The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
WATER STAIN OX PANELS
Walnut.—To take a walnut cabinet or bed panel for example, the gun is held fairly close, about twelve inches away, and the spray is passed up and down, back and forth over the corners and edges, being drawn away as the centre of the panel is approached, at the same time releasing pressure on the trigger to cut down the flow of material. In this manner only the outer edges are actually stained wet—the centre area is merely "fogged" or "misted," but carefully "feathered" or graduated in tone toward the darker portion. The lighter area usually predominates; in many cases only the area immediately adjacent to the shaded frame shows dark at all.
Formulas.—There are a variety of water stain formulas suitable for shaded finishes on bare walnut, a few of which follow:
(1) 31/2 oz. standard walnut aniline and 1/16 oz. scarlet to the gallon of water.
(2) 11/2 oz. mahogany brown, 1/2 oz. jet nigrosene, 1/16 oz. lemon yellow to 3 gallons water.
(3) 41/2 oz. walnut crystals, 3 oz. each mahogany brown and jet nigrosene, 3/4 oz. sal. soda to 5 gals, hot water; let cool and add 5 gals, cold water.
(4) 11/2 oz. walnut crystals,1/2 oz. mahogany brown to 1 gal. water.
(3) 11/2 oz. each mahogany brown and jet nigrosene to 2 gals, water and 1 pint denatured alcohol.
(6) 4 oz. standard walnut or walnut crystals and 1/2 oz. jet nigrosene to 1 gal. water and 1 pint alcohol.
(7) 6 oz. standard walnut, 2 oz. walnut crystals, 2 oz. jet nigrosene, 1 oz. lemon yellow to 2 gals, each water and alcohol.
Filler.—Where the wood is not to be left open-pored, the wood filler naturally has some effect, serving to soften the high-lighting in a degree governed by its own depth of color. It should therefore not be too dark nor be applied directly over the stain, but only after the stain has been allowed to dry and a wash coat (1 part 4 lb. cut white shellac to 7 gals, denatured alcohol) sprayed on and sanded smooth. This serves to seal the wood against any undue darkening action on the part of the oil in the filler which might otherwise obliterate the high-lighted effect entirely.
Mahogany.—In the case of a brown mahogany finish on mahogany, the problem is somewhat different due to the natural light reddish undertone of the wood itself which must first be made uniform all over. To accomplish this brown mahogany water stain of the desired shade is first mist-sprayed all over evenly, in a total strength of not over one or two ounces to the gallon of water. "When this is about dry, a 4 to 6 oz. gallon solution of the same stain is spray-shaded on as indicated for the walnut process above. A red mahogany finish is customarily shaded a blackish tone and the foregoing remarks concerning filler also apply.
