Video Vault: Matching Stains to Existing Cabinets
When off-the-shelf stains don't match, here's how to make your own
In this gem from the Fine Homebuilding Video Vault, cabinetmaker Rex Alexander shows you how to match stain to existing kitchen cabinets. To get the perfect match, he ruled out commercially available penetrating stains, and instead mixes dollops of universal stains which produce a near match. After testing on a sample board, Rex explains that although the surface looks a little too red, a drop of yellow universal tint into the top-coat of lacquer will even out the finish. He also notes that since the cabinets are made from Beech, a wood conditioner should be used to make the grain more even after staining.