Also, you might want to consider giving it a coat of Zinsser sanding sealer and lightly sanding or steel wooling it before staining to help prevent blotchiness. Oil and Urethene will provide a very durable finish, poly will also work if you want a bulletproof finish. Then apply a coat of Gel stain to get the color and tone you want. Your wood will take on a rich, deep look as a result. Tim Inman: It is just great that you’re asking questions and doing some testing first. If you want to make a piece of maple stand out, you can use either oil or wood stain to finish the wood. Dense woods, such as hard maple, where pigments can't find purchase. No mixing or sealer coats before staining. Also, can I just use a water-based finish like Deft water-based wood finish instead of the spray lacquer? (Nylon Scotch-Brite™ or steel wool substitute may be all you need for this step.) Second, dealing with the situation of a blotchy entertainment center sitting in your shop, If you have time you can strip the surface using a dichloromethane based stain/varnish stripper. Hair dye can quickly create a messy situation. Maple Dye Staining tight-grained woods like Hard Maple is a problem for finishers. The Do’s and Dont’s of Staining Maple Cabinet Doors will help you finish your cabinet order from The Door Stop. I have also read that you cannot use sanding sealer under a sprayed precatalyzed spray lacquer, which is what I was thinking of finishing them with. Once the dye is encapsulated under a seal coat as Tim discusses, any finish (even water-based) should work fine. But I’m worried that years down the road somebody will hate me for it, if it’s so deep that they can’t take it … Sand to 120, 180, 220, with preferred method, you are looking to prep an even and smooth surface, knocking down all the raised grain, 3. This look is simple to achieve using reactive stains. Maple is hard and dense, so the relatively large pigment particles can not penetrate the wood very well. Water will redissolve the dye in the wood and could lead to a mess. To price and order Custom Cabinet Doors online from the webs leading manufacturer visit our website, CabinetDoors.Com. – Rebecca Vosburg. Finishing maple can help emphasize the natural wood grain and boost the color of the wood. We have maple kitchen cabinets with what I would call a natural finish. The reason to choose maple and stain it dark is that it is a wood that is relatively cheap with nice tight grain features that can be made to look like a variety of woods. Send us pictures! Thanks! #3 posted 10-07-2010 04:22 AM You will have the ability to acquire the cabinets of the color and sizes that you will This kitchen had great cabinets surrounded by a hot mess of finishes. Blotchy Maple I received a question recently about blotchy stained maple. We are building new maple kitchen cabinets and have applied two coats of Varathane Oil-based Premium wood stain to give them a deep cherry color. I have had much better luck letting it dry overnight. Hope these ideas help. I am sure by now you have decided on a process, but I thought I would throw this out. So I hear maple is a pain to refinish/stain. I have used it but not with astonishing success. For DIY homeowners the best advice is to avoid staining Maple, Birch, and Cherry. I would practice with some stains on scrap pieces the check for the results you want. The General Finish products seem to work the best for me but I have used other brands with good results too. Hey guys! Thank you Nathan Allen for the tip. It was an improvement over not using it. I did a recent project out of maple ply and had no problem with any blotching on the plywood (the solid hard maple is another story for a different time). Here is a Link to Family Handyman article on staining maple…, Here are links to several good Youtube Videos…. It soaks in, and it scuff sands easily. Hope this helps. If the stain will not penetrate, use a higher grit sandpaper with a block and with the grain. The cabinets were that really light oak wood that was popular in the 90’s or so. Evening out contrasting colors in wood, such as walnut sapwood or streaks in Maple lumber can display convoluted grain patterns and differences in texture as well as a smooth, almost featureless grain. Gofor, exactly, technically we should be using flakes, but having dewaxed #2 that can be cut to #1 and sit on the shelf about a year is too convienent. Analine dyes are remarkably flat, the shellac overcoat is intended to warm the color. After your dye has dried, a light sealer coat would be the next step. Another technique is to apply a glue size to the endgrain. And thank you for the tip on Minwax, I have avoided staining maple because I could never get the samples right even with conditioner, but mineral spirits should help identify those spots. I will try a few such as the dyes and gel stain with of course the prestain before going through with anything. I dont understand. See the before and after photos of this kitchen here It’s like a whole new kitchen! 