Help with stain.....

[Bob Mariacher]

I would like to stain an ash grandfather clock.
It must be dark brown with a redish hint. Every stain I try
is to light. Please advise.

[Stephen Shepherd]

Bob,
Ash can be difficult to stain, especially if you sand it with a too fine grit which can polish the wood preventing the stain from absorbing. You might try a double stain, first staining the red color allowing it to dry and then followed by the dark brown stain. Also gel stains might work as would tinted shellac or tinted varnish.
Good Luck

Stephen

[Ken]

Ron:

Lots O luck bud with staining that Ash. Unfortunately, I doubt seriously that you'll ever get it as dark as you would like. Stephen gave you some pretty good advice. If you have sanded your clock with fine sandpaper you might try resanding with 80 or 100 grit paper. I practiclly quit using Ash for the very reason you have discovered. Just can't seem to get the stain shades I would like after application.

[Lou]

The only thing that might work is to stain as you have so far with the brown or red based stain then top coat the wood with a finish that has color added. By spraying light coats of finish (shellac, varnish or lacqure) you can build up more color and more of the type of finish that you might see in professional finishes. The color can come from dies, artest colors, Japanies colors depending on your finish choice.

Lou