Hello , thanks in advance for your input.
I am refinishing an old(1914) maple dresser which has previously been a dark walnut color and then a yellow color called Vermont Maple. This time LOML wants white with the wood grain showing, its bird’s eye and curly.
I tried a Minwax stain called Pickled Oak but it can’t penetrate the maple, just wipes right off after 20 minutes. I’m thinking about mixing the Pickled Oak 50/50 with a satin varnish and spray it on. Any chance it might work? Is there something else I could try?
P.S. I have heard of aniline dyes but they are not readily available in this neck of the woods.
It’s not what you chew, it’s how you chew it
Replies
Try using a sanding sealer, or thin your finish coat by ~50% and apply first. Apply your stain, may take a couple of coats to get the desired effect. Apply your finish coats.
Try this on a scrap piece of wood first.
Another idea, you could use a glazing product and add in pigment (ie paint) to get the desired effect as well. (I prefer the method above.)
Just my opinion but why would you want to put white on a curly or birdseye maple grain. It is beautiful finished witha clear coat.
Around here what head office wants, head office gets.Not sure what LOML stands for but I think we're on the same page.
Maple is a bitch to stain. See if your paint store where you bought the stain has conditioner that will work on maple. There are a few that are available as wipe on/brush on that help to stain maple evenly and fully.Spraying will help but you will lose grain.
I had a hell of a time trying to stain a maple floor. The floor sander insisted I water pop it first. The first time I didn't and he sanded off that attempt. The second time I water popped the maple,which means wiped it ALL down with water with a damp rag, let it dry and then stained it. It came out beautiful after water popping.
Or plan b-how about a clear coat on that, honey.
have fun,
silver
Check out what Jeff Jewitt has on his web site for an Early American Maple finish
http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/eamaple.htm
Bill
Thank you all for your suggestions.
The wood grains are very nice but they are not all matched in a pleasing way so I do need to tone them down a bit. I'm going to try the "water pop" and a light spray of the white stain. Wish me luck!
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