Dhizzy, thanks...contrast stains actually are pretty easy- if it's a smooth pipe, stain it dark, sand or buff out until you get high lights and the dark areas, and top coat with the lighter stain...same principle on a blast- stain dark and either hit it with a light blast or sand out the high points on the blast with 600 grit...and top coat with the light. Almost everything I do is a 2-3 stage stain...