Replies

1. 
   user-83153 | Oct 21, 2007 12:39am | #1

   I would say that the simple answer is in the case of the piece you are working with right now, you don't. Conditioners can only do so much, all you are really doing is sealing the wood a little bit so that it doesn't take as much stain or dye and hopefully it will take it more evenly. But all wood is different and some is going to blotch unless you seal it so much it won't accept any stain.

    It is the same reason you have figure in some wood. How do you accentuate figure you like? You use a stain or a dye, because the figured part of the wood will take a different amount of color from the application. Your blotches are caused by the same figure, it just isn't as prevalent, or dispersed in a manner that you find attractive.

1. 
   user-72272 | Nov 10, 2007 12:32am | #2

   Go with  dark dye  like  "Trans Tint".   Mist it on in thin layers to get even coverage. Spray a seal layer with shellack and then finish to suit. 

   There have been several threads on this subect.  Search " finishing birch plywood"

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 01, 2007 04:55am | #3

   thats what I do. I will tint my poly w/trans tint after staining then spray it on to even the stain out. Right now Im working with a expresso stain.

1. 
   TonyCz | Dec 18, 2007 05:44am | #4

   Is the Trans tint an alcohol stain?

   Years ago Watco made one I used on Birch and worked very well but the problem is Watco discontinued it years ago.

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 18, 2007 06:55am | #5

   Its a dye that you can mix in either alcohol or water. Heres some info from Homestead on it
   http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm