Matching Stain

In the last blog I talked about how to repair a Dinning Room chair with  loose spindles and how to tighten them up with glue and dowels.  I had also mentioned you would have to touch up the stain and finish on the chair where you sanded the dowels smooth where it meets the leg.  The touch up of the stain and finish is what today's blog is about.

I do not want to discourage you from trying, but to inform you that it is really hard to have an exact match of stain if you do not know what color and brand is on your piece, especially if the piece is an antique.  If you know the color and brand of stain then you are all set to go, but keep in mind the age of the piece may have a slightly different look then what new stain would even though it's the same brand/color.  The brand I use the most is Zar because I have the most access to these. Zar is a gel stain and if I can not find a base color close enough to what I need, I will look for another gel stain by General Finishes. 

The first thing you want to be aware of is safety!  It is important that you do not mix different brands because you could have a chemical reaction.  The only sure way to know if you would get a chemical reaction is if they were mixed, so be safe and stick with one brand. You can mix different stains in the same brand with each other to get a color that should come close, if not an exact match.  There is no science when it comes to matching a finish.  I mix up small amounts of stain, but make sure there is enough to finish the project, in a small container with a wooden stick. Tongue depressor or Popsicle types work great.  I start with the majority of it being the base color, which is the closest that I can get to match the piece, then add teaspoons of a darker color until I get something that will match as close as possible. 

Once in a well ventilated area with your work surface under your piece covered and gloves on your hands, you're ready to begin applying the stain...after you read the directions on how to apply.  Remember that gel stain is fairly thick so you need to be careful while applying it. Make sure you use a lint free cloth to wipe the stain on, making sure you apply in the same direction. If you apply in multiple directions, it will show; this is also the reason that I prefer using a cloth instead of a brush or sponge. One coat of stain is usually all that is required. After the piece has dried for at least 24 hours I then will put a coat of finish on, usually polyurethane.

Another simpler, but possibly more costly, way of doing a color match is to have some one do it for you.  I have never used them, but Sherwin-Williams will mix stains for you. 

I hope that this helps you out with the projects around your house.  Feel free to contact me at  weberwooddesigns@gmail.com with questions about your particular repair so I can possibly offer some suggestions to your specific needs.  

Thanks
Dennis Weber
Weber Wood Designs