silvrtoy

I am working on an old Pine Jelly Cupboard that had some termite damage. I cut the damaged wood out and replaced it with new. My question is what can I do before hand with the new wood so it will match when I stain the cupboard. Thanks for any and all help.

cabinetman

Your choices may be based on how large the repair. For example, if it was a repair from joint to joint, like a stretcher, or was it in the middle of a large flat surface.

You have a few choices. You could strip the cabinet, so it would be like starting with the same wood/color. If it was a sectional repair, toning in the new wood to match might work. There's a lot of variables in doing the magic.

What you can try is just toning in the repair to look like the surrounding area. You could start with samples, and using a powder mix water based stain, or a mix of powders, come up with something. I'm suggesting water based as you can increase its color concentration gradually, and it dries fast.

Gel stains don't really penetrate the wood, and I would think experimenting with a combo of them may come close. Pigmented stains as in oil based stains color quickly and if used as a mix, you can start with just mineral spirits as a mixing medium, and work up to full colors. The opposite of that is to start with a stain, and then thin, which doesn't produce as much of a controlled gradual selection.

In the end it's a matter of coloring and fading so the repair is minimally noticeable. I say that because sometimes you get real lucky.

When coloring samples, take the process to the final topcoat, because that will change the look.

dpmcreations

Matching can be a pretty tough thing.. As of late I have had alot of practice.. The best bet is to take a sample and to finish little areas until you get a match to what you are fixing.. Take Cabinetman's advice.. Always take it up to full finish as you won't get the true color until that point...

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Duane