General Finishes 水性染料，Merlot

Took a while to find a stain that doesn't muddy up the grain, but this one soaked right in and made the oak pop like I'd finished it with glass. The color is so rich and even, no blotching at all, even on the tricky end grain. My dining table looks like it cost twice what it did.

The color depth on this merlot is unreal—it made my oak table look like it cost twice as much. I did two coats and the grain just glows through, way more vibrant than the oil stains I've used before.

The way this dye stain soaks into the wood really brings out the grain—my oak table has never had this much depth. The color came out a rich, even merlot on the first coat.