On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 22:30:46 GMT, Patrick Conroy
wrote:

Any tips for darkening Hard Maple to an almost "Dard Fumed Oak" color with
analine dyes?

I've tried my Alcohol based Transtint and it still is splotchy. I tried
some water based JE Moser, no splotches but it looks so dead, so *flat*. I
combined the two and its a little better.

I'm going to try a Gel Stain over the dye tonight and see if that helps.

I haven't tried conditioner yet. I've got some, just haven't gotten around
to a test strip.

I sanded to 220 - should I have backed off to 120/150 or so?

I used Maple because that's what I had lying around. Had I know "she"
wanted it dark, I probably would'a picked something else.

Anyone have some tiplets(R) for coloring hard maple they can share?


A little unsolicited, but staining maple dark is almost a crime, IMO.
Perhaps you could sand a bit to 1500 grit, put a nice coating of
shellac on it, and show it to "her" to change her mind? Few woods
polish up so nicely, and the grain is almost always so superb....


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