I’m having trouble matching stain for the casing around a window I installed.
The existing casing in the room is Oak colonial casing installed 20-30 years ago. We found a dried out can of Benjamin Moore Colonial Maple in the basement.
My LY only stocks Oak over in lengths long enough for this window. I stained a sample with BM col map. The color matches but is quite a bit lighter, even if left to soak awhile. The existing has darker(almost black) grain in the oak and the finish has maybe darkened and yellowed some.
Does oak over stain differently?
Is the existing casing darker because of the aging of wood and finish? If so, how do I match this?
The customer is quite insistent about a good match.
Replies
Craig 20 or 30 yrs ago chances are good that the finish is nitro lacquer which accounts for the yellowing. darkness probably comes from patina and aging.
Another thing to take into account is the wood itself, does the oak you used match grain and color wise to the existing
You can mix your stains if you think you can do it or take a sample of the wood to a good paint store and ask them to match
Edited 12/8/2008 1:06 pm by BarryE
A good paint store should be able to mix a custom stain to match.
I'll third taking it to a paint store. They have never failed me.
Note that is PAINT STORE, not paint department, but I think you knew that.
Typically veneers will stain differently than solid stock.
Thanks to everyone who replied. This afternoon the customers found some trim leftover from the original installation.I'd still like to know if anyone has anymore ideas just for my own curiosity.I really don't have a paint store which will mix for me.When I tried mixing some myself, anything that made a darker tone changed the color from an orangeish(is that a word?) brown to a dark brown
One way is to stain to a lighter color, then add dye to the clear coat. I use the TransTint dyes. You want to sneak up on the final color.The part I have trouble with is red vs. yellow. I never can get it just right.
I'll get me some tints and play with them. I don't know how good I'll be at this color deal though. My wife always has to help me sort my blue dress socks from my black ones :)
I've heard of but not tried it myself.
Get a bunch of old rusty nails, thro em in a bucket of vinegar.
And wait for a few days, the oxides will make for a wipe on finish,
wipe again till you get the desired effectr2
Works best on White Oak, that is higher in tannins than Red oak, and not at all on some woods.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I'm gonna give it a try. It'd make a good story.
I'll try some solid. I never thought about it until I was typing my post.
Hi
You might have to fill the grain with a darker filler 1st.
Get a color wheel and see wear you want to go!
I got some colorant from a friend who managed a paint store. I got Black, Yellow, Red and Blue. You should be able to tweek any color you need and you don't need much colorant.
Shellac?
keep us posted
Yup. I have base concentrates from when I was in the manu. side of wood finishes.
Raw UmberBurnt UmberRaw SiennaBurnt SiennaVan Dyke BrownPthalo Green, and BlueMagentaBlackWhiteYellow and Amber Add In, for ambering water clear finishes.
Good arsenal for about any match up..can't get these particular bases any more, tho' . It's good I have a qt. of each.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Good arsenal for about any match up
So are these, but the minimum $$$ order doesn't make it practical for the occasional project.
http://www.mohawkfinishing.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=182
If I was going to order some colorant, what colors would be a minimum set to have or should I have all you listed?
Fantastic! Thanks.
I mixed some dark walnut stain with grain filler and brushed it on. Wiped it off with a col. maple soaked rag. Followed by another col. maple stain coat after it dried. It gave me the dark grain and a slightly darker stain color. I'll try some lemon shellac tomorrow.You put me on the right track. I think if I had some colorants and tweaked the stain and the finish a little, I could come pretty close.Thanks
You might try taking a pc. of scrap and sanding it with a rougher grit sandpaper and then stain. I've always heard this would darken it some but never tried it.
I would be interested to know if it really works.
dug
I think it would leave some scratches for the stain pigment to stick to , and might make it a little darker, but I don't think it would do what I'm after.