Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I did a quick google search... looks like there is such a thing, but how does it look ? Every sample looks like a black square. ( maybe, I need to adjust my monitor. ) Is the grain still visable, after satining it black ?


Marty.

I think Ira bought some for his fenders and was going to test it. You might want to ask him how it worked.

Noob wrote:I did a quick google search... looks like there is such a thing, but how does it look ? Every sample looks like a black square. ( maybe, I need to adjust my monitor. ) Is the grain still visable, after satining it black ?


Marty.

Stains usually vary depending on the wood that you are using and how long you leave it on before wiping any excess off. Get some a test it on various woods that you plan on using. I have not used black, but have created some pieces that looke black by using a dark oak stain.

Noob...you might want to try www.woodworker.com they have both water and alcohol based dyes...the beauty is that you mix them up so you can doctor it as dark as you want...they also have a variety of pigment colors to tint existing stains....check out the ebony black....PS wear latex gloves...my fingers are a wonderful colonial red mohogany tonight!!! Doug

doug hodder wrote:my fingers are a wonderful colonial red mohogany tonight!!! Doug

Hey Snoop Dougie Doug if your fingers are colonial red mahogany what color is Daisy?

Dan...she missed out on the fun...sacked out in front of the wood burning stove in the shop all day....it would be nice if she would help once in a while.... doug

Oh for the life of a dog

Stains definely depend on the type of wood. Hard woods tend to be truer to the dark stains. I have used ebony on light wood like pine and was disappointed. It was nicer on Maple and even better on Oak. I dont remember if it was red or white oak. I think white. Always do a test piece.

RayandDebby wrote:................. It was nicer on Maple and even better on Oak. I dont remember if it was red or white oak. I think white. Always do a test piece.

Probably White Oak, red is more porus and causes more uneven staining.

My HD had only one Miniwax that looked black--it's called Jacobean.

I tested one coat of it on some sandy ply this weekend, and I wasn't all that thrilled. Yeah, it was black, REAL black, but it's not like it brought out any grain detail. Granted, maybe it works "better" on non-ply material.

The thing is, I only did one coat. Also, it's going to be taking a few coats of varnish--so what I think looks so so may look GREAT once the varnish is on.

Gonna really take my time with this. I had enough problems just getting the fender skins on this weekend. Once everything is sanded flush and smooth, the last thing I want to do is screw them up by using the wrong stain.

So I MAY wind up using the dye myself.

I tried Jacobean too. It did not work well on plywood. It was actually very bad. It looked like a stain, not beautifully stained wood. I even tried to use the pre-stain sealer recommended for soft wood on another piece, but it wasnt much better. I'll look up some of the high end commercial stains in a catolog at work and post what I find.

Noob,

Depends on how much black dye you need. As Doug mentioned, aniline dyes are great. But so is India ink!!! A lot of India ink is used in musical instrument shops to touch up ebony when it's Maccassar Ebony instead of true Black Ebony.

RayandDebby wrote: I'll look up some of the high end commercial stains in a catolog at work and post what I find.

Thanks.

And I'm glad you posted--100% convincing me to abandon the Jacobean. But what do you think if it was lightened somewhat? Can you/how do you thin a stain?

I also tested Sardona Red, and after just one coat, I didn't like that one much either. Maybe after a 2nd coat, but I'd really like to find a black that will work.

Ira,

You could always buy some latex paint and thin it down until the wood grain shows through.

I think one way to get the grain to show thru is not to sand off all the grain. Yeah...now I say that after you've spent hours sanding it smooth.