My secret weapon... for staining wood, that is....

Remember the last post, where I wrote about working on this old RCA cabinet?  

I had to line this old shelf with a new skin of walnut plywood, and (hopefully) match the stain to the existing cabinet. 

I'm not sure how you feel about it, but matching stains give me a headache. It's difficult, and sometimes impossible. And customers don't care how hard it it, they just want it done. 

Enter Mohawk finishing products... 

my secret weapon. 

They make a variety of spray stains/toners that are PERFECT for matching stains. In fact, I bought a full spectrum of their colors - so that I could layer them onto existing pieces, matching the stain PERFECTLY.

I recently had someone stop by the shop and drop off a set of 36" table legs. He re-did his dining area, and fell in love with some different chairs. chairs. So he wanted these legs lengthened by eight inches. 

My metal magician, Hugo, fabricated some collars that slip over the existing leg, and allowed me to bolt on the extension. He's a master! 

I laminated some hardwood that I had on hand, and planed and squared it to the right size to just fit into the collar. 

(Well, one of them took little coaxing with a hammer.)

(Well, one of them took little coaxing with a hammer.)

They look fabulous, and all that's left is staining them to match, Which is where the Mohawk toners come in. I sprayed them with a red walnut toner, but then touched them up with the brown walnut toner, to blend and match. 

Honestly, these lower extensions look like they've always been there!

Some decorative screws to attach everything finished off this project, just it time for my client to re-assemble his kitchen table and get ready to host his Easter dinner. 

If you've never experimented with Mohawk toners, I suggest you buy a spectrum of colors, and keep them in your shop for jobs like these. They allow you to layer colors and blend just about any hue that you need to match.

 Here's a link to check some out.

At around $7 a can, you can stock your shop pretty nicely. 

And that is my secret weapon for matching finishes... you can thank me later!