“Old Camp Pine”
Sitting out another rainy day at a 80+ yr. old camp in Maine, trying to remember a formula for a stain an old timer used to make to match the old, unfinished pine in his camp. Unfortunately he passed on and I neglected to write down his formula. He used a combination of Minwax stains and came up with a mix that blended in nearly perfect with the old wood.
I realize there are many shades as pine ages, but the colors in these early twentieth century camps seem to be similar. No one ever bothered to put on any finish on the inside walls, so the wood just aged and darkened over the many years.
I’m too cheap to buy a bunch of 1/2 pints ( at $4.50 a pop) to experiment. I did take some samples into a local store and compared them with Minwax samples someone had rubbed onto a new piece of pine. None matched well.
Does anyone have a stain that he/she has used for matching such wood?
Thanks,
Oldfred
Edited 8/7/2008 4:42 pm ET by oldfred
Replies
I have been working with a bunch of about 40 year old knotty pine paneling. I think it was stained at one time but I am not sure.
Any way. I have had good luck with first applying minwax prestain sealer. than golden pecan, and then a light coat of english chestnut. However it is always a test and see first because each piece seems different.
Webby
Webby,You're correct, each piece of wood is different, but the match the old gentleman used blended well. His solution was, I'm quite sure, a one coat deal, and the only color I remember he mentioned was cherry. Maybe one of the oaks too. Probably several ways to get at what I need, but all require purchasing several colors. Of course, I left my stains at home.I can take some of the old wood home this fall and experiment if all else fails. Thanks for the reply.oldfred
I ave found myself wishing for a better match and a one coat deal I will try some of the cherry but the last time I used Minwax sherry it was very light.
I forgot to mention that I think the english chestnut is a new color or at least new in my market area.Webby
Webby,I don't recall seeing the English chestnut. Will check. The sample of cherry in the local store was pretty light on pine, but would add some red which shows in this old camp.
oldfred
oldfred,I used to take a combination of antique cherry, golden oak and a touch of walnut with shellac on top to get that aged pumpkin pine look. That was thirty years ago and I don't know that those formulas are the same today, I doubt it. Also they were oil based so that adds another factor.
BG, That sounds close to what I remember Old Charlie telling me he used. Wish I'd paid better attention! Also wish I'd brought up some of the stains sitting on a shelf at home, but we already haul about half my shop up when we come for the summer. Thanks,
oldfred
"...antique cherry, golden oak and a touch of walnut with shellac on top to get that aged pumpkin pine look."Pumpkin pine? Is that what termites have for Thanksgiving dessert?
BruceT
oldfred ,
Sometimes a coat of Shellac will give the Amber / Yellow base needed to look ages then stain over , try a sample .
good luck dusty
oldusty,
Thanks. Now I remember darkening an old bead boad ceiling with a coat of shellac. Wondering if it will give me a sheen -this pine is no-finish. Someone along the camp road may have an open can. Worth a try......oldfred
It is hard to mix 80 years of smoke with a pound of UV rays in with all that alcohol in the shellac thoughLOL
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin ,
Get a bigger bucket
d
Piffin,
Ahhh ye old campstove.
Pretty hard to replicate years of cookin bacon, steam from the coffee perkin and venison stew, smoke from the stove. Unless of course you continue the afore mentioned.
Gramps used to grab a partly used can of varnish and add some kerosene and slap it on - so's it wont rot.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Hey, Piffin!Didn't know you frequented this side of town. Thought of you when I installed the door frame I'm trying to stain. Anchored it with Piffin screws rather than go to town for something more appropriate.The wood smoke is easily attainable in this old camp, but this summer, UV rays are pretty scarce. Too bad too, cause I may need some for my next project. An Ark! (Soon's as I find out how long a cubit is) :)
I have a jar on the shelf that I have used in the past, the label says "aged pine". The formula is 2 7/16 natural to 2 1/16 golden oak. I would take that to mean parts, almost a 50/50 mix. This was made for me by an older gentleman in a now closed paint shop. It was likely Benjamin Moore stain but I've also mixed it with Minwax.
I'm in Maine and I've worked on many old camps, new ones too. The older places seldom used any finish on the pine boards. I have often done new work and just left it. In a few years it will start to look more like the older boards and blend in. Nature is best. You can come pretty close with stain but it will always show it's un-naturalness, depending on the light and angle of view. If it's right next to older boards, it will show, and time won't change that.
Despite so many cottages being done in knotty pine boards, they aren't all the same color. It's hard to know what may have been done to them over the years. If you want to go with a stain, a good place to start is with a paint shop. Take in a piece of the old material and a few pieces of the new for samples. This saves you the expense of buying different colors and experimenting. They will do it for you. You should always do a large sample and look at it under all light conditions.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Hammer,
Thanks for the reply.
This camp is over eighty years old and none of the boards were ever finished. Most of the camps on this shore were boat houses, on one or two rod lots, and later expanded to be camps. This one has had six additions, and I don't think any of the parts were leveled before adding the next. Think a lot of the boards were salvaged from older buildings too. Get a few free boards, build another addition. I don't expect a perfect match, but hope to "age" the new wood enough so it doesn't draw attention. Your mix might work just fine.
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