Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 19, 2003 07:45pm | #1

   I don't have a secret cherry mix, but will strongly suggest you're careful to develop a technique to minimize blotching with the alder, as it's heavily inclined to do that.  On a much, much smaller project, I used gel stain and it worked great!  (I love alder)  But my understanding is that it's harder to use gel stain on large pieces. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   migraine | Nov 19, 2003 07:59pm | #2

   One of the ptoducts I swear by is made by Behlin/Mohawk.

   Its is called "Ultra Penetrating Stain" by Mohawk and I believe its called "Solar-Lux" by Behlin.  I have been told they are the same company and same products just different packaging.  One for industry, and one for retail.  But, then again, someone on this site has said other wise.  The best way to describe it is a very pfine grained pigment that is in sortof an alcohol base.  The ultra stain has 60+ different colors including various shades of cherry, walnut, mahogany, etc.  I have used it on many alder jobs in the past years and it is best sprayed.  It tends to look a little blotchy once it is applied if put on too heavy, but once it dries(make sure it's REALLY dry), the blotchyness goes away and you have a even finish.  I haven't had alot of success in wiping the product.  Another thing is that I recommend that you buy the reducer for cutting the strenght of the stain, unless you are familiar with these types of products.

1. 
   Sancho | Nov 21, 2003 06:13pm | #3

   I like the endro w/b stain no spotching just made a vanity outta it came out nice..try the enduro finish also 

   Darkworksite4:

   Estamos ganando detrás el estado de Calif. Derrotando a un #### a la vez. DESEA VIVO LA REVOLUCIÓN

3. 
   desertrat | Nov 22, 2003 01:51am | #4

   I work with a lot of Alder, cheap stuff here in the NW and I will start with a shellac wash coat, sand and then stain.  This allows you really fine control of the amount of stain and make the blotchies go bye bye.