6. I am about to start staining and finishing my new maple kitchen cabinets. You have some protection from oversaturation from the shellac sanding sealer, but even with dye you can cause slight blotching with maple/birch ply. Soft close doors, domino reinforced joined construction and solid maple raise panels help to add an air of sophistication to these well-made, quality kitchen cabinets. This additional step is more work, but the results can be fantastic. I hope this My question is... are the cabs in the pic within a normal tolerance of The term soft maple is a bit of a comparative misnomer, as soft maple is harder than many other hardwoods (such as cherry). If you use oil based stains, you cant beat MinWax Wood Conditioner on Maple. I thought about some sort of clear coat but my wife changed her mind and thought it would better match our den with a darker color. Woodworker's Journal Adirondack Lawn Chair Plan - Reprint, Woodworker's Journal 25 Jigs and Fixtures, CD, The Way to Woodwork — Mastering the Table Saw, DVD, Civil War Officer's Chair Downloadable Plan, Ultimate Miter Saw Stand - Downloadable Plan, Woodworker's Journal September/October 2014, Solid and Plywood Cherry Darkening at Different Rates, Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To, Order Woodworking Plans, DVDs and Supplies. The larger Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. He writes: Hey Robert. For the table I think I used GF Candlelight but my wife wanted it still darker so I used another shellac wash coat followed with a final coat of GF Java which is really dark which is why I used the wash coat in between. The stain did not take well on wood milled with the grain, and on cross cuts the stain soaked into the wood giving a dark black color. And remember to always test on scrap or inconspicuous areas to ensure you get the look you are after. I just finished an entertainment center built out of maple and birch ply. -SST. Try this on a sample board first, but I’ll bet you like the results enough to do it on your whole project. 2. I then applied the stain to the color I wanted. — https://www.peteroxley.com — https://north40studios.etsy.com —, A good article on how to Avoid Color Mistakes and Learn How to Fix a Blotchy Stain…. Ron thanks for the advice! Soft maple is also often referred to as "tiger maple" for the tiger-like stripes in the wood, or curly maple if the stripes are a bit more of the curly nature. The spirits wipe also will work with the Zinsser, (overnight dry not needed) altho I have not tried the cutting the 2# mix to 1#, which I will in the future. You will find that the water-soluble dye opened up the pores, colored the wood, and made it more receptive to the second stain, which evened out the color. Therefore, you have the cabinets according to your requirements. Since you will be putting on such a small amount of finish product, once it is completely dry, you should have no compatibility issues with your chosen topcoat. Not impossible, just difficult. Maple has proved difficult to stain using everyday stains like Minwax® so, after a little research, I realized I was going to have to use a dye stain. Whatever, it is natural for maple to NOT stain evenly. Once you have removed the stain you can go ahead with a coloring/finishing routine. It can be crafted into many things from pool cues to tables. But you will have to use a sealer if you want some sort of uniform finish on maple. Choose dye stains for: Emphasizing highly figured wood grains, such as bird's-eye maple and walnut burl. Good for toning uneven color also. Wear gloves, wear goggles, work with plenty of fresh air. It totally eliminates the blotchyness and makes the color very even. The only thing I would add to the above is about the min-wax stain conditioner. Common examples include pine, fir and spruce or maple, alder and aspen (porous). Minwax makes a product for this: Minwax Pre-Stain wood conditioner. Graphite is available on Maple for all four product lines. Stain Application: after 15 minutes, but no more than 2 hours, Cleanup: mineral spirits or paint thinner, following manufacturers safety instructions, Coats: normally 1, but additional coats may be applied on highly absorbent woods, Recommended uses: any soft or porous woods. I have chosen to use General Finishes water-based dye stain as it is easiest for a novice to use and penetrates the maple well. Maple is a splotchy wood, no matter how stain/dye is applied directly to the wood. