Replies

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Aug 24, 1999 02:21pm | #1

   *
   Shading might work, but it's unlikely. Better I think at this stage to try and lighten the stain. I use Minwax products infrequently, so I'm not sure if it's a water, spirit, or oil based stain, nor if it's a dye or pigment that you've employed.

   If it's a dye, then washing off with the carrying medium should lighten the job, i.e., if it's water based, wash of with water; spirit based, alchohol; oil, white spirits (US mineral spirit.)

   Pigment stains will require either/or/both stripping and bleaching. Commercial strippers work, but the paste types take longer to work than the ones you slosh on. Domestic chlorine bleaches, but not as effectively as commercial two parters. Any residue from both processes must be thorougly washed off and neutralised prior to refinishing to prevent them poisoning future polish.

   Once you've got the thing lighter- and hopefully pretty even- you can start again. The problem with maple (and other timbers, e.g., cherry) is that different parts of the grain absorb stain more thoroughly than others, depending on orientation, etc., and if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here, I apologise.

   A common approach to alleviate the problem is to use a stain that flashes off quickly, such as those that are dissolved in lacquer thinners and misted on with a spray gun. Another approach is to use gel stains where the particles of the product are too big to penetrate much below the surface.

   Balanced against this is that now you have a colour which is hardly even skin deep, so the slightest damage sticks out like a sore thumb.

   Hope this helps. Get back if you need more.

1. 
   Clay_Williamson | Aug 25, 1999 09:44am | #2

   *Minwax stains are all oil modified based. Use a toloul, xylol, turpolene, xlene, turpentine, ect....to remove your top layer of stain. If you want to get real cute and try something that will shock everyone, go to your Dupont 3602 acrylic laquer thinner, Dupont 3608, or an automotive reducer. These thinners will take any oil stain off without harming underlaying finishes 7 times out of 10.PLEASE...BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANYTHING USING THE AUTOMOTIVE THINNERS, REDUCERS OR DRYERS DO A TEST PATTERN IN A INCONSPICUOUS AREA.