tiredofspam wrote:
I have tried different, basically minwax, cabot, varathane,
but I have noticed some others out there like general etc.

I have used dyes, I have never used water based stain.
Am considering trying some.

I was just looking for some reasons some choose one over the other.
I primarily use shellac for a topcoat. brushed, wiped, sprayed, and
french polished.

My desire is to find out from other peoples experience why one
manufctr solved a problem over another.



For instance when painting the house, I don't like Behr paint. it is
so think it doesn't flow out well, or brush well. It rolls well, but
that's it. Cutting in is a Bitch because it is so thick.

For stains, I assume some just give a deeper richer tone. Maybe I'm
wrong. I'm looking for it.

On 12/9/2010 2:10 PM, SonomaProducts.com wrote:
I want to know what you prefer, and
what brought you to that company.

Do you switch around too?

First I will say, for some reason many people hate Minwax. I think it
is the Microsoft effect where big companies are somehow evil.

I would say company to company is less imporant than type to type. An
oil based pigment stain from Minwax or Cabot, etc. is pretty much all
the same.

What drives my purchase is a combination of the wood and the desired
effect. I use many different types of products. Oil pigment stains
have many limitations but are the perfect solution for some things.
Usually on hardwoods when you want a minimal color change. But even
then, Oak is very good with oil stains but Maple is not.

Gel stains and tinted poly (minwax polyshades for example) or water
or alcohol based analine dyes or chemical treatments or water based
pigment stains (see General Finishes) all do very different things on
different woods and all have their places. Also, most of the best
finishes combine a few different products in layers.

Buy and try my friend, buy and try. Of course it is best to follow
the foots steps of someone who has developed a specific technique and
provides some deatil on the materials and approach but nothing beats
6 or 8 pint sized cans of different stuf and some sample boards.

try a penetrating stain, I like/prefer Mohawk
http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/cata...asp?ictNbr=178