Staining Wood - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration 

With your videos one doesn't really need to go to school for this kind of thing one can learn everything from you. Thanks!!!!!!

I like that this is the link that ties all his work together. Fun to watch what once was become what is again. A true craftsman.

I just can not quit looking at your videos. I have so much to do but i cant because of your vids. You are the greatest.RESPECT .

Thank you so much for creating these valuable references. You are preserving your years of experience for future generations as well as teaching and entertaining us now.

I know this video is over a year old, but I found it interesting how the different grit sandpapers on the same wood made such a difference in the stain color. This was such a great video and thank for pointing out the different techniques in the different types of stains. You are the best at what you and love that you share your experience for others to learn how to do it right.

DYE, stain, DYE! Perfect solution for my oak stick and ball table base that has areas of color loss. Thomas, your videos are so helpful and easy to understand. Thank you!

Yeah, so after wandering all over the place, seeking answers, I remembered you. This one episode addressed all my issues. Thank you.

Tom, I just want to thank you for taking the time to produce these entertaining and highly informative and educational videos. You've helped me a lot in my new career doing carpentry.

I still catching on all your videos, am always Learning something. Thank you

Hi, Tom. Your video is very well timed for me. I have some beautiful Spanish Cedar veneer which has a really nice curl in it. The natural color is a golden amber, which is very nice on its own. For my project, I'm going for a more dramatic, darker tone. My first foray into dye stains was today, in fact. Never used them before, but your comment on how dye stains allow the natural chatoyance to shine through is one I had heard before. I mixed up some J.E. Moser's American Walnut, and kept testing on a scrap piece until I had the mix where I wanted it. Test, add dye powder, test, add dye powder... I also prepared a scrap for a pigment oil stain, Minwax Special Walnut. Nice color, but it really dulled the curl. I have the piece colored with the dye stain and laid on a coat of Danish oil. WOW! The dye stains really let the wood come to life. I tried a diluted mixture on a piece of curly maple. Padded some on, let it dry, then sanded it back. That REALLY accentuates the curl.I don't know if I'll ever bother with the pigments again! Thanks so much for all of the inspiration and knowledge you share.

You're my fav woodworker on RU-vid. A truly unique, well-honed set of skills. Keep the vids coming.

It’s a vicarious adventure for me. What fun!

I like that you're doing these types of videos in addition to the restoration videos. It's nice to see what methods different professionals prefer.

It's nice to watch and learn from someone that actually knows what they are doing. Great video. I learned a lot

Non-grain raising dye stains. Golden! Thank you!

Your channel is a repository of expert knowledge of furniture restoration, I absolutely love you videos!

Can't wait for toners and glaziers.Best wood coloring video I've seen!

Your two videos on finishing is absolutely amazing and eye opening. I can't count the number of times i've tried to match new wood to old and just tore my hair out trying to blend in the color, to the point where i dreaded doing some repairs. Just a fantastic amount of knowledge i've learned from you. Thank you for sharing your expertise with everyone. I can't thank you enough.

Excellent presentation - very well done!

Enjoyed the staining tutorial. I'll have to watch it multiple time to let it sink in. Also enjoy you outdoor videos. Thank you and hope you have a blessed day.

What a collection of antique chairs🤦🏻‍♂️😍😍😍😍

What a great video! Look forward to the rest of the course. Class is in session! Thanks.

Best video on staining I’ve seen. Thanks so much for sharing your lifetime of knowledge.

Excellent video, thank you Tom. I have learned over the years how the same boards from the same tree can take finish so different...

I'm learning a lot from your videos and want to offer something back as a contribution: There is a secret trick for dealing with the fuzz from water based products. Ignore it. For new furniture that I've built, I will plane, scrape, and lightly sand and then apply water based dye stain. I don't do the "wet it, dry it, sand it" thing. I just put on the dye. The grain will stand up. The work will feel awful. Ignore it. Get a first coat of finish on. When dry, give a single wipe with 600 grit. I like to use the foam backed pads (rhynosoft). Don't think of it as sanding. It is literally just one single wipe from one end of the part to the other and stay away from the edges. The fuzz will feel better, but you will still be able to feel it. Now get a second coat of finish on. After a second coat, you can be more ambitious, use 320 grit and get closer to edges. Proceed with other coats similarly. Don't take what I've said too literally other than the idea to get rid of the fuzz progressively as the finish builds: I described water based top coats, which have high solids and build fast. If you are using a wiping varnish or other finish that goes on with more coats, you may need to wait for two or even three coats before you are ready with the 600 and will need to wait longer for going heavier with the 320. But, that is the idea. In the end, I get a silky surface and I really do not think you can see the fuzz that is buried in the finish. You clearly know so much more than I do, but I've been somewhat forced to make water based finishes work, so I wanted to share this to say thank you. I learned this method from a professional furniture maker who does a lot of finishing. (Edit: I need to think if I'd feel differently if I were working with carving or situations where sanding even with finish on might be a problem.)

That was a lot of fun! Thanks for letting me hangout in the shop.

