How to Make Wood Stain Samples
In this article, we will look at how to make a wood sample.
It is vital to show your customer the stain they are going to choose, before applying it to their whole project. It can be a great benefit to discuss color options and different wood types they can opt for.
That's why we provide our 6ml samples, so you can test the shade and show your customer a sample so they can pick!
Select Your Wood
First things first, you'll need to select the piece of wood you're using. Our oil shows up differently on different types of wood, so it's best practice to apply to the wood you'll use on the whole project. Please bear in mind the color differences in the wood too.
We understand that cutting off a piece of the project may be difficult, so aim to collect offcuts or select a wood that closely resembles the type you're using.
If the customer wants a natural look, we'd suggest trying Oil Plus 2C in Pure or Mist 5% as a starting point.
Sanding and Prep
You need to make sure that the way you prepare the sample, will be the exactly the same way you prepare the wooden project. Please be aware, that there can be colour differences between two of the same planks, so keep the process as similar as possible.
Start by sanding up to a 150 grit, then vacuuming off all the sanding dust. It is best practice to sand after you change each grit of sanding paper, to ensure dust won't affect the final finish.
Use our Cleaner to get rid of all the sanding dust - now it's time to apply the oil.
Applying the Oil
Our 6ml sachets are designed to make sampling our oil easy. Simply knead the packet (some of the pigment can settle), snap the sachet and squeeze out the oil.
Use a cut up section of our Beige Scrubby pad to apply the oil to your sample piece of wood. Rub the oil in, then leave it for five minutes. Wipe off the excess using our White Wiping Rag or a lint-free cloth.
Sample Reference
Make sure to keep the sample as a reference for your customer, in case of discrepancies. If you sand directly onto the project and sand it off again, it cannot be used as a reference against the final finish color.
