I just finished building the farmhouse table as my 1st project and I have sanded and sanded and sanded it. It looks great but now I am to the finishing part and I am so afraid I am going to mess it up after so much hard work. I have bought 4 different stains and done a dozen test boards....rubbed on vs. brushed on, rubbed on with cloth vs. let sit for 15 to 20 min and take it off, pre-conditioned vs. not pre-conditioned and I am not really satisfied with any of them. I am trying to attain that rustic/ farmhouse look. #1 I have had a struggle trying to find the right color to give it that dull farmhouse look and #2 I am not sure how to correctly apply the stain. Anyone have any tips or advice on how to stain??? Thanks!
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Tsu Dho Nimh
Fri, 11/12/2010 - 03:25
Staining is not an exact science, it's about 50% luck and 50% practice. Keep notes of what you mixed and how you did it, whether it worked or not, so you can make more if you make more furniture.
You can mix colors of stain if they are the same type and manufacturer. You might find that a small amount of ebony or really dark brown gives it the color you want. Or a thin wiping of the dark brown or ebony OVER the first coat.
I like to wipe the stain on with a cloth, and keep adding until I have a deep enough color, and finish by wiping in the direction of the grain. For a large project I slosh it on with a cloth and wipe off. But I'm not fussy about what a tenant's floors look like as long as it's clean.
Keep in mind that you will put a protective layer on top of the stain, which is where you will get the not-glossy finish by using a satin polyurethane (I recommend the gel wiping finishes). You can scuff the protective finish lightly with 4-0 steel wool to de-gloss it even more.
cpage
Fri, 11/12/2010 - 14:02
Thanks for your help! Where do you buy your stain? I have not seen Ebony before. Also thanks for the tips on how you apply yours and the steel wool. I will have to give them a try.
Tsu Dho Nimh
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 04:37
Ebony ...Minwax has it in some of their products, and General Finishes has some intense black-brown (Pottery barn color).
http://www.minwax.com/products.....lor-guide/
You need to use it with a light touch, or you may as well be using black paint. As a way to add patina and shade things, it;'s a good second coat of stain. It can't soak in deeply because of the first coat, which gives you a chance to let it darken any nicks and cracks and the ends of the boards.
cpage
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 17:38
Awesome! I went with Cabot Willow Reed for my 1st coat. Cant wait to see what it looks like in the a.m. Been sanding, conditioning and staining all day, I am exhausted! ; ) I am going to make note of your colors and check them out, thank you!
cpage
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 17:38
Awesome! I went with Cabot Willow Reed for my 1st coat. Cant wait to see what it looks like in the a.m. Been sanding, conditioning and staining all day, I am exhausted! ; ) I am going to make note of your colors and check them out, thank you!
cpage
Sat, 11/13/2010 - 17:38
Awesome! I went with Cabot Willow Reed for my 1st coat. Cant wait to see what it looks like in the a.m. Been sanding, conditioning and sanding all day, I am exhausted! ; ) I am going to make note of your colors and check them out, thank you!