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Thread: reddish stain used on builtin cabinets in the 1950's

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Modesto, CA, USA
    Posts
    9,894

    reddish stain used on builtin cabinets in the 1950's

    I grew up in a 1950's house and I live in one today. Many of them have built in cabinets that are stained red/brown on the inside. Any idea on what this stain is. I think it has some finish in it to smooth the wood somewhat. maybe shellac thinned way down with some tint. I do not really know why they stained them at all. maybe plywood was considered too cheap looking back in the day.
    Bill D.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    2,162
    In my experience the interiors were stained to make the cheap interior materials resemble better quality timber. The ones I see used tinted varnish. I am the other side of the world however.... Hand matching a toner is how I would recreate the look. Cheers

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    9,648
    Maybe it's just orange shellac, now called amber. Try a rag soaked with DNA on an inconspicuous area. If it pulls up the finish, easily, it's shellac. If so, or maybe regardless, you can recreate that look by adding Transtint dye to amber or clear shellac to make a toner, as Wayne said, but it's really hard to apply evenly except by spraying.

    John

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