I have a can of stain that is turning to jelly. What is the recommended
method to thin it out?

Tue, Jan 2, 2007, 7:08pm (EST-3) (gman) doth
plaintively query:
I have a can of stain that is turning to jelly. What is the recommended
method to thin it out?

The back of the label doesn't say what to thin it with? Or doesn't
have a 1-800 number to the manufacturer?



JOAT
To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears
also.
- Igor Stravinsky

You're kidding, right?

"gman" wrote in message
news
I have a can of stain that is turning to jelly. What is the recommended
method to thin it out?

"gman" wrote...
I have a can of stain that is turning to jelly. What is the recommended
method to thin it out?


Sounds like the linseed oil in the stain has begun to polymerize. Best not
to use it in that case.

Oil based stain applies easily because it's disolved in spirits or naphtha.
The spirits evaporate, leaving the oil to auto-oxidize, forming a film that
locks in the pigment.

Even if you thin the jelly you have with spirits, the oil is already
polymerizing. You could end up with a film that doesn't adhere well to the
wood, and could start to lift under the top coat. That would suck.

IMO, not worth risking a nice project just to try and save some old stain.


--
Timothy Juvenal
www.tjwoodworking.com

Procedure for thinning jellied stain:

Fill coffee can with sawdust
Pour all of stain in sawdust
Allow to set up
Dump whole mess in trash, and go get some new stain from store.

Once it starts to set up, it won't work well for you. If you use it you can
have the joy of removing it before you can finish your project. Why take
the chance?

Old Guy


"gman" wrote in message
news
I have a can of stain that is turning to jelly. What is the recommended
method to thin it out?

I've used stain that had a thin layer on top, but the stain beneath was
fine.
I always thin stain with regular old paint thinner, about 1 part
thinner to 4 parts stain...works good...just be sure to shake it up
when you're done.

That's my experience.