TIL a client's comment about my stain work was spot on

They said the finish on their oak table looked 'muddy' because I was applying the stain too thick. I switched to wiping it off almost immediately with a clean rag, and the grain pops way more now. Anyone have a different method for getting clear color without losing depth?

4 comments

4 Comments

kimfisher2mo ago

I used to think more stain meant richer color, but that client was totally right about the muddy look. Wiping fast is a game changer for sure.

emmam892mo ago

But letting stain soak in longer gives a deeper, richer color, doesn't it?

calebc402mo ago

My old boss taught me that trick years ago.

terry8352mo ago

Yeah, that reminds me of a guy who insisted on using a foam brush for polyurethane on his walnut desk. He was getting all these bubbles and a cloudy finish. I told him to try a cheap natural bristle brush and to thin his first coat a bit, and it came out glass smooth.