I have a maple butcher block bar top to finish. I need to match the best I can the color that's on the cabinets in the pictures. As you can see there is some blotch on the cabinets and the customer is OK with some blotching but I want as little as I can.

I have some Charles Niel blotch control (I've never used this product yet) I was planing to apply the blotch control according to the directions.
Then take sample pieces of the butcher block with the blotch control on it to a local paint store and see if they could match the satin on the cabinets.


What do you think

 

 

Hey Rich, I am pretty ignorant to the Blotch Control, I know it's wise to use it on Cherry. But is it needed with Maple? Thanks 

I believe so. Maple is famous for blotching from what I have read. This will be the first time for me staining maple. I generally avoid stains with a passion but sometimes .....................you have to.

I'm with you Rich. The way I look at it is, if you want a dark color table, build it from walnut, light colored table, maple, medium colored table, cherry! It's my simple mind. 

But I get the whole stain thing. I use em too when I have too.

I think the idea of samples will be the only way to go. Maybe with and without the blotch control. Probably shouldn't discount the use of dyes in lieu of stains.

Some cabinet makers spray tinted lacquer which makes matching the finish color, using stain/top coat, really difficult.

 

I think the blotch control will shift the color of the stain, and it may not match as exact as you want. It is just a thin coat finish, and the stain will not be absorbed as it would on bare wood. But if you have a piece to work with, you can figure it out. An easier way might be to match it yourself with dyes using your test piece. Then top coat as you want.

It almost seems it would be enough if you set the block outside in the sun for a couple days, darken it up a bit, then used a traditional oil based varnish, it would all darken up naturally pretty danged quick to match those cabinets.

The cabinets do not look stained to me, they look like they darkened up a bit is all.

Not familiar with Charles Neil's version, but most stain controllers are simply "wash coats."  http://www.refinishwizard.com/washcoatsolids.htm

 

But yes, maple can blotch.

 

I use glazes a lot, but when I read Teri Masachi's book last weekend, she used glazes over a shellac wash coat as the coloring step.   Obviously, I've not had a chance to try this yet, but will soon.

 

Spraying tinted lacquer (known as a "toner") is used on both low quality and high quality furniture.   A problem with it is if the finish gets chipped, there goes the color.

 

A question to ask is how they plan to use this countertop.   If they will be using for cutting, you don't want a film-forming finish.   Once cut, water will get in and it will fail quickly. 

 

I've done work for a high-end kitchen design company and when they got wood countertops, the supplier put Waterlox on them.