interesting blotch pattern

I always use pre-stain conditioner on ANY wood I’m going to stain. Even oak. It equalizes the end grain and guarantees no blotching.
Don’t believe the instructions on the can that says you must stain within 2 hours of application. Don’t know why they say that. I have waited 24 hours and saw no problems.

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work with BLO ?

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yah. That’s right

-- When the moderator chooses sides, his site sucks.

Best solution is “NO BLO” ... in spite of what others here and on other forums tout, BLO never really dries/cures/hardens. It goes deeper into the wood over time. I’ve seen really old antiques done with BLO & topcoated with varnish/shellac that were stripped and left for a few days on a bench under a window. The sunlight heated the pieces enough that the BLO was creeping to the surface and bleeding out … AFTER 80 YEARS of “drying”.

There are far too many good and predictable methods of enhancing grain & figure without the complications attributed to BLO. I don’t even allow the garbage in my shop. I keep a small can in the basement for wiping down axe handles, and wheelbarrow handles for protection from the weather. For that, it does an admirable job, but I will never put it on a nice project, and your observation is exactly the reason for that decision.

Watch a few of Charles Neil’s free YouTube videos on finishing, and you will learn much about how to obtain beauty in a finish without BLO.

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