Replies

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Feb 10, 2004 03:41am | #1

   I've tried water-reduced, alcohol, NGR with the retarder, and solvent dyes on oak and none of them colored the pores to my satisfaction. So I gave up trying to use dye as the only coloring step on oak (white & red; plain & quartersawn). And having given up has opened up a lot more options than dye alone could have ever produced. Now I use dye as the first coloring step and follow it with a pigmented wiping stain, glaze, or pore filler.

   By using one color dye followed by another color stain, some nice effects can be had. You can use a rather bright dye in the yellow to orange range followed by any shade of brown or "mahogany" and get some striking highlights in the wood. A dull green dye followed by a brown stain produces an aged look. "Walnut" dye followed by "walnut" stain produces a deep brown color that dye or stain alone can't achieve. There are endless options.

   If you seal the dyed wood with a thinned coat of finish, then use a thick bodied stain (e.g., good gel stain) or a glazing stain, you can get similar effects as the dye/stain routine with a wider range of contrast between the pores and field of the wood.

   Using a pore filler is very similar to the effects glaze has, with the addition of a level surface (no dimples from the pores).

   Paul

1. 
   markhamj | Feb 10, 2004 05:22pm | #2

   I've also tried the gel stain over the dye, either before or after a sealer coat, and I do like the effect. However, I've only ever used this when I'm trying to achive a very dark tone. For a lighter coloured finish I don't know if it will work but I think I'll start playing around. Another trick I've used is filling the pores with wax. Shoe polish works remarkably well as it is soft and wipes easily off the surface, leaving the pores filled

1. 
   DonStephan | Feb 11, 2004 03:39am | #3

   Remembered seeing some discussion on staining red oak pores on Jeff Jewitt's web site. Don't know if I will be able to include the link, so if not http://www.homesteadfinishing.com, click "Forum" at the top of the page. On the forums home page, under "Board Navigation" click "Forums" on left margin, then click "Tips" then on the topics listing click "Staining Red Oak Evenly." If it works the direct link is http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=254

   Hope it helps.