Author Topic: Staining Vine Maple ?  (Read 1893 times)

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Offline NOMADIC PIRATE

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Staining Vine Maple ?
« on: November 13, 2015, 04:34:40 pm »
Not sure yet if I'll stain it but I have to do something this wood is so darn white !!  :D :D :D ( maybe a backing )

Anyway, back to staining, how does this wood take a stain like the common Minwax you get at ACE ?
NORTH SHORE, HAWAII

Offline aaron

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2015, 04:51:11 pm »
Stains well in my experience. I usually use the vinegar and steelwool trick to make it dark grey. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=49428.0
Ilwaco, Washington, USA
"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"

Offline Onebowonder

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2015, 04:58:31 pm »
I'm not sure if vine maple stains differently than hard maple, but with hard maple, I've been able to get excellent results with leather dye.  If you want to lighten the effect of the dye, I've used mineral oil to thin it down some with good effect.

OneBow

Offline PatM

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2015, 05:06:14 pm »
Woods like Maple and HHB definitely take a more potent stain like leather dye to really darken them.
 Gordon often posts what he uses on a particular  bow.

Offline Bryce

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2015, 05:37:29 pm »
I like the spirit based leather dyes. My favorite for most white woods
Clatskanie, Oregon

blackhawk

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2015, 05:53:56 pm »
+3 on the dyes. ...especially all the maples ;)

Offline bubby

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2015, 06:38:23 pm »
I haven't gotten any yet but the colors blackhawk gets with those trans tint dyes is incredible
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Weylin

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2015, 07:27:51 pm »
I like the alcohol based Fiebings leather dyes.

Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: Staining Vine Maple ?
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2015, 07:31:30 pm »
Alcohol and oil based aniline dyes work expertly on vine maple.

I'll never use Minwax type stains on bows again in this lifetime. It muddies  the grain of the wood, while anilines bring it to life. Try it and see.

Woodworkers Warehouse sells aniline dyes of various mediums.
Straight wood may make a better bow, but crooked wood makes a better bowyer