Frankentable!

[Richard in Smithville]

I was recently commissioned to strip and refinish an old table. It's all solid wood, heavily built...........................and came with multiple layers of finish! Guy's, I really should have run from this one.

So with multiple applications of stripper, loads of scraping, and a ton of sanding, I discovered that the table was mostly oak( It came with cherry legs and a cherry leaf!). The only problem; one side is some of the most beautiful red oak I have seen. Loads of colour! The other side is some very white, white oak.

I have applied minwax red oak stain and even though I let it soak on the white side longer, you can still see a difference. What I thought I might do is let the stain dry, then lightly sand the darker side and reapply a light coat of finish.

Any thoughts that might give me better results?

[pelligrini]

Wouldn't it be easier to darken up the lighter side with another application of stain?

[Ed62]

Richard, I wish I had some words of wisdom, but as usual, I have more questions than answers. I wonder if it would help to post an image so those with more skill at finishing could come up with a suggestion for you? Is it a difference that would make you say some very bad words, or is it something you really have to look for?

Ed

[BadeMillsap]

Pictures would help ... For years now I have preferred using dye vs stain because I feel like I have much better color control ... you can get the "finish sheen" after you get the color with things like poly. Just a thought ..

[JR]

Man, I don't think there's an easy way of this one!

In general, the best way to get a consistent finish on woods with varying shades is to first apply a seal coat or even two coats. Then use gel stain across the entire surface. One or two coats of stain would give you an idea of how effective the stain would be. At that pint you'd start applying the stain to only the lighter section until you get a uniform result. A final coat across the whole surface might be a good idea.

What's that you say? You have no way-back machine, Sherman?

For the most predictable result, consider sanding the whole thing and starting over, using the technique I suggested above. Or...

You could throw caution to the wind and start staining only the lighter section with a darker stain, intended to make the lighter wood match the color of the stained darker wood. This would necessitate some trial on a piece of white oak, using a variety of colors or mixes of colors. If you mix colors, make sure you use and record the specific proportions.

Good luck!

[LCHIEN]

arrange the room lighting so that the light side of the oak is in the dark side of the room?

[leehljp]

I had this problem with the two book cases that I made for my daughter in Japan and brought back to the States. I had enough wood (Philippine mohagany) which came out of an early '50s student center, torn down in 2002 in Kobe. Most was the equivalent of 5/4's thick finished all sides. BUT, some was a reddish-pink and and some yellowish. I did not have enough of either to compete the project with only one color.

I had to stain it all dark brown (with paint) before it looked the same. Light and medium dark stains/paint just didn't do it. I ended up getting some almost chocolate brown paint, laying it on and wiping off. Another coat and then a light coat of the paint itself. You can see the wood and grain; it is dark, but at least it evened out in color although it overpowered the original colors. I really did not have a choice.

I did have many many 2" by about 18" that I tested stains, dyes and paints over the course of several months before coming to a conclusion as to best method.

[chopnhack]

From my limited finishing tool bag.... spray finish and tone, like the factory does, then top coat generously with whatever you prefer. Perhaps not the best suggestion for something like a period piece, but it should solve your problem as it lays down an even coloring throughout the piece. HTH

[Carpenter96]

When I used to restore antique wooden boats we would use a dye in combination with a stain because we were trying to match wood that was 100 years or so old. The result was quite good to the point where even we could not see the difference. The customers were very pleased and could not notice where thr new plnks were. Regards Bob

[leehljp]

When I used to restore antique wooden boats we would use a dye in combination with a stain because we were trying to match wood that was 100 years or so old. The result was quite good to the point where even we could not see the difference. The customers were very pleased and could not notice where thr new plnks were. Regards Bob

I didn't know how to do this (dye) and did not have the experience but I did entertain the thought of dye instead of stain when I made the bookcases. Being overseas at the time and not having access in Japan to products that anyone would have referenced on this forum made me just give up on the idea of even trying.

I started to mention "dye" earlier in the previous post, but my lack of knowledge of the process made me hold back.

I am glad you mentioned this and hopefully your experience as to techniques and ideas will help maybe this thread, and others in the future.

[BadeMillsap]

Some stain vs dye comparison

As I mentioned earlier in the thread I use dye regularly to get better control of color and to help emphasize grain. It's a very common color agent in lutherie.

This video while at times a little elementary and repetitive gives, I believe, a pretty good comparison of stains vs dyes ...

Stains vs Dyes video .

You can mix stain and dye as long as the "base medium" is compatible ... I often prefer using alcohol rather than water as the medium to avoid grain raising but I use water at times as well.

Transtint is one brand I use that is both water and alcohol soluble.

[Richard in Smithville]

Thank you for the wealth of support and suggestions. I have been talking with a cabinet maker fried a few provinces away from me and his idea was to see if sanding would bring the colours closer and then use a coloured top coat to seal it all in. I'll let you know how I make out.

[chopnhack]

He is talking about toning, and its a good way of getting to where you need to be. Will there be pics?

[Richard in Smithville]

Seeing as I'm in a partial state of finishing, I'll post some completed photo's when it's done.