Darken button polish advice

[plum60]

I have some shelf edges that have been button polished over stain but the pure button has made the colour too orange to match the rest of the shelf. I can test using some oil stain stain from Jenkins but does anyone have any advice to offer up that might be better. I have a lot of shelves to deal with.
Thank you for any advice.

 

[Woodparadise]

You can try adding a drop of spirit-based dye into the button polish to tone down the orange. Maybe a drop of brown or black will do the trick, i think. But always start with the smallest amount because you can always add more but you can't take out.

 

[Bradley]

Button polish always turns the color too warm. Trying to fix it after sealing usually fails, so you're better off stripping the shelves, restaining them, and finishing with matte lacquer for easier color control

 

[plum60]

Button polish always turns the color too warm. Trying to fix it after sealing usually fails, so you're better off stripping the shelves, restaining them, and finishing with matte lacquer for easier color control

Thank you for good advice.

 

[w0odshap3r]

I have some shelf edges that have been button polished over stain but the pure button has made the colour too orange to match the rest of the shelf. I can test using some oil stain stain from Jenkins but does anyone have any advice to offer up that might be better. I have a lot of shelves to deal with.
Thank you for any advice.

That's a tricky spot!
Trying to tint the button polish itself with a little universal tinter can work, but it's very easy to overdo it and end up with a murky mess.
I'd echo @Woodparadise's advice about applying a very thin wash coat of a darker, compatible stain or dye over the button polish, and of course, testing a small, inconspicuous area first.
You can use a fine artist's brush and wipe off immediately, building up the color in thin layers.
It's tedious, but can give you a lot of control and might save you from having to strip all the shelves down and start from scratch!

 

[Elfh0rns]

That's a tricky spot!
Trying to tint the button polish itself with a little universal tinter can work, but it's very easy to overdo it and end up with a murky mess.
I'd echo @Woodparadise's advice about applying a very thin wash coat of a darker, compatible stain or dye over the button polish, and of course, testing a small, inconspicuous area first.
You can use a fine artist's brush and wipe off immediately, building up the color in thin layers.
It's tedious, but can give you a lot of control and might save you from having to strip all the shelves down and start from scratch!

Thanks for this! But if I may ask, how do you know which stains or dyes are compatible with button polish? And does layering like that affect the final sheen or clarity of the finish?

 

[w0odshap3r]

When it comes to compatibility, the key is to use an alcohol-based or spirit stain.
Button polish is a shellac, and since shellac is dissolved by denatured alcohol, an alcohol-based stain will marry with the shellac, allowing it to become part of the finish rather than sitting on top of it.
Oil-based or water-based stains are not compatible and will just sit on the surface, which can cause adhesion problems and affect the sheen.
As for the final sheen and clarity, applying the stain in very thin layers and wiping off the excess quickly is crucial.
You can get a cloudy or muddy look if you build it up too thick.
The goal is to tint the shellac just enough without obscuring its natural luster.
It's a delicate balancing act, but with a light hand, you can maintain both the sheen and the clarity!

 

[plum60]

When it comes to compatibility, the key is to use an alcohol-based or spirit stain.
Button polish is a shellac, and since shellac is dissolved by denatured alcohol, an alcohol-based stain will marry with the shellac, allowing it to become part of the finish rather than sitting on top of it.
Oil-based or water-based stains are not compatible and will just sit on the surface, which can cause adhesion problems and affect the sheen.
As for the final sheen and clarity, applying the stain in very thin layers and wiping off the excess quickly is crucial.
You can get a cloudy or muddy look if you build it up too thick.
The goal is to tint the shellac just enough without obscuring its natural luster.
It's a delicate balancing act, but with a light hand, you can maintain both the sheen and the clarity!

That's very useful information that I will take on board. I guess you are likely very experienced in polishing. I have learnt quite a bit by mistakes on the way, I appreciate yours and everyone else's advice, thank you.

 

[plum60]

Thank you Woodparadise. I will go easy as you suggest. Regards

You can try adding a drop of spirit-based dye into the button polish to tone down the orange. Maybe a drop of brown or black will do the trick, i think. But always start with the smallest amount because you can always add more but you can't take out.