Is there a way to lighten my timber stain half way through?!

AS19

I am building some floating shelves with pine and adding a timber top to the half-height cabinets below the shelves. After the second coat of the stain, it is far too dark and red in colour. Is there anything I can add over the top for the final coat (rather than sanding it all back and starting again?!) that will lighten the colour slightly?

The picture shows the colour I was aiming for (against the wall) and the result after 2 coats of Cabot’s ‘Stain and Varnish’ in Sutherland Teak. The instructions say to use 3 coats. It really is reddish in real life (far more than the pictures capture) and nothing like the samples displayed in store, which were also shown on pine. I don’t have the time or funds to start again from scratch! Any tips?! Would a light sand and a different final coat help?!

MitchellMc

Hi @AS19,

Any additional coats of a lighter stain will turn the timber darker. You'll be adding more pigment to an already dark piece. An issue with replicating your example is that it features several different colours, and it is not one solid colour. You have everything in it, from very light tones to those close to what you have achieved on the stained piece. You could have chosen a lighter stain, but then you'd likely be here asking how to make the stain darker to replicate your example. To achieve a similar result, you would have needed to dry brush the stain on to create the grain effect or have applied it and then wiped it back off with a rag so it highlights the growth rings and grain.

At the moment, I think your best option is to lightly sand the timber back, revealing the undertones. If the timber you've used is Pine you might find with sanding, it will achieve a similar look to your example.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell