Rustins Wood Dye Light Oak 250 ml

I have used these wood dyes for years and have always had good results. Please see photos. Just be prepared for the final colour to be typically DARKER than the colour swatch shown on the tine. If possible test out on some equivalent spare wood of the same type or in a concealed place. If matching is important I tend to look for s shade lighter and build up in coats to achieve a darkened finish. When applying to hardwood you will generally have issues if you try and build up several coats due to the lack of penetration. That can be mitigated if using a varnish to deal. I like to child proof type lid on these tins, they securely hold to product without leaks. Might be a little difficult to open though if that type of lid can be challenging for you. Please wear gloves and be prepared for needing adequate ventilation, not always possible if applying to a product that can't be moved. But do open your windows and create ventilation, this wood dye really does smell. The size and shape of the tin has changed since I used to buy these tins, the instructions and precautions on the rear is now more clearly marked and easy to follow. PLEASE read them there is good advice given there to use this dye safely. I have included several photos showing an old wooden box, bought cheap second hand, that will be used to store my soldering iron. The outside of the box has had two coats, the inside one. The base, you can see the before and after photos of applying one coat. I wanted you to see that as you can then see how dark it becomes with only one coat when applying on a very light wood. Brushes and containers used, note be careful of using thin plastic type tubs to pour any of this dye in unless intending to throw them away after, it does seem to melt very thin plastic tubs. I just use an old ceramic cup to pour a little at a time and then clean it out with white spirits after finishing the job. Overall I have always been most impressed with this range of wood dyes. Important points to note..... Ventilation is VERY important when using it and whilst drying. Wear gloves, I even wear protective eye glasses. Be careful with your choice of shading. Coats that build up that are often darker than you might consider. It is VERY easy to lose the grain and end up with a brown paint type finish if you apply too many coats of a darkening colour. It is easier to go darker, and not lighter. Hard wood can be challenging if more than one coat is applied, it can rub off, varnishing helps. Be careful if splashed onto clothes, this stuff really does stain...! Dries quickly to touch, best being left overnight before varnishing - if needed. Read the back of the tin.........really it is helpful. Happy staining and I hope that this has helped. Very much recommended, with cautions as noted above.

I bought this after trying several other brands, none of which gave satisfactory results. To my surprise, this turned out to be the perfect dye. It’s easy to apply and gives pine a warm, golden, slightly dark oak finish. Impressively, it doesn’t raise the grain, so there’s no real need to sand the surface after application. It transforms ordinary pine into something that looks far more expensive. You can use it directly without a pre-treatment, which results in a darker shade. If applied after a pre-stain conditioner, it produces a lighter oak tone. I’m genuinely impressed and will be using this for my upcoming projects.

Always a good product

So I made a table using untreated softwood planks. Sanded down with 120grit paper. To apply the stain I used a lint free cloth, pouring the stain directly from the can onto the cloth and spread it in the direction of the grain, trying to apply equal amounts. Once the first coat was on, I left it to dry for 8 hours. It lifts the grain slightly(feels rough) so I lightly sanded the surfaces with 240grit paper until it all felt smooth. I then applied a second coat using the same method with the same cloth. Again I left it for 8 hours. To seal it I used OSMO worktop oil, as I had this spare from doing some oak worktops. I gave it two coats of OSMO oil, again using the cloth method and the final picture shows how it turned out. As you can see, the Oil really bought the colour to life and gives a solid water beading surface. One thing I would say is that all wood reacts differently to the stains. One piece of softwood may not stain the same colour as another piece of softwood, so always do a tester on the underneath. Another tip is wear gloves when using the stain, I’m glad I did.

Exactly what is says on the tin. You need to wear gloves for this one and I suggest you order a few different colors of the same product to get exactly the color your after. Test ,test test first and allow to dry. Has deep penetration of the timber but sanding and preparation is key. Needs a well ventilated area as it is a chemical based product, coverage is good and can be varnished over after drying .

I based my choice of wood stain based on the quality of Rustins wood filler This didn't meet my expectations of a wood dye. It was very pale and hardly made any difference to the teak or bare wood, despite applying several layers. Overall poor quality and limited effectiveness.

First time using wood stain. Did the job with no problem. Good value.

Very easy to apply, used on plywood for my bar top and table and looks the business. Make sure you do your homework before using, look at wood conditioners, dye, foam applicators, varnish etc. and follow the instructions and it will come out exactly as they say.