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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Brad Isham on March 05, 2011, 10:58:00 AM

Title: Staining laminates
Post by: Brad Isham on March 05, 2011, 10:58:00 AM
I'm making a three piece recurve.
Can I stain laminates before glueing?
If so, what type of stain?
Any precautions/procedures to follow?
I've got some beautiful quilted maple limb lams, I'd like to just slightly darken w/a honey or carmel color before glueing to match the riser from the same wood. The riser was finished w/ 1 coat Watco Danish Oil followed by three coats Watco Poly per manufacturers instructions. Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Staining laminates
Post by: Trux Turning on March 05, 2011, 11:50:00 AM
You can stain them with any water or alcohol based stain or dye. Do not use an oil based stain.  I prefer to use alcohol dyes instead of water based-less grain raising and you don't have to worry about moisture being added to your lams. Rite dyes and alcohol work well. The other thing to keep in mind is your lams will look darker once you glue them up.