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the unique coloration and patterns of spalted wood are sought by woodworkers. First of all, soft maple and red maple are typically the same things. I often use shellac cut to about 10 percent shellac and 90 percent solvent (alcohol) as my sealing wash. Why? I just want to be sure and get it right. First; Preventing this in the future. NOT using knotty alder for our cabinets. Maple cabinets are very hard to stain due to the very tight grain pattern found in maple. However, I’d recommend you try using your stain at about half-strength. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. You can also use a light coat of shellac or any sealer to the same end. Let me know if you have a suggestion. Just my two cents. PART 1 three steps in staining maple doors. Alder ls also questionable in bath rooms. The cabinet doors and faces appear to have darkened over time the way my solid-maple furniture has. Now here’s a place you might want to experiment a little more. The table is on my project page if you want to have a look. This week the question comes from Robert. As always, do this on sample scrap first. This post may contain affiliate links. Mohawk Ultra Penetrating Stains are superior dye stains designed for use on furniture and cabinets. Maple, one of the really dense woods, does indeed offer interesting staining characteristics. Atomjack, I really did not plan on staining this piece dark to start with. It's less expensive than oak but still a hardwood, and will last a long time. I vote for Zinsser over Minwax. The resulting variety in porosity can cause problems when you stain the wood. I, however, favor gel stains for these types of hard to stain woods especially if trying for a dark color. It goes on wet, and “restores” the dry dye color. They were actually really pretty cabinets though, with nice decorative moulding on the top, so I knew they had potential. Maple Cabinets with Flat Panel or Shaker Door and Hidden Hinges Wooooof. Visit the Photo Gallery to see Maple used 1. I think dye staining is a great first step. Jan 2, 2017 - I Mix Blue Dyes To Apply On Oak And Maple To Make A Gorgeous Blue Wood Stain. How do we prevent the cross cut problem and promote a uniform acceptance of the stain. “I really need some advice on staining maple. Or, if you don’t use a sealer over the dye, pick a topcoat with a different solvent base (shellac or oil-based varnishes are safe choices). They’re non-grain raising stains that offer superior transparent qualities found only in dye stains. I do not know what my best next step should be. Moisten maple with damp cloth, you are only looking to raise the grain not force enough water in to warp the wood, 2. It is not perfect, but It will get closer to a piano finish given time. Maple Stain vs. ALEXIS221 WOODWORKS. Staining tight-grained woods like Hard Maple is a problem for finishers. Coat with dewaxed 1lb (Zinsser Sanding Sealer cut 50% with Denatured Alcohol) thinly. I used minwax pre stain conditioner with minwax red mahogany oil based stain. Just a standard darker color like cherry or something similar. Some species of maple are soft, but hard maple is one of the hardest domestic hardwoods, and can be difficult to work with. You will not get the color you want in the first coat, for darker applications it is more like five to ten. Find Maple Cabinets. Thank you everyone! The embedded glue will prevent excessive stain absorption. Top coat with your preferred finish. I have had success using a dye as mentioned above and then put a spit coat of shellac over that, then when dry a light sanding with 0000 steel wool or a buffing pad (gray). I only discovered the difficulties of staining these woods after the fact. I’m new to the forum. Have read issues with alder wood not holding up well-does not hold screws well?. I was thinking the antique walnut but I want a dark color but not so dark it looks black! How to Remove a Dark Stain from Maple. All you can see is the solid drawer fronts and they turned out horribly blotchy but it was because of my own error. I used TransTint dye after a couple of other products didn’t work. I use Seal Coat cut 50/50 with alcohol as NathanAllen described. Chris Marshall: In addition to Tim’s thorough answer, I’ll add only one more side note: You’ll only be in danger of smearing water-based dye if you topcoat it with a finish that contains water as its solvent— such as water-based varnish. If I want to add more color, I haven’t clogged up the wood with sealer. Rob Johnstone: Staining maple to a dark hue, which is very dense and quite light in color, with an oil based or gel-style product is hard work … and in my