Finishing with Stain

[Doug R]

I've heard others using Stain thined with Mineral Spirits to finish there carvings is there a ratio to use for the proper consistence. I have used oil paints thinned with BLO a couple of times but seems it comes out more yellow in color than dark as in the oil pigment. New to this so any help will be benificial. Thanks .

[northwood bob]

I've used several stains right out of the can. If you are thinking of thinning it, I would think it would depend on what your dream or outcome would be. There are some translucent and colored stains available (most carving stores should be carrying them). I completed the attached project using these stains and topcoating with a spray poly.

Bob

[Robson Valley]

The paint is drying as I type. Just used some very dilute artist's acrylic paints as stains on white wood (alder). I think that I got what I wanted, only by fooling around on some scrap wood.
I learned that as stains (washes?), the acrylics need to be far more dilute than I expected, initially. Top coat will be acrylic Varathane.

[William]

I have been using stain on all the pine board carvings
and don't use thinner in the stain ,they are right out of
the can.

I use Minwax stain and use "Natural 209" as a thinner
and all the colors I use are made from different blends
of just 4 different colors including Natural.

Natural (almost clear) --- Cherry (slight red tint)
Sedona Red (medium red)----Red Oak (dark red)

These colors work well on pine but may not work
as well on basswood, the natural color of pine when
blended with these stains will produce a nice shade of
redish brown's and not just red.

Bill
^v^