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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: jtwalsh62 on February 05, 2012, 06:48:00 PM

Title: Staining Maple
Post by: jtwalsh62 on February 05, 2012, 06:48:00 PM

I want to stain some Maple black (or dark as can be) this will be under clear glass . what yall using

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: GREG IN MALAD on February 05, 2012, 07:32:00 PM

I use water base analine, just make sure to let it dry before you glue it up or you can get air bubbles.

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: jsweka on February 05, 2012, 10:31:00 PM

Don't use a "stain".  The oil in stains could affect your glue up.

Use a dye - either water or alcohol based.

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: fujimo on February 05, 2012, 11:27:00 PM

would water based leather dye do the job?

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: monterey on February 06, 2012, 04:11:00 PM

I think the leather dye would work.  T'were me, I'd use the alcohol based dye.  Much less chance of the bubbling mentioned above.

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: 4est trekker on February 06, 2012, 07:14:00 PM

Ebonize it...you can look up the process online, but it can easily be done by soaking a steel wool pad in some vinegar for 3-5 days (or longer).  The vinegar (acid) will etch (eat) the steel wool.  The resulting concoction, when applied to the wood, will change the surface to a near black finish, depending on the amount of applications and density of the mixture.  Hope that helps  :)

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: Ranger44 on February 06, 2012, 07:34:00 PM

I've used RIT dye mixed in denatured alcohol to stain maple and it worked well but never put it under glass.  The alcohol evaporates quickly and I've been able to do several successive coats to get it very black in a relatively short time.

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: kennym on February 06, 2012, 10:42:00 PM

I've only stained one set of maple, we used lockwood dye, and it said use hot water. Never again, the maple lams curled and went wild! Had to lock em in the hotbox between 2 boards for a week! LOL

Worked tho, pic on this page...

A coat of walnut , then one of silver gray

 http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com/page04.html

Title: Re: Staining Maple
Post by: Big-un08 on February 07, 2012, 12:14:00 AM

I just pulled one off the form after using the alcohol based arrow stain from 3 rivers and it worked out beautifully.