Stain reducer

[sydney]

Hi--What do i use to thin laural mtn forge stain
      I just want a light stain on a walnut stock and full strength
       is too dark
           thanks   Sydney

[T*O*F]

alcohol, either methyl or isopropyl will work.

[Acer Saccharum]

LMF is not light fast; tho' on walnut, it's not much of a concern, unless you have very light walnut.

[Pete G.]

LMF is not light fast

Other than AF, is there one that is ?

[rich pierce]

I think that some water soluble stains are quite colorfast.  Back in the 70's I used Birchwood Casey's Colonial Red on a gunstock and it's still the same as the day it was finished.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I used nut brown LMF stain on a maple gun 7 years ago that I hunt and shoot paper with and I can see no fading as yet. LMF claim on their site that their stains are lightfast.  They sell a reducer or say you can use denatured alcohol, but that denatured alcohol will reduce penetration of the stain due to rapid evaporation.

http://www.store.laurelmountainforge.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68

[Jim Kibler]

I think it's safe to say that any aniline dye is subject to fading given exposure to sunlight for sufficient time.  Some formulations are worse than others as are some colors (reds etc.).

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

My biggest problem with LMF stains is not their vulnerability to UV rays, but the tendency for the colour to leach out through the finish onto my hands, leaving the wood an awful colour.  Fiebing's leather dye is better at resisting this than LMF stains, but definitely is not UV safe.