What’s Wrong With Existing Solutions?

The typical methods we use to prevent blotch are certainly effective in that regard. But unfortunately, preventing blotch also means preventing overall color absorption. So the end result is a blotch-free board that is much lighter in color than you originally intended. Even using my old friend shellac, I always have to experiment to find a balance between the concentration of shellac, the number of coats, the amount of sanding, the color of the stain, and the number of coats of stain. The process is nearly always complicated and tedious and the results are typically less than ideal.

Enter Charles Neil’s Pre-Color Conditioner

Last year, Charles Neil came out with a new product called Charles Neil’s Pre-Color Conditioner. To be completely honest, I initially assumed it was just another version of the stuff we already have on the market. Believing 100% in his product and being a man of his word, Charles sent me a can to test for myself. Since then, I have placed two more orders and I haven’t touched my shellac in months! The product is THAT good!

What is it?

Although the product is new, the concept behind it is not. Essentially, this water-based non-toxic formula is a riff on old-fashioned glue size. Glue size is made by mixing good old PVA glue with lots of water and is used for all kinds of sealing applications in solid wood and sheetgoods. But Charles, with over 40 years of finishing experience, has perfected his formula so that its performance is both predictable and repeatable in pretty much any species of wood.

Let’s Put it to the Test!

One of the blotchiest woods I know is pine, so I divided a large square of box store pine into two halves. The left side was pre-treated with 1lb cut shellac (one coat on the bottom and two coats on the top). The right side was pre-treated with the Charles Neal (CN) formula (one coat on the bottom and two coats on the top). All four sections were then treated with a deep red gel stain. The first thing you’ll notice is how much darker the CN side is. Not only is it preventing blotching, its doing so while also allowing the stain to penetrate the wood fibers. Despite the appearance in the photo, I noticed very little difference between the single and double coats of CN Pre Color Conditioner. On the shellac side, you can see that it takes two coats to completely prevent blotching. But do you notice what else we prevented? Yup! Absorption of the stain! Hardly any of the color was accepted by the wood fibers. Many would say, “that’s because you used a shellac solution that was too concentrated!”, and they would be correct. But if I reduce the concentration of shellac, I will not only get more stain absorption, but also more blotching to go with it. This is the back and forth game you play when trying to balance shellac, stain color, and blotch.

No Stain = No Blotch, Right? Nope!

Now truthfully, I rarely use stain on my projects. I much prefer letting the wood age to its natural color, whatever that may be. But even then, blotch-prone woods can still be a problem. Oil finishes, for instance, bring enough amber color to the party that they too can blotch! Check out this piece of cherry ply from my recent wall-hanging cabinet build. After a single coat of oil, the dark areas are plain as day. But with a pre-coat of CN’s formula, the blotching is prevented without taking away the “life” of this beautiful cherry veneer.

As much as I have promoted shellac as the cure for all things blotchy, I am excited to introduce you to a product that works better on ALL accounts: Charles Neil’s Pre-Color Conditioner.

Charles provided me with an initial can of free product for testing but I have purchased my own since then. I am also an affiliate for Charles Neil’s store so any purchase you make using these links helps support our efforts here at TheWoodWhisperer.com.

But here’s a little twist that I think lots of folks are going to enjoy. Charles Neil and I were chatting the other day about how we might collaborate. Charles himself has a paid membership section of his website called Mastering Woodworking With Charles Neil. So we thought it would be cool to join forces on the upcoming Guild Build. While I am making a modern/clean-lines chest of drawers, Charles will be building a more traditional/classic design. So if you are a Guild member or a member of Charles Neil’s premium site, you’ll have the added bonus of seeing BOTH video series!

So there you go. Two projects, two perspectives, two teaching styles, and a whole lot of sawdust! This is going to be a great experience and you don’t want to miss it! All you folks who built a Shaker End Table know exactly what I’m talking about.

If you are interested in joining the Guild, you can sign up here for immediate access. And don’t forget to use the discount code WOODNERD at check out for 15% off your membership!

While talking to Charles about woodworking and finishes I learned a little more about myself. It’s an important lesson that I thought I should share with you. As someone who teaches woodworking everyday, I have to make sure I never become complacent when it comes to my own woodworking education. It’s very important to me that I present myself as a lifelong student (a trick I learned from David Marks). And fortunately, there are times in conversing with other woodworkers that I notice a change in me. While talking to Charles, for instance, I observed myself making the shift from teacher, to student. And it really was a great feeling! As woodworkers, we absorb oodles of information over time, to the point where we think we know everything. But in reality, there are so many ways to accomplish a particular task, that we must remain open-minded if we want to learn. Personally, when I am in the “student” position, I try to temporarily throw out everything I think I know. Then, I listen to the instructor’s words and try to approach the lesson with a clean slate. Once I have the instructors complete message, I can let all my previous knowledge back in and make a judgment call about what I’ve learned. If you are one of those people who sits in a woodworking seminar constantly shaking your head and saying, “Oh no…..that’s not how you should do that….”, you may have already closed the door to learning. So, don’t do that. :)

So, with that said, head over to AntiquesBuiltDaily.com and see what you might be able to learn about yourself. :)