Replies

1. 
   peter28 | Jan 12, 2008 06:40pm | #1

   Teager,

   Have you tried two applications of the white wash? I don't use that product but I can tell you from experience that minwax colors are at best very weak.

   I don't know what you're finishing experience is but;

   You may consider brushing on a coat of Zinseer Seal Coat which is blonde shellac. This will seal the surface. It dries quickly so don't over brush it. The solvent is denatured alcohol. It can be sanded in an hour with 220 0r 320 sandpaper to smooth the surface.

   Now you can take some paint thin it down a bit and wipe it on with a soft cloth that is folded over a couple of times. The operative word is thin. You can use a brush to lightly "feather" out the paint. Be sure to work in sections.

   Another way is to add a little more pigment to the minwax. You can do this with a little artist oil color. You can find small tubes of color at any art store.

   Take a portion of your minwax, say 4 ounces or so in a separate container and then add some of the artist white to it and mix it well. This becomes your color concentrate. I would run this through a paint filter and then start adding it to the rest of the stain checking it from time to time on a brown paper bag to see it's color.

   This is a very simple way to increase the color strength of a weak product.

   The "conditioner" is nothing more than a very thin sealer which will close off the surface of the wood and inhibit the penetration of the color.

   Be sure to take some time and do samples. You will find it is the best time you spend with your finishing. It takes the guess work out of it. 

   Good luck.

   Peter