This is probably one of my favorite videos that you have done. So easy to understand. Thank you

That was great and very helpful! Thank you for this tutorial!

Hi Tom....love this video ! In the past i created a number of art pieces in wood and worked with a number of designers where i would create custom colors for all kinds of wood surfaces. If you prefer the oil stains and want to match a certain color that isn't offered in retail, you can fine tune with "International tints", which are available in some hardware stores. "i.t.'s" are oil soluble as well as water soluble. If you still can't match it up, you can buy fine art oil colors sold in craft stores....look for "student grade" for the best price. They mix beautifully since they're already in an oil base. This should make your color challenges a lot easier. Cheers !

Did you do the video on toner yet? This instruction on the application of dye stain was very helpful. I would like to see how to blend the toner.

Stain, and color wizard, indeed.

Yesterday i made my own stain, today im watching you talk about it. It is fun todo if you dont mind the end result to be different then you expected but if it comes to your kind of job there isnt much play in it. You talked about pine and the grid of sanding before use, this made me think about my dinner table top, changing the sandpaper grid before use. Thank you it was helpfull.

You must be a mind reader Tom I was sitting here the past few days watching some of your older video's and thought "I might ask Tom to do a video on how he uses his Stains. dyes. etc. I'm curious to learn more. And what do I see this morning!. My thoughts/ prayers have been answered!. once again your Mastery Genius comes through!. can't wait for the next conclusion video. thank you again Tom for all the knowledge and above all, the Pleasure I get from your video's.

for sure theres an art to this, thank you for sharing

You Nailed It! Thank you so much for bringing these together!

Thank you once again for a truly informative episode. Your explanation of the differences and uses of the different stains will help me make “better” choices in the future.

Great video. I have been waiting for you to go more in depth on your finishing techniques. Look forward to the next installment.

As usual, this was very informative, thank you.

this was just the video I was looking for...thanks!

As always , lot of useful information. :) Thank You so much Tom ;)

VERY interesting!!! I love how you explain and even show how you think your way thru some of the choices you make! Looking forward to the toner video but I hope you continue to do videos on this subject on a regular basis! I think I’m one of the many that have probably repeatedly asked you about this subject so thanks for deciding to do some specific vids on it!

Great! Very informative, thanks Thomas.

Fantastic as always Tom, thanks! ~Jack, VEG

Another great video Tom! Thank you for always sharing your videos with us.👍😎JP

Good information on stains and the differences between them. In the past, I’ve used pigment stains and stayed away from dye stains because I was more comfortable with pigments. Your info has opened my mind to dye stains, so my next project I will try dye stain!

never miss your videos which are so educational ... Thank you Thomas !!!

Love these FAQs! Thanks for taking the time to put these together! I think they came out "pretty good!"

Great video! I’ve been wanting a video where you really explain your staining and finishing techniques and this video clarified a lot for me. Thank you.

Awesome video! !! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, very helpful! You're the best at what you do sir! 😊

Informative and interesting as usual.

I'm redoing a very old wooden rocking chair that was missing the rockers. I had the rockers made but they are red oak. I think the chair is a mix of woods. I don't know how good this is going to turn out, but you gave me some things to think about and the courage to experiment a bit. Thank you.

Great video.I learn more,thanks Tom.

Beautiful work and great information thank you

This is super informative and well done, I learned a lot. Thank you

Excellent video, you answered many questions that I had. I’m looking forward to the toner and glaze video. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge and experience, you videos are not only informative but I find them so relaxing as well. I always learn so much, I can’t wait for your next video. Jeanine

you are THE MASTER of the craft tom great education ;];];]

Awesomeness!

Wonderful fountain of knowledge, tips and tricks, Thank you

Colouring has been the source of great joy, and heartbreak for me. I have always been impressed by your colour matching. There is more to it that using the right colour, how it is applied can give distinctly different results. I agree that water based materials can be more work, but I find them very useful in the appropriate circumstance. Looking forward to vid on toners etc. Thanks for posting.

Excellent, informative video. Thanks!

Thank you Thomas

Thanks ever so much. Always enjoy your videos and always learn something. Best of the coming Holidays to you,

Thank you for this video - very interesting to see how you mix and match to get the colour that you want

Thank you I needed that !

That was a very good explainer thank you!

Very informative and useful video, Tom. Colour matching is often difficult to master and I for one appreciate you sharing your skills and knowledge with us. I look forward to watching your upcoming video on toners and how to apply glaze. Regards. David

Tom, What a great video. Very good content and presentation. Your up coming video will be a must see for this guy. I anxiously await. Thank you!

Thanks for sharing Valuable technical information

Awesome info!

🙏Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Another great video Mr Johnson, informative and interesting. I have to apply some sort of finish to a new 8 string acoustic lapsteel guitar and am unsure which route to take, your videos are giving me much food for thought and I am looking forward to your next instalment. Thank you very much, Mike Shipman.

