George Vondriska

Making Your Own Walnut Stain

George Vondriska
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Duration:   3  mins

Master woodworker George Vondriska shows you how to make your own homemade walnut stain for finishing your woodworking projects. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video.

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10 Responses to “Making Your Own Walnut Stain”

  1. Roland

    Any recommendations for a homemade wood conditioner and sealer after using the walnut stain? Thanks!

  2. Roxie Jones

    Instead of refrigerating the stain, is it possible to hot water can it (like you do vegetables), and keep it on the shelf?

  3. James Finlay

    Instead of refrigeration and since the stain is organic, have you considered a canning process? Using pint jars (not sure how much stain you use at one time,) process like any food product (put filled, sealed jars in a water bath for 10-20 minutes, remove, let cool and label.) I would think that the stain could last for years.

  4. Norman Nicolson

    It should be able to freeze dry it

  5. Norman Nicolson

    Ok ,but where do I get the walnuts? I would use burnt umber colour paste, or better still transparent iron oxide stainers

  6. Barry Nelipowitz

    Hi there! I'm just getting acquainted with making natural finishes and was curious if there was a differentiation in making a dye using a black walnut hull powder? I'm assuming it's similar, as far as adding and diluting, but do you think you'd have to boil it as well since it's already a powder? Thanks so much!

  7. Mike Nelson

    This clip shuts off after3 min right in the middle of a sentence

  8. Big Good Bob

    got chest nut and black walnut I know black walnut but can it be used on chestnuts?

  9. Zeke Corder

    Add about 1 part household ammonia to the cooled liquid to extract even more color and help preserve the stain better. The same can be done with leaves of various trees and/or bushes. 3 parts water to 1 part household ammonia and soak the leaves from walnut, birch and other trees or bushes. Soak for 1-7 days until the color suits you, then take out the leaves. Vent the lid when you take the stain out of the refrigerator, especially if you shop is not air conditioned on a hot day. Too much temperature change in an air-tight container can produce explosive results.Once you have the raw, water-based stains (dyes) you can begin mixing and diluting them to obtain the color you desire.

  10. Wayne Williams in Garland, TX

    I noticed that the make date on the lid was 10/5/09. Does it really last over 4 yrs in the refrigerator?? If not, how long do you think it will last?

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