Project by Mstateguy | posted 10-12-2018 12:51 AM | 1238 views | 0 times favorited | 7 comments | ![]() |
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I’ll begin with saying I have no formal or trade training in finishing systems. My vocational school days were a simple brush stain and polyurethane and after my return from a sabbatical to college I stepped back in a shop to teach where a spray booth was installed and shelves full of lacquers, conversion varnishes, thinners of all sorts abounded and I have slowly spent the last 7 years self teaching in their use. The picture of two door edges shows a very light stained maple door on the left. This was a Sherwin Williams custom color match to a magazine clipping that a customer provided (and saw a stained sample before buying it). The cabinets were brought to me for finishing, pro bono, in what was to be a quick stain and spray job. After staining the first door (not knowing of the original look the customer wanted) I sent a courtesy pic of the door before proceeding. My response was “can you make it darker”. I was then sent a picture of mocha colored cabinets followed by a “this is what she wants” text. (Remember…they picked the stain and saw a sample). Long story short after a couple of days I came across TransTint dyes on the internet and ordered some (I do not remember this specific tint). The first bottle was a waste to trial and error of mixing with the right carrier, and when to apply. I finally found best results of diluting the dye in the carrier, then mixing directly into the clear lacquer spray. There were some compatibility issues but finally got them worked out. The color changes you see in the pics are progressions from each coat up to I believe four coats of lacquer for the final color on the cabinets. I did experience issues with the finish getting knicked during processing and because the dye was in the clear coat, a ding through the clear exposed the lighter cabinets underneath. When they left the shop they were just what she wanted, not certain of the condition now three years later
7 comments so far
mel52
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1981 posts in 1277 days
#1 posted 10-12-2018 03:33 AM
Looks like a pro job to me. Thanks for showing.
-- MEL, Kansas
rtbrmb
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747 posts in 3401 days
#2 posted 10-12-2018 03:41 AM
thanks for sharing the process-they turned out great,
Bill in MI
Rayne
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1319 posts in 2552 days
#3 posted 10-12-2018 03:42 AM
Transtint Dye is some good stuff. I used it on my copycat entertainment center I built using Maple ply. Used Cherry tint to the shade I wanted and it turned out great, IMO. What you built does indeed look like a pro job. I might have to try your method of incorporating it into a spray.
LloydGatto
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4 posts in 875 days
#4 posted 10-12-2018 06:43 AM
It looks great.
Mstateguy
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16 posts in 878 days
#5 posted 10-12-2018 09:31 AM
I appreciate the compliments on these. There were a LOT of issues experienced that a “pro” would have never had, but when it finally came together I was impressed at the depth of color the dye gave the cabinets. If only I could pass on the “keep trying until you get it right” attitude to the students in my program who seem all to content to say “ well that didn’t work” and walk away.
One of the reasons I eventually added the dye to the clear, was that applying it directly to the cabinets you had to wipe away the excess, and it never would darken to the color needed. By putting in the clear it could be layered on and dried in.
NOTE: this method did require frequent cleaning of the gun and precise measurements (I used digital scales) when mixing. It may not show in the pics, but inconsistent spray speeds and overlaps could leave some doors darker or lighter than others, or progressions of color on one door! IE: a heavy coat puts more dye on than a lighter coat
Peteybadboy
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3090 posts in 2962 days
#6 posted 10-12-2018 09:56 AM
Mstateguy, whish I had you as a teacher! They have got to be learning from you. Keep up the good work.
-- Petey
ohwoodeye
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2589 posts in 4166 days
#7 posted 10-12-2018 12:19 PM
Another satisfied customer.
Nice job.
-- "Fine Woodworking" is the name given to a project that takes 3 times longer than normal to finish because you used hand tools instead of power tools. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI
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