Is there a "most common" color of wooden stain conversion cabs

[Generic Eric]

I would like to match the color of the laminated wood grain on the generic conversion cabinets.  What would you say that color is?

~reworded~

[RayB]

Old arcade generics? They weren't stained. They have laminate fake woodgrain.

[Generic Eric]

I went to the local hardware store.  I found a nice Pecan stain I liked...so much for matching the old generics.

[ChadTower]

By far the most common stain I have found in conversion cabs is called "water damage".

[Blanka]

Most cabs have meranti (colour) veneer, and sometimes non pitted walnut.

[javeryh]

I'd probably just go with something that you think will look nice in your house - matching it without a sample might be tough especially with a stain when you could get varying colors on something depending on how long you let the stain penetrate the wood, how many coats, etc.  I went with blue for mine!

[Generic Eric]

At the same time I bought the pecan colored stain, I bought a can of a pre-stain that is supposed to help even out the wood, chances are that was a waste of money though *shrug*

Anyhow.  I chose the pecan because it looked nice.  The plywood I have has two distinct shades.  Its going in the basement where the lighting isn't very good.

[javeryh]

Pre-stain is ESSENTIAL.  Without it good luck trying to avoid splotches and a completely uneven stain.  Good thing you bought some!

[Vigo]

Pre-stain is ESSENTIAL. 

....unless you are going for that handcrafted by a drunk sailor look. 

On a side note, I had to reuse some old doors that had mold and water damage that planing couldn't even cure. I found very uneven staining does give a unique look that is really good to cover up very flawed wood. You have to go really thick in areas to make it work.


Keep and use the prestain.