Staining pool cue dark red
- Thread starter bwcues
- Start date
Electric Boogaloo
Active member
Use candy apple red Masters
Seal the wood, then it will take whatever you decide to give it
I'm using candy apple red water based paint but it's not dark enough, I've tried adding black but it weakens the red.
I would try that but i cant get the color candy apple red, The candy apple red i"m using is too light,
Yeah if i could get the color i want that is transparent i might try it.
Don't candy colors get darker with more coats? Try using more coats, Don't know for sure if it would work but I think that's how candy automotive finishes are,more coats gives you a darker shade.
I've put several coats on it and it got darker but not dark enough. The more i put on it it just covers up the grain of the birdseye maple. If i could get the right color i wouldn't have to put as many coats on it and the grain will pop out like it's supposed to.
I have been custom mixing paints and stains for 35 years.
You have to add Grey not black to red paint. A very thinned down coat of Grey on first will help the candy apple red stand out on its own instead of the color behind it altering it.
You could try thinning it down quite a bit to retain the wood grain and after a couple coats you may get the color your looking for.
If you have the ability to spray it, it will turn out better
Candy colors on autos have a base coat that is silver or gold
I am building a dark red stained cue now. If using stain instead of paint you may have to live with either the birdseye really showing like you want or the darker color you want taking away from it. I have settled in on medium dark so I can still show off the birdseye. If you put a different color of stain on it be prepared for them to mix giving a different color. If you use paint which seems to be the consensus here on how to get true candy apple red, then you lose the look of the birdseye. I hope you can achieve it all as you are hoping for, but I have my doubts.
I think you need to be very clear on what you want, If you want a deep red stain, that's possible, but as Chris says you might have hints of the wood grain showing through. A stain is mot meant to cover the wood, it's designed to penetrate the wood. If you're looking for a candy apple read as in a painted car or something, you wil have to go with automotive basecoat and clear.