matching color of stained wood


  #1  
Old 03-17-17, 07:43 AM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: upstate New York
Posts: 373
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
matching color of stained wood

Hi, The trim and doors in my house are stained maple color and finished with semi gloss poly. I've been trying to repair and refinish several spots where vacuum cleaner and furniture moving have damaged the wood. The problem I'm having is that maple stain turns the damaged spots very dark. Any tricks to color matching for spot repairs? Thanks in advance, Steve
 
  #2  
Old 03-17-17, 07:49 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
The name on the can is meaningless, you need to do a color match. It will also be nearly impossible because your polyurethane has likely ambered due to exposure to UV light. Cant really give you color suggestions without a picture.
 
  #3  
Old 03-17-17, 08:10 AM
Handyone's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: U.S.
Posts: 4,807
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Touching up scratches is always hard. The scratch will absorb stain much more than the surface wood.
You might trying thinning the stain or using a fill stick. The fill stick is like a crayon and is rubbed into the scratch.
Something like Formby's scratch hiding oil might work also.
 
  #4  
Old 03-17-17, 08:59 AM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,659
Received 835 Upvotes on 732 Posts
Whenever touching up damage like that I always use a stain a shade or 3 lighter. Sometimes just applying fresh poly is enough.
 
  #5  
Old 03-17-17, 09:53 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
Its entirely possible that originally, there was no stain used. Like marksr said, it may just be poly.
 
  #6  
Old 03-17-17, 10:32 AM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: upstate New York
Posts: 373
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
stain

Wow, great comments and suggestions. And quick! Thanks
 
  #7  
Old 03-17-17, 12:48 PM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,659
Received 835 Upvotes on 732 Posts
Often with even with light colored stains, poly/varnish alone will make the scratches almost disappear. It can be difficult to make the abuse totally disappear without sanding down to fresh wood and refinishing ... but if you can get it where those spots don't catch your eye, that's generally good enough.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: