The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
If a light brown stain is desired, the addition of some auramine yellow to the formula and a weakening of the original solution will give this effect. This is sometimes desired for walnut for the reason that the wood is dark before the application of the stain, also for oak when a golden oak finish is desired. The original formula, with a little doctoring is suitable for Jacobean oak, early English, fumed oak, weathered oak or Flemish oak, all being different shades of brown. See Book III, Chapters I and IX.
APPLICATION OF WATER STAIN
The application of water stain is sometimes difficult, especially where you must use short strokes and on panels where your brush comes up against abutments, for water stain should be brushed out and not wiped. Rome finishers form a practice of wiping all stain, but this practice will cause dark streaks in the finish if you are using water or spirit stain. A long bristle brush with hairs reasonably stiff and from two to four inches wide, set in rubber, should be used for water staining. A brush with bristles set in slue will soon shed its bristles when the water has softened the glue. The same applies when applying alcohol stain. Take all drawers out of cabinets, also remove all movable parts and stain each separately.
Apply the stain in a sweeping stroke with the grain of the wood, which nearly always runs lengthwise of the piece, keeping all surfaces horizontal if possible. Work back and forth with the brush without lifting until your brush becomes too dry to cover the surface well with stain and then dip the brush half into the stain solution and apply again as before, with the grain of the wood, back and forth, from the farthest edge toward you, until the surface is covered. Before the stain is thoroughly set, brush out without using more stain until the surface has assumed a dull appearance. At this stage stop brushing and allow to dry. Take the next piece and repeat this operation on it, remembering always to brush with the grain and cover all parts of the surface equally, to insure a uniform surface in color. Above all be careful not to cover the same surface twice, or you will be sorry to find that this surface will he darker than the rest, and will have to be washed out, or the balance of the piece must be stained over to match.
Carvings on refinishing jobs offer an obstacle to water stain, for the reason that the old finish is usually not removed well in the carvings. This also applies in frets, or grilles, and flutes or mouldings. Wire brushes can be used in these places, or steel wool can be employed, when the stain will not penetrate, and 3 0 garnet paper can be used to sand in stain on places that are flat. Just enough sanding to allow penetration of the stain is sufficient as more than enough sanding will cause a darker place. The sanding or rubbing with steel wool can be done after the stain is applied, and when it draws away from the surface, for in this way it can be noticed readily where the stain does not penetrate and can be corrected at once.
