What does blotchy maple stain look like? Google has failed me...
Comments (6)
function_first
11 years agoI have medium stained maple cabinets. As I've followed another thread here today I have remembered how when they first arrived and were put in I was so disappointed and awfully afraid I was that I would always see the blochiness. That hasn't happened. I quit noticing it as soon as the kitchen came together, and everything got put back in place, it just adds to the warmth and character now, IMO. I actually like the unevenness of the finish now. Really. The unevenness of the finish is what separates real wood from laminate imitators -- check out a laminate floor or door, nothing blotchy there, easy to photoshop a picture. "This is no picture," my cabinets seem to be saying. Three years later, I'd even choose maple again -- tough stuff, not a ding or scratch on it yet, with cooks, kids, foster kids, and bulldogs. That's saying something.
The picture I added is mid-reno. In the finished kitchen I can't take a distant photo with the island and pendants in the way -- seeing it all at once is really the only way to notice the differences. The left side of the photo is engulfed in shadows, so ignore that (it has similar variations)-- the right side of the photo is an accurate representation of the finish. The place that particularly bothered me was stark change from dark to light when comparing the two base cabinet doors (same cabinet), second and third doors from the right. Those are behind an island now and like I said, they wouldn't/don't bother me at all now.
Related Discussions
SOS--- gel stain all blotchy
Comments (15)I did my projects during the heat of the humid summers. And yes, at least a week. Ugh. The GF gel stain--yes to the top coat. The Old Master gel stain--nope. It had a shine to it, and the timing was so tight with listing the house that there was no time to do the top coat. That was our dresser. I think the realtor was taking photos about an hour after we put it in our room. And it is still in good condition, even after the move....See MoreWhat do your stained or natural wood cabinets look like?
Comments (38)I just saw this. I have to tell you, stained cabinets never spoke to me. I'd come across a painted kitchen and "ooOOOoooooo," I'd softly quiver. ("quiver?" OMG. I said "quiver.") Anyway, that was until the day I stripped some vintage, beaded inset cabinets down to bare oak. Holy moly were they pretty. I antiqued them with a gray stain, then 2 different tones of brown to reach an incredible finish. Then, I stripped some of those horrible dark red/black cherry cabinets, again, down to bare wood. So absolutely beautiful. I've actually done the same finish now on 4 antique doors, too. LOVE IT. Now I have such a mix of wood in my kitchen it probably looks stupid, but I call it "eclectic." (No, it's not nice just because I did it. It's just that I can't decide now what to do!) But I don't want to repaint them. My point in all this? I love the pictures this question is provided. Thanks for asking. Also, don't be shy about Citristripping the finish off your cabs and restaining. It's a PIA, but incredibly do-able in place with Citristrip. Messy, but no longer flesh-eating. Just a thought....See MoreLooking for pics of Barker Walnut, Maple (Tamarack stain)& Cherry cabs
Comments (5)I don't have Barker cabinets (ours are DeWils), but they are cherry with no stain-just a clearcoat. They've been in since July 2010 and you can see how they've changed here - note the darker "stripe" in the middle between the drawers: Here they are closed, but they are getting a lot of light so it's a little deceiving: We also have a walnut china cabinet that had been built into the wall in the dining room. When we remodeled we removed that wall but were able to save the china cabinet (I love walnut). I had no idea the wood had lightened until we removed it. At the top inside edge you can see (hopefully) a small darker stripe where the doors cover the wood: HTH...See MoreFailed stained job Kitchen Cabinet door :( Not sure what to do...
Comments (8)PROTIP :) Clean with a degreaser, if these are existing cabinets, there will be grease, fingermarks around the knob location and frequently-handled places. Grease is no friend to oil stain. Sand with 180 gently. Fine sanding sponges are ideal, or nearly so. Vacuum the dust, wipe with a microfiber rag. Stir the stain, even gel stain settles somewhat in transit, from the endless vibrations. When you wipe, you are starting with a dry rag. A dry rag is going to pull off more stain than it leaves. You need to keep going; apply another even coat of gel stain, use the wet part of the rag to get an even application. Once your rag gets embedded with stain, you will see the improvement. Don't give up yet. Casey...See Moretaggie
11 years agoKris_ma's is a great example, and personally I LOVE that kitchen! To me, that is what wood is supposed to look like. Here is ours with similar variation ... I guess people who don't like or expect it call it 'blotchiness', but I just call it 'variation', lol.
From far away and then closer up:
And here is an example in our ensuite. It's a bit dark re the lack of amazing lighting by the john :) but it shows the difference between a maple veneer vs. the wood. The vanity on the left is just veneer because we didn't want to pay the ridiculously crazy builder upcharge for real wood, but the cabinets over the toilet we had added later and went with wood. Not the best picture, but it at least shows the difference re. how the veneer is smooth and unvaried whereas the wood shows variation re how the wood areas take the stain.
annac54
11 years agoogrose_tx
11 years ago
williamsemOriginal Author