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staining over wood filler gives blotchy results

14 years ago

Paid someone to build new oak stairs for our basement - I sanded them and stained with a water based stain. Unfortunately the areas where the guy used some kind of pore filler do not stain as dark as the oak, giving me a blotchy look. I've given the stairs 2 coats of stain, but still the same. Before I throw in the towel and paint the risers and moldings white, leaving just the treads stained, does anyone have an idea how to correct this problem?

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Comments (4)

slateberry
14 years ago
I have gone over the filler areas with a furniture scratch touch up pen, trying to darken and make it blend in. It's kind of fun in a challenging, fiddly way.

I have used the kind below but I am sure their are many out there. it's just stain in a pen applicator, afaict.

Here is a link that might be useful: touch up pen
amyds
Original Author
14 years ago
Not a bad idea (and thanks for the link), especially since I cringe at the idea of painting over so much beautiful oak! I'll give it a try unless anyone else has a better suggestion?
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Susan, If my cabients were maple this would be much easier for me to jump on it! :) I have a few cabinets that are really grainy. My other painted vanity has some grain and it doesn't bother me but the kitchen gets a lot of light. I just know this is a huge job and everybody will see it once finished. I get concerned painting over wood too but I always am really happy with the end result. I'll paint mine if you paint yours! :) Someone, Oh, I'll buy high quality paint (BM, Fine Paint of Europe, Cabinet Coat, etc.) for this one for sure. Thanks for the tip about the sander. I used two of my Dad's for the stair project (killed his vintage one) but I think I'll buy my own for this large of a project. Java, You crack me up. :) Momto4boys did her oak cabinets not that long ago and they really look great. Those threads have a lot of good info. MBR is at a stand still. Have the paint picked out, the BM Dromedary Camel, but will have to wait until after the New Year to paint. I want brown curtains but am trying to decide how much I really want to spend. Thanks for asking! Oakley, You'll have to trust me that the paint doesn't photograph well and look nice IRL but I also know you don't like green. :) I love green, ha. The poster your're thinking of, what color did she paint her walls? I get a lot of compliments on this paint color. It's interesting to me how my cabeints used to be a nice light color and now they're turning more yellow/orange over time, ick.
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bobismyuncle
14 years ago
Those pens contain stain -- lots of thinner, dye and/or pigment and just enough binder (varnish/oil) to hold it together until top coated. It will quickly rub of unless you top coat,

In the future, it's better to do the staining and finishing, then come by with a wax filler on the nail holes. Stainable filler is an oxymoron. Yes, fillers take stain. But they also block stain from the surrounding wood and never take stain the same as the wood.
brickeyee
14 years ago
"pore filler" is a very different animal than typical wood fillers for holes and defects.

Pore-O-Pac is Behlan's name for their paste wood grain filler.

It is very fine silica in a binder and used to fill the actual wood pores in woods like oak to produce a smooth surface.

If they used grain filler the entire surface should be covered, not just parts.

If they used a wood filler for holes and defects they are ALL notorious for not taking stain the same as the surrounding wood. Like glue spills they prevent stains and dyes from penetrating uniformly and producing a uniform color.

Sanding the finish off and then using a colored top coat is probably the most effective way of fixing the problem.

Just avoid polyshades. The pigments settle out even as you are applying the stuff producing uneven color, and vigorous shaking or stirring can produce bubbles that affect the final finish.

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