Michael Dresdner

Q: Where can I get information on custom color stain? We can’t find the color we want for an entertainment center. Can you teach us how to mix our own?
A: I can indeed, and in fact, have done so in all four of my books on finishing and many times in magazine articles. However, there is a much simpler alternative that may be just the ticket in this instance. Let someone else mix your custom stain for you. Here’s how.
Go to the paint or home store where you will find a myriad of paint chip samples on the display wall. Find the color paint that is the same as the color of stain you want, and have the clerk mix a small can of that color in low cost latex wall paint. Take it home and reduce it 100%, that is, half paint and half water, and you have made a custom color wiping stain. Flood it onto the wood and wipe off as much or as little as you want to get not only the color you want, but the density of stain color as well. This custom stain is easy to use, inexpensive, and is compatible under just about any clear finish you have chosen.

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This entry was posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Coloring options, compatibility, paint, pigment, stain, waterbased. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.