Staining an Opinel

Fish30114

Fish30114

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Jan 5, 2014
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I posted a version of this on the Traditional forum, and got limited replies, so for ya'll tinkerers, I have taken some of my Opi's down to bare wood, but the Watco Danish Oil I have is not 'taking' and I can't get a very deep color at all. I'm looking for that rich Walnut tone, so what would ya'll recommend for staining this hard to stain beech wood?

Advice, experience is sought after and welcomed!
 
Everything I've read about beechwood suggests it doesn't stain easily. Lots of discussion about it on woodworking forums; that might actually be the best place to get expert info on it. It's additionally complicated on some of the beech Opinels, because the factory 'orange' varnish has to be sanded completely off, before any stain will absorb into it (DEEP sanding seems to be the key; light sanding won't be enough). I think Opinel has recently started shipping some beechwood Opinels without the varnish, which might make staining easier.

Having said that, there are some nice examples of stained Beechwood handles in the below-linked thread (from Traditional forum, BTW), with some tips on how they were done:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...nished-my-first-modded-Opinel-show-us-yours!?


David
 
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It's a perennial problem. Opening the grain, then staining repeatedly with long times before wiping off works as was said.

A water based pre-treatment (possibly repeatedly) surely won't hurt.

Stain absorbs *much* better into cross grain ends than into vertical grained areas.
 
I just sanded mine until I was tired, then using my index finger, applied Imbuia wood stain.
Leave it in the sun for a while, rub off excess, and start again. After about 4 or 5 applications, it should be dark enough.
Then apply some mineral oil and leave in the sun again- heat seems to be the secret.
Enjoy.
 
Good info all, I will keep working and see if I can get better results.

Thanks everyone.
 
Spiggles said:
I just sanded mine until I was tired, then using my index finger, applied Imbuia wood stain.
Leave it in the sun for a while, rub off excess, and start again. After about 4 or 5 applications, it should be dark enough.
Then apply some mineral oil and leave in the sun again- heat seems to be the secret.
Enjoy.
Click to expand...


Hmmmm.
 
Spiggles said:
I just sanded mine until I was tired, then using my index finger, applied Imbuia wood stain.
Leave it in the sun for a while, rub off excess, and start again. After about 4 or 5 applications, it should be dark enough.
Then apply some mineral oil and leave in the sun again- heat seems to be the secret.
Enjoy.
Click to expand...

or a hair dryer...
 
Did that too, but only once as the mineral oil all over the handle of the borrowed hair dryer did no good for my domestic security:D
 
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