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Wood stains are available in a wide range of shades, but when you need to match bare wood to wood that was stained long ago, it may be hard to find a perfect match on the store shelf. The solution is to create your own blended stain.
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Start by finding two stains that are a close match - one that's slightly lighter than the stain you're matching, and another that is slightly darker. Pigmented stains like these need to be stirred thoroughly, as the coloring agents tend to settle to the bottom of the can.
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A baby syringe is the perfect tool for transferring small amounts to a mixing container. Mix measured portions (for example, one part red stain to 2 parts yellow stain) until you find a blend that looks like a good match.
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| Mix the stains together... |
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... and brush the new stain onto a small patch of the untreated wood to test your color.
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| Work the stain into the untreated wood with a rag to determine if your blend is too light or too dark. |
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Adjust the mix as needed until you find the perfect match. Stain the remainder of the untreated wood with this new blend.
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If you can't find just the right color of stain on the shelf, don't worry - you can mix it yourself! |
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