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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekig5!tekig4!briand
From: briand@tekig4.UUCP (Brian Diehm)
Newsgroups: net.rec.wood
Subject: Re: Need help with stains, varnishes
Message-ID: <217@tekig4.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 13:38:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekig4.217
Posted: Fri Aug 16 13:38:25 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 22:20:05 EDT
References: <708@spuxll.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 34

> I am replacing some of the trim in my 30 year-old house, and am trying
> to match the existing trim.
> 
> I have tried the stains of several manufacturers. I've used several
> different flavors (oak, maple, teak), and in all cases
> I get a product that covers much too heavily. On the other hand, 
> I have tried appling clear varnish (the only varnish I've
> been able to find) over my sample (pine) trim, and I get no color 
> change in the wood at all.
> 
> My question: Is there such a thing as an "orange" varnish? The finish
> provided by the clear varnish exactly matches the finish of the existing 
> trim. I now need only to darken the wood slightly.

*** REPLACE THIS MESS WITH YOUR LINEAGE ***

Well, yes, there IS orange varnish.  Particularly, clear varnish that is 30
years old.  It could simply have been clear when the original owners applied
it.

You might consider having a paint store carefully custom tint a stain for you.
I did this with some stuff I wanted LIGHT gray - they took their stain base
(clear), and added about 1/10th the amount of black tint than normally required
for a middle gray.  It worked very well, but that was for an indoor application.
HOWEVER, if the original application was a "hard" finish, (i.e., varnish,
Varathane, or even paint), then you MUST strip it before applying stain.

I don't know if I'm insulting your experience here, but be aware also that
exterior stains come in "transparent" and "heavy body" versions, the latter
being as opaque as paint.

-Brian Diehm
Tektronix, Inc. ( I don't claim to know Tek's position vis-a-vis your situation.
		Hell, I don't even know what they paint THEIR buildings with!)