I'm trying to get butternut, poplar, and pine to match (or at least get close) to the main wood on the cabinet, walnut.   As one of my rules, "Never let anyone describe the color they want with words", the same is true of the label on the can.  Just because it says some kind of "Walnut" (i.e., "Spiced Walnut", "Special Walnut", "Antique Walnut", etc.) doesn't mean it's going to match walnut for all or any woods.  And what the heck is "Early American"?

 

What's the answer?   Step boards.   It's key to color matching.  This is a board of scrap that I tested a number of the stains I already have.   The states are 1) wood with a selection of stains and because they did not get close enough, 2) wood with a selection of stains followed by "Warm Brown" glaze with before and after finish.   Then I go from there.  It beats having a surprise and  needing to strip and start over.

 

 

Excellent idea!

Matching an old finish is not easy. But, you have the knowledge and experience to do it right. Thanks for showing us how it's done correctly.

And doing a glaze.   The stain gets you to the right church and a glaze gets you to the right pew.  You can do heavy application and wipe off the excess or "dry brush" or a bit of both.   The nice thing about glazes are that they are very manipulatable.   Add some more, take some off, add in a different color, wipe it off and start over, make it look like grain, etc.

 

They will be very dull when they are dried, but come to life with a clear finish over the top.

 

If you want a great tutorial on glazes, get this book by a local finisher here.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1558704604/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_vote_lft?ie=UTF8&voteInstanceId=R31EOJOM29WVGK&voteValue=1&csrfT=gn8939VbJWv8dswwWdy8PRWasZVR%2B0roab4CwoQAAAABAAAAAGDt9y9yYXcAAAAA%2B4kUEk%2F7iMGR3xPcX6iU#R31EOJOM29WVGK&

 

 

 

9 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Matching an old finish is not easy. But, you have the knowledge and experience to do it right. Thanks for showing us how it's done correctly.

Jeff Jewitt talks about matching color in one of his books.   His comment were, "Matching an existing finish is one of the greatest challenges in finishing.  When it comes to matching color, there is simply no substitute for practice.   And the practice will go more smoothly if you make some stain boards and understand some basic color theory to point you in the right direction."

 

I met Bob Flexner and he found out I did touch up work.   He said that took a great skill in matching color and finishes.

When I built my entertainment center The then finishing guru at Wood forums clued me in on the step board. I was trying to get ply to look like cherry and just a stain is not the answer. The board is not visible but it turned out well. I still have the board in my scrap pile.