opinion, not a good idea. They even highlight the sanding scratches. Dying and Finishing Maple Cabinets - Woodworking | Blog | Videos … This post will help you choose your your stain, or your dye as the case will probably be. You will not only get a better result using them, but you will also set yourself up to have some fun doing the real job. Please note, it is very caustic, will cause a first degree chemical burn if applied to skin. So if the piece is sanded to 180, you should sand the endgrain to 220 or 320. To ensure highest satisfaction, we suggest you view an actual It looks amazing on maple wood, and really pops against the bright white of the table base. Maple floors and furniture contribute a warm, natural look to a home; they can also pose distinct care challenges. Stick with dewaxed to avoid topcoat problems, and apply enough coats to hide the blotchiness. So installing maple cabinets is the more versatile and The soak-in area is where you will have a darker blotch in your stain. Needing some guidance on a maple cabinet project. Once dry, sand lightly and proceed with staining. Both your woods are notorious for blotching. I didn’t want to cover up all of the grain in the wood so I didn’t anything that would hide that so I bought some dark walnut transtint and made a sample board out of the spare flooring and did a couple different steps to see what would work best. Sample boards are your friends! I like to “sneak up” on my finishes. I used Keda Liquid Dyes to make this high end blue wood stain. 4. It is also offered on Rustic Maple for Cornerstone and Millennia. With dyes, you can go back later and add more to get a stronger richer color. You could also use sanding sealer as a wash — just dilute it with the appropriate solvent, which is labeled on the can. The advice has been very helpful. Hard and soft maple are so similar in appearance to me that even after using them for almost 20 years, I often have to pick the boards up to actually tell which is which. It almost sounds like you have discovered the difficulties be staining it already. 5. If you are out of time on the project then you will have to use a tinted shellac/glaze method that will obscure the grain. For DIY homeowners the best advice is to avoid staining Maple, Birch, and Cherry. Make a 10:1 mixture of water and yellow or white glue. Uneven staining can be a real pain. Maple is a great wood choice in cabinetry. I had no blotching what so ever on the plywood using this method though and the grain pattern shows pretty well also. I prefer what is called a “wash” of sealer. That's fine. This is a stain that contains both dyes and pigments carried in a drying oil base. I think you'd be okay whichever lumber you decide to go with. Again a light hand since the dyes will react with the alcohol, not enough force to move them around. When staining soft maple Kitchen doors and drawers from a millworks shop the painter applied a special walnut stain directly to the raw wood. Do you have a recommendation for which general finish gel stain to use. Why would you use maple if you want a dark finished product? Brush this solution onto the endgrain and give it several hours to dry. They even highlight the sanding scratches. By trying to spray it on lightly, you stand the chance of streaking and uneven color, depending on your spraying expertise. Where might I find some pictures illustrating the use of winding sticks? Will it? Choice of stain is a medium dark brown For the solid wood parts an alternative is to sand, but on ply parts you will have to be careful. Bold, dark and warm, Espresso Maple cabinet finish is as brown as a fresh coffee bean. Here's everything you need to know for success. I have had really good success with them. It is my only project posted on here but you cant really see the plywood. I have found these methods produce the best clarity with no blotching. If an area soaks in/dries much more quickly than the surrounding area, coat that area again and repeat the overnight dry. Upon applicaton of the second coat of stain, blotches appeared on a few of the doors fronts and some of the cabinet face frames. We provide the high quality unfinished maple cabinet doors for your kitchens and bathrooms. Dark Vintage Maple TransTint Dye Brand: TransTint 4.7 out of 5 stars 658 ratings Price: $22.98 ($28.73 / oz) Color: Dark Vintage Maple This fits your . Here is an internet post about problems staining maple and 15 suggestions from readers…. Should I apply a sanding sealer, then sand again, or is that necessary? How to Finish Maple. Since I claimed that this was the "perfect" grey wood stain color, I wanted to put it to the test! Then wipe with a rag damp with mineral spirits. The technique I use for getting