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Hi all,
I wish to refinish my maple kitchen cabinets in a washed-out blue/gray translucent color (without losing the appearance of the wood grain). I have stripped the previous lacquer finish, and started experimenting with stains. Needless to say, I am experiencing the usual problems with lack of stain penetration and unevenness when it does penetrate. I have used both oil and water based stains, tried conditioning, wetting, sanding etc…
Is there another way to color the cabinets without using these stains, such as dying/tinting the finish coat. I’ve heard of adding japan colors or other dyes to lacquer or polyurethane, but will this give me the desired finish? Other options that I’ve run across in my research include milk paint wash, aniline dyes, and glazing… Any recommendations on what would be the best technique or what wouldn’t work?
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!
Ali
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Ali
minwax has a bluegrey stain in what I think they call their Polyshades line. You could get tinted laquer. Some paint stores will tint it for you. I dont know it you have a HVLP spray set up for it. I also believe that enduro a water base finish put out by compliant spray systems has pretinted finish also. I havent used them yet So I cant advise on the quality or application.
*The finish that you are going for is a fairly sophisticated one and usually achieved through toned lacquers. I've seen it done by a pro and he tones several different coats in different shades to achieve the desired effect. Done exactly right, it takes a pro's touch, or perhaps a very determined amateur. There are blue water-based stains around. You could experiment with those, but use a sanding sealer first. Try a little sanding sealer between applications of stain too.
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