What to thin Minwax stain with?

[Norm Dresner]

I want to get a gray, rather than black color on some wood for a miniature object using Minwax Ebony stain. What should I thin it with? TIA Norm

[Tex]

You can thin it with mineral spirits but I'm not at all sure that's going to change the color from black to gray.

[cselby]

Use Minwax natural (clear) . Pour some clear into another container and sloooowly add the Ebony a bit at a time until you get the color you think you want.

Pete

[nailshooter41]

Black is black. Thinning it will only make it less black, and your stain more like a tint.

The only thing you can mix black with to make it gray is white, so you would need to find some kind of colorant that is compatible. I would think though that a paint store would have to put in a lot to get that done (zinc white maybe?) and they wouldn't guarantee the product.

You need to take that stuff back and buy the color you need.

Robert

[Prometheus]

You're in luck, Norm- just don't mix it, and it'll come out gray. If it's not quite dark enough, give it one slow swirl with a stir stick and try again. Repeat until you get the shade you want- no real need to thin it, the black will settle to the bottom on it's own.

[Norm Dresner]

| On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:10:45 GMT, "Norm Dresner" | wrote: | | >I want to get a gray, rather than black color on some wood for a miniature | >object using Minwax Ebony stain. What should I thin it with? | > TIA | > Norm

Based on several answers, I took some very light colored Minwax stain which was almost the same color as the wood I was using and added some Ebony stain to it. Final results to get the gray color I wanted was 1 part Ebony to 3 parts Pickled Oak. I've been told that I can also use the Natural stain and I've bought a can of it for future use.

Thanks to all who answered. Norm

[Douglas1378]

replying to Norm Dresner, Douglas1378 wrote: You could buy gray stain. You get the color you purchase

[Unquestionably Confused]

LOL! After thirteen years, it's probably faded to just the right color.

[Dad]

Most big box stores use universal prion tints that are used in latex and oil base paints probably will work in your oil base stain

[Leon]

As always Read The Label.