Mixing Stains Causing Separation

[Gary Fera]

I am refinishing an antique dining room table. After lots of color testing I created a custom color by mixing two Varathane oil stains … colonial maple and light walnut. The stain is applying well and the results so far are very nice.

I assumed there would be no issue mixing stains from the same manufacturer. What is concerning me is that after sitting overnight the two different stains separate very obviously. Of course I mix them well again before usage.

My question is whether or not this mixing will cause any issues later. Should I be sealing the stain before subsequent oil based top coating?

Thank you.

Gary

[Lee Schierer]

I did exactly the same thing with the office furniture I recently built using two Minwax stains. As you have noted they separated over night. I made my pieces of two months and can see no difference in color between the first piece made and the last. I was careful to mix the stain each time before using it. I even had to mix up a second batch to finish using the same carefully measure proportions and it worked just fine.

[Gary Fera]

I did exactly the same thing with the office furniture I recently built using two Minwax stains. As you have noted they separated over night. I made my pieces of two months and can see no difference in color between the first piece made and the last. I was careful to mix the stain each time before using it. I even had to mix up a second batch to finish using the same carefully measure proportions and it worked just fine.

Thanks, Lee your feedback is encouraging. I am mixing very well each time I use it. I hope I will use carefully measured proportions. Even if I am off a bit I should be okay because I am doing the table skirt with one mix and the table top with the second mix.

Gary