Great video Tom!! I have tried to follow some of your methods for matching colours before and to use your word ... it was "problematic" :p Looking forward to the toner/glaze video. Many thanks for all your videos. I'm a great admirer of yours.

Masterful.

Very valuable information, so many factors when mixing stains. It seems you would want slightly darker on feet and legs because they tend to be naturally darker on a antique piece with time. Thanks Thomas I look forward to your videos!

Wonderful, just what I needed to see; attempting to stain match oak fireplace mantel. This gave me the confidence needed to attack this project

Thank you so much for this tutorial. It explains some of the issues I've had with pigment stains. I need to invest in some dye stains.

Thanks for the info!

Thanks a lot!!!

Thanks for the explanation of pigment vs dye stains. I bought a green dye stain to tone down the red color in cherry - haven't had time to test it out yet. Have you used green before to tone down a red color? Great video!

Great video Tom. Question, how to decide what brush to use, bristle (natural/synthetic) vs sponge? How do you preserve your brushes on overnight projects? Do you clean and reuse your bristle brushes on a new project? What are your lint free rags made of? On other videos I notice you use tape to identify things. How does your numbering system work? What is difference between your use of yellow vs blue tape, if any? Do you collect unused stain and stripping ‘gunk’ in bulk to be disposed of later? If so, since it is flammable, how long and where do you retain this material until disposed of? Your an inspiring ‘teacher’. Keep up the good work.

Very informative.

You sir got a thumbs up

So educational - I have an old upright piano that was stripped of it's original black finish and stained (according to my father) a dark cherry. But, having watched your videos, I'm wondering if it was a dark red mahogany instead. We lost some of the veneer during several moves, and are preparing to try to replace the missing pieces with mahogany veneers we purchased from a woodcrafting store. The information you're providing here should be helpful in our selection of stains!!

Muy bien, te admiro por tu paciencia y dedicación, así como el compartir tu conocimiento, saludos desde Ciudad de México.

Nice job as always, Tom! We don't even try pigment oil stain anymore ( especially minwax....yuk!!) Typically I work with the dye stains and can usually hit it the first time out, if not then I modify with various dye stain colors (they have a rainbow). However those repairs that occur in the middle of, say, chair parts, I'll use the dry pigment powders with turpentine and work them into the right colors and then seal it with a spray finish. I like the dyes best due to the transparency, but with some applications it just pays to "paint" the colors. Can't wait to see how you play with glazes( I've had success with them) and toners , which I haven't tried at all! Great work, Tom......could you maybe start working a lot more hours in the day so that we get even more videos??

Nice video. Thanks.

We enjoy your fascinating videos. The furniture is interesting, the challenge (how is he going to fix that mess?) then the coloring and finishing (the real magic). I would think that most of your results are very good!. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing this information.

Your videos keep on giving! I see this one was made 4 years ago and it came up in my feed today. This information will be a great help in some of my coloring challenges. Thank you!! To be clear... pigment stain can also be diluted with lacquer thinner to reduce the color?

Thank You, I enjoy learning from your presentations. I have always had trouble finishing in the same room as my woodworking tools are in. The dust, however fine, hanging in the air seems to land on the wet finish. Even with dust collection, there remains fine particulate in the air of my shop. I notice that your machines are in the same room. How do you protect your wet finishes from the dust?

Thank you, thank you, thank you. By far the best video I’ve seen on stains and I learnt so much. When printing photographs with an inkjet, although the gap has closed significantly over the last 5-10 years, pigment inks still have better archival qualities. My question is, that although I presume the dye will remain bonded to the molecules for eternity do they fade in colour faster than pigment stains. I know furniture will fade if directly in line with the sun (uv rays), but does tend to be dyes? A superb video, even at your extraordinary level, one of your best. I think the speed comments have been posted and the calibre of those comments show the respect you are held in as a furniture restorer.

Always good and always interesting! Thank you! I just wished that you lived closer! Lol

Great video on stains. Very helpful. Do you have one re glues? When/why you choose hide glue, pearl hide glue vs white carpenter's glue such as tightbond. I see when you do veneer repair or other finer joints you very liberally apply the glue and clamp with out much cleanup....how do you get the excess/squeeze out taken care of a fay later after the clamps come off?? KEN BROWN

Hi, I have a bed very similar to the one you were showing. It has a lot of scuffs & scratches. Would it be best just to go over the whole thing with a dye stain? And them what kind of finish would you recommend? I love to work with wood furniture so I hop I don’t get on your nerves by asking you tons of questions. I’m learning so much from you. Thank you, Sandy

A unique trait of oak is the end grain will stain the same as long grain, assuming you sand the end grain to a finer grit.

You should talk about common types of species of wood used in woodworking and how to identify between them!

I have an empire sideboard & I believe it's mahogany. It has massive amounts of red coming off on the cloth when I clean it (every time). My friend wants it to be more brown/ walnut. It doesn't seem to have a topcoat on it. Should I use a stripper ? & is there a stain or dye I can use to make the red less visible & make it stained more brown ?

❤️

Would you please do a similar video concerning glues and fillers?