Thread: How to Achieve This Color with Stain

Hi JGarver

Whatever you do, do so on a number of test pieces of oak and cherry first. With each test, write down exactly what you did, the mix you used, the brand of colour/finish used.

? What type of finish do you want on the table? Gloss, semi, satin??
? What do you want the finish to do? Long lasting?

The answers to these two questions will point to the finish you put on, which will help point to the type of stain/colour you use under the finish.

Back to colour matching.
you can use tea, coffee, coloured gel stains, food colouring, water-dyes, etc etc etc.

The best thing is to buy a few and start mixing your own colours and testing them.

Have fun (and don't forget to wear gloves)

cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by JGarver

. I've sanded down the table I got from the resale shop, but can't achieve a color close to what our dining room table has.

I second Wendy's advice but depending on the timber, you may never match the colour exactly because different timbers react differently from each other when it comes to accepting stain and can give a totally different colour in appearance although the same stain was used on both timbers. However, if you continue to experiment with your colours, you should come up with something that is satisfactory to you and acceptable. Trial and error seems to be the only way of achieving this. Good luck with it.