Synopsis: You may think that the only reason to dye or stain a piece of furniture is to change its color, but many more subtle changes are possible. With dyes and stains you can pop the curl in curly maple, enhance the rays of quartersawn white oak, and give that fresh-cut, pallid cherry the deep glow of an 18th-century antique. More often than not, the secret to using these products is knowing that coloring wood is not a single process, but a multi-step technique that combines a dye with a stain.

You may think that the only reason to dye or stain a piece of furniture is to change its color, but many more subtle changes are possible. With dyes and stains you can pop the curl in curly maple, enhance the rays of quartersawn white oak, and give fresh-cut, pallid cherry the deep glow of an 18th-century antique. More often than not, the secret to using these products is knowing that coloring wood is not a single process, but a multistep technique that combines a dye with a stain.

Different effects using dyes and stains

Some manufacturers tout combination dyes and stains as one-step solutions to coloring wood, but applying these elements separately will give you greater latitude over the final appearance.

The color of the dye will have a big impact on the look of the finish. Brighter colors, such as golden brown, red, yellow, amber, and orange create highlights that will transmit through a wide variety of stains, increasing the depth and visual appeal of the wood. A stain applied over the dye adds color, either by contrasting or harmonizing with the dye, and defines the grain and pore structure. Examples are dying walnut or mahogany yellow and Combining Dyes and Stains then applying a dark stain, or using a red dye to enhance that tone in mahogany.

Enhance the natural look of a wood—Using colors that occur naturally in wood as it ages, you can give your piece an antique appearance. Use a dye the underlying color of the antique to bring out the figure and the chatoyance. Then use a stain to tweak the color, to enhance the grain, and to add depth.

Replicate dark woods—This two-step method also can be used to get a deep, dark color such as ebony or dark mahogany from a different wood species. Often a dye or stain alone won’t produce these deep shades, but using a dye and a stain in the same color range will make the final color much darker.

For subtle color change, try glazing with stains

Until now I’ve talked about applying stain directly to dyed wood. When a stain is applied over a coat of clear finish, it is known as a glaze. You can buy purpose-made glazes, or you can use a heavy-bodied stain such as a gel stain.

From Fine Woodworking #182

For the full article, download the PDF below:

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Osmo Polyx-Oil

"If I had to choose one of these hard-wax oils to keep on hand, it would be Osmo Polyx-Oil. It’s relatively affordable and very easy to apply." -Adam Godet

Buy at Heartwood Tools Buy at Amazon

Foam Brushes

Foam brushes are great for applying a variety of stains and finishes, and the 2" wide brush is the most versatile. Comes in a pack of 48.

Buy at Amazon

Bahco 6-Inch Card Scraper

The size and thickness are what matter here. A consistent performer, this Bahco scraper is found in many shops we visit.

Buy at Amazon

View PDF