Need help deciding what color to stain my model A

[mxfaiman]

Okay I have been working on this model A, flowers for a while now. And I'm getting to the point of staining the front of the machine. But I can't decide what color to stain it.

So here is where you members come in. Please vote for your favorite color and please post some comments why you like it or why I shouldn't use some other ones. (and if there is any colors I didn't have that you think would look good let me know and I'll see what I can do. but I'm not painting it I'm staining it.)

Just keep in mind that when this machine is done it will eventually be going on ebay. So you could possibly own it.

Here are your options. (with pictures)

• first picture is of the before picture of the machine (can't vote for that )

#1 would be a dark brown

#2 would be close to the original finish

#3 would be a really dark brow or black

#4 would be a medium brown

[Rival]

Crazy choice putting that 74 background on a 71 machine, but then again, that is one good looking background. If you are doing a custom, you might as well go crazy!
I voted for #4, It looks better with that background than the other choices i think.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

[pachiwall]

Not sure if I like any of the colors... #4 is probably the least evil. When I sanded my Ginza that I went to Silver Springs for, I rubbed the wood with boiled linseed oil. Looks great!266.jpg Before... nobody would vote for that! And after...322.jpg This pic is not entirely finished, I was eager at the time to post progress. Your pics don't look like stain, cant see the grain of the wood. Is it computer graphics, bad images (although they are sharp in other detail), or is it just me? Nice looking cell! You may want to consider boiled linseed oil, it looks good, protects the wood from moisture, and you can use the rest on your M1 Garande ! (which, by the way is legal to own in California!)

[FREKKEN TEKKEN]

I like the contrast of Number 3 and since the restoration is not totally authentic the darker finish adds a little more Contemporary appeal! I have been drawn to Black painted frames before, probably because you don't see it that much. I would be afraid of some of the lighter shades of brown because they might end up looking more like Baby Brown #2 !!!

[mxfaiman]

Your pics don't look like stain, cant see the grain of the wood. Is it computer graphics, bad images (although they are sharp in other detail), or is it just me? Nice looking cell! You may want to consider boiled linseed oil, it looks good, protects the wood from moisture

First off the pictures I did up quickly. I took a picture of the machine and played with some colors. (I knew it wouldn't look like stain but it gives you an idea of the color)

#2 is basically just a gloss clear coat on it. (maybe gloss might be semi-gloss) So it would be fairly close to boiled linseed oil.


I would also like to say thank you to all the people who have already voted and those who have posted a coment

[yose]

When in doubt go dark like #3 it will always accent the background and make it stand out.

[seanjuan4u]

I too prefer #3. Either way, looks like it's gonna turn out great!

[mxfaiman]

Well I have already made up my mind and have stained the frame. And the color I went with was...

#3, I did a dark espresso. (I have only put the stain on it I will put a coat of clear semi-gloss on it next.)

[rman]

Nice job. The wood appears to have taken the color better than I would have expected for such old wood.

[mxfaiman]

Nice job. The wood appears to have taken the color better than I would have expected for such old wood.

amazing what a little paint stripper and sanding and prestain can do. (I already learned because I did another model A but I sanded the whole frame and then stained it. Took forever on the staining part it wouldn't sop up the stain.) But if you use the stripper and sanding and then prestain it works great.