How can I darken (stain) wood over top of epoxy?

Question

On a model sailboat, I've covered the entire hull in a light coating of marine epoxy. How can I darken the look of the wood? Regular stain won't work because the epoxy blocks the stain from penetrating the wood. After it's darkened, I'll apply Minwax Urethane to it. Thanks.

I realize now that I should have stained first, but that's water under the bridge. A cabinet maker told me instead I could use "tint" (possibly in combination with varnish) to deepen the color of the wood.

Minwax makes a product called Helmsman exterior polyurethane that is used for boats and designed to protect against water penetration.

Answer 1

Sand it back down to the bare wood and start over. Stain the wood first. Or leave it like it is if your OK with the color and don't want to sand it down.

Answer 2

Epoxy Wood Finish

Answer 3

What kind of finish? If you don't know, try and find out...a wax finish will take stain to a degree, but is best de-waxed with a solvent (available at hardware stores). If it is lacquer, you can clean off top layers with thinner/remover and then sand lightly. If it is anything else, probably sanding. The problem with sanding is it is nigh on impossible to get everything, and you might end up ruining your finish. Here is an alternative you might want to consider -- a glaze. I frequently use glazes to alter color, and I like the depth the slightly translucent color gives. My favorite is an umber, but they come in a myriad of tones and colors. They are easy to apply with a brush (foam or bristle) or soft cloth (former preferred) and can be applied over any finish without having to deal with the finish. Glazes are readily available at your home center/hardware store. Another alternative is a tinted furniture sealant wax. Generally these can be applied over finishes and add a deeper tonal value rather than a real color change. Before buying a tin, if you have shoe polish, try a touch of that on a hidden area. I do NOT recommend using shoe polish, but it WILL give you an idea how a tinted wax treatment will work. If you have a lacquer finish, the tinted wax will meld into and through the lacquer giving you a more permanent look -- but that is a process over time. Another alternative is adding stain to polyurathane. This is essentially the same as a glaze, but this finish requires several sandings -- with a finer grit each time -- for a really smooth-to-the touch finish -- which you probbly want on your furniture. If you choose to go this route, after the initial sanding of poly/stain, finish with lacquer, sand, lacquer. Lotta work, though, and stinky in the process. Hope that helps.

Answer 4

You can't stain the wood through the epoxy. It is a sealant to protect the wood from the elements and it also protects the wood from stains. You will have to strip the epoxy coating off, prepare, stain and seal the wood, and apply new epoxy. Urethane is normally an indoor furniture finish and I doubt it is suitable for boats, but if your trying to stain after epoxy, that doesn't surprise me either.

Answer 5

submerge the entire ship in dk walnut stain or whatever color and let dry in light.
the darkness preserves the color, light darkens.
frankly I'm not sure why you put a coating of epoxy on anyway, epoxies are to hold things together at joints.
in the future always prep your wood to the proper color before assembly

Answer 6

get an epoxy tint, put another coat of epoxy on it that has been tinted. System-3 sells epoxy tints. Or, try krylon paint, just mix the epoxy and spray in some krylon of the desired color. Then apply another coat of tinted epoxy.

Answer 7

You will have to rent a floor sander from your hardware store or lowes, homedepot. Sand it down to bare wood be careful if you do this yourself. You have to keep the sander going at a steady pace evenly because you will have waves in the floor.when you put the stain on you can see the waves in it. I wish you good luck put you can do this yourself in save lots of money.