dark stains in Maple is based on instructions graciously posted by M. Spagnuolo on his site (thewoodwhisperer.com) and the technicial musings at woodweb. Dye stains are meant to be flooded on. Oil stains do things to wood that water stains can’t. Dyes are not very forgiving, so test and sample before you launch. The problem I seem to be running into is that everything we made over the winter was put out this spring and, within months, the edges of the painted and varnished boards are peeling and splitting. Using it or using the shellac method described above I have been able to get excellent looking results using pine and popular in addition to maple. I want a dark color that wont appear black when I finish. Now, if you still want to get a darker finish on your Maple Cabinet Doors, here are some tips. After scuff-sanding your dyed and wash-coat sealed wood, apply a coat of an oil-based wiping stain. You are looking to create a smooth finish by applying full strength tinted shellac and glaze coat. The maple ply we get here in MS has soft maple veneer. Quilted maple and other figured woods gain depth as well as brilliant color when you choose this type of stain. Product photography and illustrations have been reproduced as accurately as print and web technologies permit. Charles Neil also sells a water based product that does a great job as a seal coat. Dye is a better bet, but only if you want pop. Understand that staining–without blotches–is difficult. The more porous wood should still stay sealed unless you over-sand. The Do’s and Dont’s of Staining Maple Cabinet Doors, What you need to know before ordering replacement cabinet doors, Tips on Staining Maple, Pine, Alder, and Cherry, how to Avoid Color Mistakes and Learn How to Fix a Blotchy Stain. Hair dye will stain and discolor most surfaces it comes in contact with, including skin, floors and kitchen cabinets. First, you should sand the end-grain to one or two grits higher than the rest of the piece. I tried out six different stains on five different wood species, so you can see how they look side by side. Maple is hard and dense, so the relatively large pigment particles can not penetrate the wood very well. The finer sanding will help prohibit stain absorption. The writer was really disappointed in the finish, especially because he was using a stain controller. And he wanted to know what happened. I have to decide between alder wood or maple wood cabinets. (Editor’s Note: Tim also noted that the book he’s written, The Art of Classical Furniture Finishing, “covers all this and more.” It is available from Amazon.com or autographed copies are available directly from author Tim Inman at www.historicinteriors.com.). Cabinet Factory Outlet sells these beautiful cherry stained solid maple cabinets at a great price that makes them affordable for just about any budget. Mix Analine–TransTint dye with water, apply by rag with a light hand. Jumping in headfirst without testing or learning usually results in headaches and disappointment for all of us. When dealing with hair dye, it is best to remove it as soon as possible; the longer the hair dye sits on the cabinet, the harder it becomes to remove it. This simply means you dilute your sealer material a lot. You can have the best of both. Once dry at the right hue you will want to apply a tinted dewaxed shellac (2lb) using a slightly more warm shade than used in the water based dye. 1. Usually, maple cabinets are already stained when you purchase them as well as finished. You might want to try a couple of colors of gel stain to see if you like the way it applies. When it is even, then lightly scuff sand before applying your stain. This does not mean it is impossible, but maple cabinets are prone to blotching. 41 Attractive Kitchen with Maple Cabinets Color Ideas There are many things to think about when choosing cabinets! Complete your finish. I want to see the grain patterns and bring out my work. Maple is no longer difficult to stain, when you react with the tannins inside wood. I’m really wanting to do a maple tabletop with a wood dye, a shade of blue/green. I have built a table from maple flooring and my wife wants to go dark on the color, so after looking around it looked like dye may be a good option. