Dollars to Donuts the wood was not sealed prior to applying the stain. This is exactly what I would expect from coloring unsealed maple, regardless of the coloring medium. Maple will blotch like this if not sealed properly before coloring. It's not necessarily the fault of the stain. I've used MW Golden Oak before and it's worked just fine. If this were mine, I'd take the top back down to bare wood, use a stripper to try to remove any remaining stain from the pores of the wood, wash the top to remove any residual stripper, sand, seal, and re-stain the top. Same for the aprons too.
Help w/ Maple Table Stain
Please help. I ordered a custom maple wood table from a local carpenter and asked for a smooth, traditional/contemporary (not rustic) light to medium finish. I had read that maple could be hard to stain but never came across photos with this much blotchiness and color variation. I do like the color on some of the legs (photo 1) but am particularly disappointed by the top surface and how it almost looks dirty in places. This is Minwax golden oak stain finished with 4 coats of polyeurethane.Carpenter says this is just what the wood did and what maple looks like.
Why is the stain so uneven with so much variation? Is this a desirable/expected finish for a solid maple wood table... or did something go wrong?
We’ve already paid 50% deposit. I want to be fair to carpenter and am trying to decide next steps.
If we walk away from the table and/or the carpenter is able to find another buyer for this table and/or we start over with a new carpenter, how can we avoid getting this look again?
Or is this what maple wood looks like when hand stained and I just need to adjust my expectations?
Any and all recommendations appreciated.
Why is the stain so uneven with so much variation? Is this a desirable/expected finish for a solid maple wood table... or did something go wrong?
We’ve already paid 50% deposit. I want to be fair to carpenter and am trying to decide next steps.
If we walk away from the table and/or the carpenter is able to find another buyer for this table and/or we start over with a new carpenter, how can we avoid getting this look again?
Or is this what maple wood looks like when hand stained and I just need to adjust my expectations?
Any and all recommendations appreciated.
Attachments
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
OK, I apologize but I'm going on a rant now.
The put it bluntly, it's a train wreck & I can't believe he even showed it to you, much less made a comment like that. Sure, maple does that, so you figure it looks ok? I'm sorry and he may be a nice guy, but that comment indicates he is either not knowledgeable, or doesn't care what he sends out the door with his name on it.
No way I would accept it. I would demand it either be sanded down or build a new top. NO STAIN & NO DYE. Tell him you want a non-yellowing clear coat only, something like Polyacrylic or any of the Target Coatings.
While you're at it, he should round over or profile the edges and get rid of the sharp corners.
Hope it works out.
The put it bluntly, it's a train wreck & I can't believe he even showed it to you, much less made a comment like that. Sure, maple does that, so you figure it looks ok? I'm sorry and he may be a nice guy, but that comment indicates he is either not knowledgeable, or doesn't care what he sends out the door with his name on it.
No way I would accept it. I would demand it either be sanded down or build a new top. NO STAIN & NO DYE. Tell him you want a non-yellowing clear coat only, something like Polyacrylic or any of the Target Coatings.
While you're at it, he should round over or profile the edges and get rid of the sharp corners.
Hope it works out.
Maybe the operative word here is the statement that the maker is a carpenter, rather than furniture maker. Not slamming carpenters, but this piece is not done properly. The pic below is dyed maple with polyurethane topcoat. It was sealed with 50/50 cut Sealcoat sealer prior to being colored.
![Wood Table Machine tool Hardwood Flooring]()
I do not like using Minwax on anything where an even finish is being sought, which is almost everything with me. When I do maple I seal it with dewaxed shellac, self mixed and fresh. I then add dye to shellac and spray a few thin coats to build the color I am looking for. I topcoat with whatever clear coat I have decided to use.
Attachments
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
