General Finishes, Water Based Dye, Ebony, Pint

Comments about General Finishes, Water Based Dye, Ebony, Pint :

I've been languishing with Miniwax Ebony stain in an attempt to create a deep black color to wood--in this case, pine. With Miniwax, you apply the black stain, and really slather it on, let it sit for about 45 minutes then wipe off the excess with a cloth. Reapply when it dries and you will get a "fairly" black stain-but for furniture it is NOT good enough. I decided to try General Finishes Dye Stain because I wanted a deeper darker black. First, this is a dye hence it really penetrates the wood. Apparently, dyes have a differnet molecular structure than stains but you can read more about that on the internet if you're interested...When you apply the General Finishes dye stain with a brush (I used a foam brush) it will go on and have a red/purplish hue to it. Do not worry--once it dries it will dry black. When you add the second coat and you will have a beautiful deep black color--you will still see the grain through the dye stain too--a beautiful jet black finish with a grain-beautful look. Apply your coats thin and evenly across the wood--you will probably not need to wipe off the excess stain with a rag in the way that you do with a conventional stain. I applied my coats thin and there was no excess to remove. I added polyurethane semi-gloss--which really goes on the dye nicely. I lighted sanded the polyurethane with 400grit after it dried, then added a second coat of polurethane. The pine panels and trim (it was for an aquarium stand) look professional. This dye stain is fantastic. You will not be disappointed. I found that the stain looks better and is more even when applied to wood that is treated with a pre-stain wood conditioner. I happened to have some of the Miniwax conditioner and that is what I used. You could also use the General Finishes conditioner too which i read is also excellent. I highly recommend this product! It is also made in America! I "heard" that their "800" customer service is excellent too but I did not try that. Happy woodworking!