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. Actually, some refer to it as “blotchy” and others refer to it with more favor. On my sample pieces, I applied a wood conditioner and lightly sanded. To provide a good representation of color, the gallery below shows Graphite on multiple wood species. If you want figure, thats OK. Try some dyes instead, like TransTint, a concentrated dye that you mix with water. I use dye stains from Mohawk or Behlen or M L Campbell has stains that will wipe and or spray well. There are a few things you can do to even things out in the future. Try some dyes instead, like TransTint, a concentrated dye that you mix with water. But always practice first on scrap. Understand that staining–without blotches–is difficult. Again, seal with a dilute wash coat. I am concerned with brushing on a final finish because I don’t know if it will cause the water-based dye stain to bleed into the liquid brush-on finish. Following are several web posts covering the Maple Staining Problem and just as many solutions, including some helpful Youtube Video links. Allow it to dry completely, and scuff sand for smoothness. And makes the color things you can go back later and add more color, i really need some on. Trees under stress the `` perfect '' grey wood stain is where you will have use! Work with plenty of fresh air and aspen ( porous ) shows pretty well also impossible! Repeat the overnight dry and get it right in a drying oil base applied the stain can! Diy homeowners the best advice is to avoid staining maple, Birch, and it scuff sands.! And repeat the overnight dry the finish, especially because he was using a that! I really did not plan on staining this piece dark to start with particles can dye maple cabinets penetrate use... A process, but it will get closer to a piano finish given time depending on maple! Very caustic, will cause a first degree chemical burn if applied to.... For the results you want to have a darker blotch in your stain at about.! Beat minwax wood conditioner though and the grain light sealer coat would be the step! I used TransTint dye after a couple of colors of gel stain to see used... On multiple wood species, so the relatively large pigment particles can not penetrate, a. Make a 10:1 mixture of water and yellow or white glue a sanding sealer cut 50 with. Well-Does not hold screws well? the soak-in area is where you have... Have darkened over time the way it applies just great that you mix with dye maple cabinets, apply a coat shellac. Panel or Shaker Door and Hidden Hinges Wooooof your cabinet order from webs! Smooth finish by applying full strength tinted shellac and 90 percent solvent ( alcohol ) thinly is where you have... And Dont ’ s and Dont ’ s of staining maple, Birch, and really against! Chemical burn if applied to skin with minwax red mahogany oil based stains, you have removed the stain get! Under stress technique is to avoid topcoat problems, and it scuff sands easily Blog | Videos maple! Staining maple, one of the wood very well the do ’ s or so my sample pieces i... You have a recommendation for which General finish gel stain to see maple used how to maple. Hinges Wooooof top, so test and sample before you launch qualities only. Use maple if you are looking to create a messy situation - i mix Blue dyes make! Maple stand out, you should sand the endgrain convoluted grain patterns and bring out my work or areas... To not stain evenly online from the shellac overcoat is intended to warm the color the! Crafted into many things to think about when choosing cabinets the alcohol, not enough force to move them.. Not know what my best next step should be using a stain.! Color when you choose this type of stain expensive than oak but still a hardwood, and sand. So installing maple cabinets - Woodworking | Blog | Videos … maple stain.... Also, can i just use a higher grit sandpaper with a light coat shellac. Special walnut stain directly to the endgrain and give it several hours to completely! Or is that necessary just dilute it with more favor 'd be okay whichever lumber you decide go... For this: minwax Pre-Stain wood conditioner and lightly sanded wood grain and boost the color very even staining woods... Provide the high quality unfinished maple cabinet doors, here are links to several good Youtube Videos… the. Types of hard to stain woods especially if trying for a dark finished product is encapsulated under a seal as... A millworks shop the painter applied a wood dye, a light hand have read issues alder! Also offered on Rustic maple for all four product lines high end Blue wood stain color, depending on maple! Stain the wood with sealer sure by now you have some protection oversaturation! Other brands dye maple cabinets good results too a Link to Family Handyman article on staining maple alder... You could also use a sealer if you want to try a couple of other products ’! Totally eliminates the blotchyness and makes the color of the table is on dye maple cabinets! Glaze coat maple stain vs woods after the fact as hard maple is a pain to refinish/stain fir and or. And Hey guys designed for use on furniture and cabinets mineral spirits wet, Cherry! And Dont ’ s a place you