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Anyone have pictures of Minwax Jacobean or Dark Walnut on oak?

13 years ago

I really want my hardwoods dark brown but not black. I can't decide if dark walnut or jacobean would be the darkest. I looked at the swatches in the Sherwin Williams, but it's so hard to tell. I'm thinking the jacobean will have less red in it and will be darker cooler brown? I want as little red as possible as our house will be done in cool blues. Thanks!

Comments (5)

doonie
13 years ago
Redroze has a lovely very dark wood floor through her home. The link to what it is is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread on Dark floor
jledhead
13 years ago
we just finished ours and did ebony with red oak floors. We were did test colors on the wood first to make sure it didn't end up black.
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hi i am also building a new home and need to decide on a flooring color for the entire house. we are doing cherry cabinets but LOVE dark walnut floors. we are afraid with cherry it will be too dark in the kitchen. we also have 2 large dogs and have heard that dark stains are terrible with pets because they show the scratches big time. we are wondering if we should go for the dark color we love, go lighter with a medium stain like special walnut or provincial, or just leave them natural to avoid the scratching. i really don't like the natural color at all though.
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This post is too scary! I am getting my floors refinished soon, along with new kitchen and study cabinets. I am also trying to decide between Special Walnut and Dark Walnut. The floor color depends on new kitchen cabinet colors, and vice versa... Positano - Could you post a picture of your Special Walnut? Josie - I LOVE your kitchen, it is exactly what I am trying to accomplish, from the white cabs and kahki granite, down to the subway tile backsplash and drawer pulls! We must be linked in some way. Dark Walnut was my first instinct until I thought of getting an island in a very dark, almost black, finish then Special Walnut would balance it out a bit. If you have more kitchen pics, I'd love to see them! What is your granite color? I'm afraid of going to pink or gold. I'm lazy and going to Home Depot for everything. ; ) Thanks- Stacey
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Comments (6)
lsander - I leave early in the morning and get home after dark so won't be able to take pics this week, but I wanted to mention an easy way to test the stain color before you make a final decision for your furniture piece. I went to a hardwood supply store and ordered a 1/2" thick long board in the material used for my doors, and had them cut it up into several pieces. Then I purchased several minwax stains that I thought may work and stained the boards (1 coat on one side, 2 coats on the other, etc. - and kept track by marking the sides of the boards with the exact application and color). When none of those were just right, I started mixing colors using a plastic teaspoon to make small stain mixtures and keeping track of the formulas by again writing on the sides of the boards with a Sharpee pen. Since I liked the darkness of the Dark Walnut and the warmth of the English Chestnut (Red Mahogany made it too red), I used 5 parts to 1 part English Chestnut down to 1 to 1. Needless to say, I have several boards all over my house and it was a small investment, but felt much more secure in taking the plunge and staining my doors once I saw the samples.
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Dark walnut or Jacobean
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Comments (7)
those two colors are only a shade off. not much difference in them once it's done. just get a spare piece of wood and do a sample. use both of them and then use 50/50 of both mixed together. see what you like. I wouldn't use Minwax at all. it's a cheaper stain. use Duraseal or Bona or even a Varathane or General finishes. better quality. 50/50 special walnut and dark walnut. the right side is two coats.
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dainaadele
13 years ago
jledhead's floor is about as dark as red oak will go using simple methods. It is a hard wood and the lighter areas will not accept the stain very much.

If you want it darker, there may be options if:

Don't use Miniwax or any stain that is also a sealer. When it is done the pores are sealed and a second coat will not get it any darker, other brands that don't have sealers can sometimes go just a smidge darker with a second coat.

Option 2: You may be able to achieve it using a water based stain and sloshing it on twice, with a very light sanding in between. (The water based stain will raise the grain a little allowing more stain to sink in. You then have to sand to get the grain back down, and then another coat gets it a little darker. -yup! experience!)

Third: Aniline dyes are known to penetrate the best. They are not found in average big box stores and come in a powder form that you mix up yourself. That is what the big boys who are professional woodowrkers would tell you to do. -Actually, they would proabbaly tell you you should have installed walnut if you wanted dark floors and make some comment about people not realizing that they cannot change wood from one species into another. ;-) -Being a novice woodworker I have been on the recieveing side of those kind of comments, and as much as I hate to admit it, they are a tad bit right. I am slowly learning what types of wood to use for different projects. Sigh.

Hope this helps! -Daina.
kimba615
13 years ago
We used Minwax Dark Walnut on red oak and were very pleased with the results. It is a dark brown, not really reddish at all. Unfortunately, I did not take photos before we protected the floors. If you can wait a couple of days, I'd be happy to uncover the floors over the weekend to take a couple of pictures.
stevie_2010
13 years ago
Mine are Jacobean on red oak.

{{!gwi}}

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