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 colour 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, the recommendations depend on the type of wood. For light colored wood species (eg softwoods, oak, ...) “Smoke 5%”, “White 5%” or “Mist 5%” can be a good starting point. For darker woods (eg walnut, tropical hardwoods, ...) usually “Pure” is a good solution.
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 color differences between two of the same planks, so keep the process as similar as possible.
Start by sanding up to a 100 or 150 grit, depending on the type of surface. Then vacuuming off all the sanding dust. Depending on the wood species, type of surface and the desired result, use either our Cleaner , WoodPrep , Tannin Primer or Deep Cleaner to further prep the surface before oiling.
Sanding affects how open the grain of the wood is, and as a result, differences in sanding will allow for more or less product penetration. If using a pigmented color, more product penetration results in more pigment, which in turn affects the final color.
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
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.
Wood is a naturally growing material, and variations in color within one species are typical and to be expected. Variation in wood color will determine how the final color will be when a colored oil is applied. This must always be explained to a prospective customer!
