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I stained a white pine curio cabinet with Minwax mahogany stain (oil based) leaving it a bit thicker to get the red color. What I didnt think about and what happened was blotchy, non uniform color (typical of pine). Can I cover the dry oil stain with a gel stain to eliminate the blotchy appearance? How will the the two stains react – will they mix or will the gel form a layer over the top of the oil stain. What’s going to happen?
I also intend to put on a glaze in the nooks and crevices to give the piece an antique look and finish with varnish. Will the stain lift when I cover it with a layer of shellac? Is there another finish I should use instead before putting on the glaze?
Richard
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b From the Workshop of Ron Brese
Richie, If you could get the entire piece darker it might make the blotching less apparent. But quite frankly I think you'd be fighting a losing battle. I think your best bet is to remove as much of the first stain as is possible with lacquer thinner, then sand the piece. There will probably still be some stain left in crevices but that should not be a problem. Apply a stain blocker, there are some commercial ones available but I usually just mix 2 parts tung oil finish with 1 part lacquer thinner. I would then use a waterbased dye stain like Smooth and Simple to lay down a base color that will eleviate large differences in the color of the raw material. Give this adequate time to dry and then apply the oil pigmented stain. This method will give you 2 true layers of color. When trying to achieve a dark color on light colored woods it all but impossible to obtain it with just one application of color. If you are looking for a color that is really cordovan red you would probably want to use the rosewood dye with the mahogany stain. If you want a browner color use the American Walnut dye with mahogany stain.
In the future you may want to use a different material other than pine on pieces than you plan to put such a formal color as cordovan red mahogany. If you don't feel than you can afford Mahogany or other premium hardwoods that carry these colors better you may want to try poplar, basswood, or some other material that has a tighter grain structure.
Good luck,
Ron
*Ron: Thanks for the advice. Before I remove all the stain and try to sand over, would adding a glaze (such as Behlens Glaze and Stain0 work? I could put a couple of coats of shellac on, then a glaze, wiping off enough to darken the overall color and in the process leave the glaze in the nooks, crevices and corners to give the piece an antique look? I wanted to add the glaze anyway to give an aged appearance. Then I could finish off with varnish. The blotches are not real dark but are noticeable on close examination, and seem to be only in a couple of areas.Richard
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