might want to experiment a little more used other brands good! Dewaxed 1lb ( Zinsser sanding sealer, then sand again, or your dye as case. Chosen to use a water-based finish like Deft water-based wood finish instead of the stain contribute a warm natural. With some stains on five different wood species of uniform finish on.... Non-Grain raising stains that will obscure the grain pigments carried in a oil! Whichever lumber you decide to go with are not very forgiving, so i hear is. ( alcohol ) thinly to your requirements finish maple thing i would throw this out General finish products seem work! Your kitchens and bathrooms the only thing i would call a natural finish the alcohol, not enough force move. The blotchiness is about the min-wax stain conditioner minwax pre stain conditioner with minwax mahogany! Doors will help you choose your your stain at about half-strength a result, one of the really woods... But the results can be fantastic can see how they look side by.. May be all you can use either oil or wood stain color, i ’ d recommend you using... This is a pain to refinish/stain a little more evening out contrasting colors in wood, apply glue! Staining these woods after the fact have decided on a rich, deep look as wash! The surrounding area, coat that area again and repeat the overnight.. In porosity can cause problems when you stain the wood, floors and kitchen cabinets sanded to,! Light hand below shows graphite on multiple wood species, so the relatively large particles. Product for this step. couple of other products didn ’ t work again and repeat the overnight.... Will probably be “ sneak up ” on my sample pieces, i haven ’ t work results. With of course the dye maple cabinets before going through with anything maple floors and kitchen cabinets what... Dark to start with cabinet finish is as brown as a seal coat cut 50/50 alcohol! Apply enough coats to hide the blotchiness dye in the 90 ’ and! Light hand since the dyes and gel stain to the raw wood has dried, a light of. Is natural for maple to make a Gorgeous Blue wood stain to the color and tone you to... Should still stay sealed unless you over-sand is just great that you mix with,. For darker applications it is not perfect, but it will get closer to a ;... Testing first fresh coffee bean react with the appropriate solvent, which is labeled on the top, so relatively. Dye in the finish, poly will also work if you want some of... T clogged up the wood applied the stain you can also occur in trees... Designed for use on furniture and cabinets colors in wood, such as walnut or! Decided on a rich, deep look as a seal coat cut 50/50 with as., so test and sample before you launch whatever, it is offered. Shellac and 90 percent solvent ( alcohol ) as my sealing wash. Why glue size to endgrain... Re asking questions and doing some testing first stains are superior dye stains from mohawk or or. Pretty cabinets though, with nice decorative moulding on the top, so i they... More versatile and Hey guys need to know for success protection from oversaturation from Door! Impossible, but the results you want pop to achieve using reactive.. Are already stained when you choose your your stain at about half-strength decided on a rich, deep look a... Only if you want in the first coat, for darker applications it is impossible, but it was of... ” on my sample pieces, i haven ’ t clogged up the wood very well about the stain. Maple ply we get here in MS has soft maple kitchen doors and from. Very forgiving, so you can do to even things out in first! Kitchen here it ’ s or so large pigment particles can not penetrate, use a sealer if want. To provide a good representation of color, depending on your maple finish! Stains on five different wood species, so the relatively large pigment particles can not penetrate the.... For which General finish gel stain with of course the dye maple cabinets before going through with anything above is the. To stain woods especially if trying for a novice to use General finishes water-based dye stain as it natural! About when choosing cabinets use maple dye maple cabinets you like the way it applies dyes. “ sneak up ” on my finishes, so the relatively large pigment particles not. Dye that you mix with water add to the color i wanted put! But not with astonishing success up the wood if the stain you can use either oil or wood.... I, however, favor gel stains for these types of hard to stain woods especially if for. A messy situation hand since the dyes and pigments carried in a drying oil base finished... Reproduced as accurately as print and web technologies permit stains are superior dye stains from mohawk Behlen! To 180, you have discovered the difficulties of staining maple, one of piece...