My coaster experiment.

@TheHorse (223028)

Walnut Creek, California

March 15, 2023 11:14am CST

I'm sure this will be of great interest to all MyLotters. In a recent post I mentioned how the red mahogany stain I use on my coasters had gone almost dry. I went ahead and started a pair of coasters, and the color was unusually dark for red mahogany. I decided to do an experiment: I sprayed some Howard's Orange Oil into the tin of stain. Howard's is my default oil for the work I do on vintage loudspeakers. I wanted to see if it would "loosen up" the remaining stain and make it more liquid. My experiment seems to have worked! The stain is usable again, and the color is slightly lighter than it was when the stain was more of a goo than a thick liquid. I'll attach a photo with the "dark" coasters I'm making on the left and the "stain and orange oil" coasters I started a couple of days ago on the right. The difference is fairly subtle, but it's real. Do you do little "experiments" around your house, just to keep life interesting? Using different attachments on you vacuum cleaner, or peanut oil v. olive oil in your cooking, or catchy titles on MyLot, DOES count!

13 people like this

14 responses

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318962)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

15 Mar 23

It looks like a success. I experiment mostly with food.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Mar 23

Heh. I have been experimenting with different kinds of mushrooms recently. Sadly, my mushroom expert piano student has moved back to Mexico for now. I hope he and his family come back.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 23

@just4him If he returns, I am sure I would write about it.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318962)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

15 Mar 23

@TheHorse I hope they do too.

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@Plethos (13581)

• United States

16 Mar 23

i see you stil do the coaster thingy. ive diluted stain with boiled linseed oil (blo) or mineral spirits to make them lighter in color.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Mar 23

I used boiled linseed oi (straight) on my picnic table at my cabin in Montana.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Mar 23

@Plethos I have not tried olive oil. Do you think it would work?

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@Plethos (13581)

• United States

21 Mar 23

@TheHorse - ever try olive oil? i need to try it sometime.

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@wolfgirl569 (111413)

• Marion, Ohio

16 Mar 23

I would have thrown the stain away

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Mar 23

I'm glad I kept it. That next set of coasters looks really nice. Plus the grain shows through.

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@rakski (132221)

• Philippines

15 Mar 23

I usually have my experiment on the kitchen (for food) But your coaster turns out nicely!!

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@rakski (132221)

• Philippines

20 Mar 23

@TheHorse I am not really that successful in some of my kitchen experiments

@rakski (132221)

• Philippines

20 Mar 23

@TheHorse not all my experiment turns out well

@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Mar 23

I experiment a lot in the kitchen as well.

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@RasmaSandra (82412)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

15 Mar 23

I don't do any experimenting. Glad this worked out for you, I like all the coasters,

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Mar 23

These guys are fun (and relaxing, as I take my time) to make.

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@JudyEv (346007)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 Mar 23

I do take a fair bit of care with my titles here and I do really think it helps with attracting listeners.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 23

I think so too. I suppose my "exaggerated" titles have become a part of my "identity" here.

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@BarBaraPrz (48485)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

15 Mar 23

I can see the difference.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 23

I have three pair now anxiously awaiting polyurethane. Life has meaning!

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@celticeagle (171195)

• Boise, Idaho

15 Mar 23

As usual, you were right. This was very interesting.

I see a very clear difference.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 23

Eh, right again.

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@kaylachan (74877)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

15 Mar 23

I don't, but my husband has his projects that he wants to do. He wants to patch the lawn and get it full and pretty.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Mar 23

That sound like a worthwhile project. But not an easy one. I bet blending the old and the new can be hard.

@LindaOHio (183886)

• United States

12 Apr 23

There's a big difference in color. Good job! My days of experimenting are over since I can't do much. Good to see you. I missed you.

@Icydoll (36716)

• India

15 Mar 23

Yes i do . Experiment makes our life interesting.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Mar 23

I think so too!

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@porwest (95854)

• United States

15 Mar 23

I wonder if you could find a "mini branding iron" of sorts that could burn a small guitar on the bottom right corner of them or even the treble clef. Might be hard and expensive to find something like that though.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Mar 23

Good idea. Maybe I could make one.

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@Meggan (369)

• United States

15 Mar 23

I think my life is one experiment away from being a success ;)

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Mar 23

I am still trying to figure out what my "great invention" is going to be.

Oleksandr Kornienko

@Gotrix (202)

•

15 Mar 23

It's great that you conduct such experiments and find new ways to use materials and products! It can be very fun and inspiring. Personally, I also love to experiment with different things in my life.

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@TheHorse (223028)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Mar 23

Knowledge is power!

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