Recommendation on Stains to Match Peterson Smooth Finish

[MCJ]

I just picked up a Peterson System Standard 303 in Smooth (reddish-brown) finish that has some rim charring (not darkening, but charring). Just as a home project, am considering topping the rim to remove the char. Would appreciate knowing if anyone here might have a recommendation on what to use to re-stain the rim to best match the original finish on the remainder of the stummel?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Matching stain is royal PIA. Your best bet for a top job is to strip and restain the whole pipe. Fiebings alcohol or water based dye are the go to most pipe makers. I've also used Trans-Tint dyes with great success but they can be pricey.

If your gonna go the Fiebings route, Light Brown is a pretty universal but they have several with a red tints as well.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

 

[MCJ]

Matching stain is royal PIA. Your best bet for a top job is to strip and restain the whole pipe. Fiebings alcohol or water based dye are the go to most pipe makers. I've also used Trans-Tint dyes with great success but they can be pricey.

If your gonna go the Fiebings route, Light Brown is a pretty universal but they have several with a red tints as well.

Thanks for those tips -- very helpful as always. Yeah, I figured matching would be a pain, so probably would need to strip and restain the whole pipe if I want it done right. Was really hoping to avoid all that, though...

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Thanks for those tips -- very helpful as always. Yeah, I figured matching would be a pain, so probably would need to strip and restain the whole pipe if I want it done right. Was really hoping to avoid all that, though...

Give it a good rub down with denatured alcohol or everclear, you'd be surprised how much of that stain comes off.

You can also try furniture stain repair markers. I use these for touch ups but the color pallette is limited.

1.3 oz. Wood Stain Warm Tone Touch-Up Marker Kit

 

[MCJ]

Give it a good rub down with denatured alcohol or everclear, you'd be surprised how much of that stain comes off.

You can also try furniture stain repair markers. I use these for touch ups but the color pallette is limited.

1.3 oz. Wood Stain Warm Tone Touch-Up Marker Kit

Thanks again!

 

[OzPiper]

You can also try furniture stain repair markers. I use these for touch ups but the color pallette is limited.

1.3 oz. Wood Stain Warm Tone Touch-Up Marker Kit

A quick and cheap solution

I find it impossible to avoid darkening my rims despite being careful and using matches only
After a few smokes I don’t notice the difference.
Or I’m past caring

 

[MCJ]

A quick and cheap solution

I find it impossible to avoid darkening my rims despite being careful and using matches only
After a few smokes I don’t notice the difference.
Or I’m past caring

Agreed. I don't mind a bit of rim darkening, but the rim on this one has some noticeable charring where the wood is actually burnt. So was thinking this might be a good chance to try my hand with a home improvement project...

 

[MCJ]

Just thought I'd post an update on this Peterson 303 project. The "before" pic shows what pipe looked like when I acquired it. There was some pretty severe rim charring (not darkening, but actual charred/burnt wood) and two small nicks in the finish on the right side of the stummel.

Started out with some 220 and 600 grit sandpaper to initially top the rim just enough to remove all the charring, followed by some finish sanding with micromesh pads. Also used a fine micromesh pad to remove the two small nicks on the right side of the stummel (was luckily able to accomplish that with no damage to the underlying finish). So far so good.

Only remaining task at that point was to see if I could stain the rim to get it to match the rest of the finish "close enough" so that I didn't need to strip off all the finish and re-stain the entire stummel. Used some Fiebing's Dark Brown Pro Dye (all I had) and several coats of that with fine buffing between coats got me to the "after" photo. Not an exact color match (the rim could use a bit more reddish tinge), but certainly a definite improvement over "before"!

BEFORE:


AFTER:

 

[Hillcrest]

Nice job !

 

[georged]

can't delete comments (!?) so this is just to satisfy the Can'tDeleteComment!!! robot

 

[MCJ]

Nice job !

Thanks!

 

[georged]

Two keys to stain matching:

--- Work under a full bandwidth light source (clear-day sunlight is best), because what looks correct under a narrower one---incandescent, flourescent, LED, etc---will look ghastly under all the others. No exceptions, no workarounds. The light must be right or don't bother. It's fizziks.

--- Don't try to mix stains paint-store-style, and then apply. It can't be done... these are transluscent stains, not paints. Get every shade of brown-related stain available, as well as the "pure" colors red, black, and yellow, and LAYER them at application time.

 

[Revnatorade C.P.G.]

Just thought I'd post an update on this Peterson 303 project. The "before" pic shows what pipe looked like when I acquired it. There was some pretty severe rim charring (not darkening, but actual charred/burnt wood) and two small nicks in the finish on the right side of the stummel.

Started out with some 220 and 600 grit sandpaper to initially top the rim just enough to remove all the charring, followed by some finish sanding with micromesh pads. Also used a fine micromesh pad to remove the two small nicks on the right side of the stummel (was luckily able to accomplish that with no damage to the underlying finish). So far so good.

Only remaining task at that point was to see if I could stain the rim to get it to match the rest of the finish "close enough" so that I didn't need to strip off all the finish and re-stain the entire stummel. Used some Fiebing's Dark Brown Pro Dye (all I had) and several coats of that with fine buffing between coats got me to the "after" photo. Not an exact color match (the rim could use a bit more reddish tinge), but certainly a definite improvement over "before"!

BEFORE:
View attachment 279570

AFTER:
View attachment 279572

Nicely done

 

[MCJ]

T

Nicely done

Thanks!

 

[AroEnglish]

A vast improvement between the before and after! Are you going to do further experimentation with stains?

 

[MCJ]

A vast improvement between the before and after! Are you going to do further experimentation with stains?

Thanks -- definitely looks better "after" than "before". Not planning to do any further experimentation right now, but might in the future. I could try layering some different shades of dyes to give the rim a slightly more reddish tint to better match the remainder of the stummel, but getting an exact stain match is difficult and not sure it's worth the time and expense on this pipe. Alternatively, I could just strip off all the stain and re-stain the entire pipe to get everything to match. That would be another alternative. For now, though, am just enjoying smoking it!

 

[AroEnglish]

For now, though, am just enjoying smoking it!

Glad to hear it! That’s the most important part