gel stains are designed to limit or reduce penetration on woods.   Gels are great for blotchy wood. But a wood like maple thats difuse porous and dense to boot, would make the gel even harder to perform its staining duty.

3. 
   RANGERP75R | Feb 14, 2004 03:15am | #3

   kelly

      Ditto W Wiz and WmP.. My first thought when I read your post was gel stain is designed to sit on top instead of really penetrate. On woods as pine, poplar, cherry, etc. that is a good thing. On maple, not so good.

      To mimic what has already been said about sanding grits, I wouldn't go past 150 on maple. Even 220 can burnish the surface and close the pores even more. That just adds to the stain coming up lighter. As said, dye stain is probably the ticket here.

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

4. 
   CharlieP | Feb 14, 2004 05:52am | #4

   I agree with the advice already given.  But if I had already bought the blue stain, here is what I woud try...

   Sometimes with maple, I sand to 220 or so, to get that wonderful satin feeling.  Then I go over the maple lightly with something rough, like 120 or 150.  That doesn't destroy the overall feeling, but it does open the wood enough to hold the stain.  After the stain and first finish coat, another fine sanding will take you back to that wonderful feeling again, leaving the darker stain in place. 

   Remember that dye is very small color molecules that go into the wood, while stain are relatively huge molecules that catch in the cracks and surface.  Hence the sanding trick, to give more places for the stain to "catch." 

   ________________________
   Charlie Plesums  Austin, Texas
   http://www.plesums.com/wood