Armstrong-Clark’s stain offers the long lasting life on exotic hardwoods. Note: There are not two different versions of Amber, Mahogany, and Black Walnut Colors. Same version and they can be used on all wood types, but these colors were designed for exotic wood like Ipe and Mahogany.
Tested by professionals, Armstrong Clark outperforms all other brands on exotic wood such as:
- IPE
- Mahogany
- Cumaru
- Tigerwood
- All Brazilian Exotic Woods
Key Features of Armstrong Clark Hardwood Stain:
- Application can be done in direct sunlight and on hot days.
- Applies easily by roller, brush, or airless sprayer. During spraying – going back over with a brush or roller will help give a more even appearance. After 24 hours any remaining puddles or glossy spots can be removed using a dry rag.
- Older wood is reconditioned by deep penetrating nondrying oils.
- Drying oils lock in the conditioning oils while pigments and water repellents lock out moisture and UV damage.
- Armstrong wood stain is compliant with all environmental standards.
- Does not contain any offensive odors.
Available Hardwood Colors
Amber, Mahogany, Semi-Trans Black Walnut
Coverage Area for Exotic Hardwoods:
Armstrong-Clark Deck and Siding Stain applies at 300-400 sq ft per gallon. Depending on wood porosity, actual coverage will vary.
Important
*We do not guarantee stain colors as they will vary widely depending on the wood type, age of wood, prepping of wood, and application. Small samples are available at top
I’ve told several friends about how well your products work and recovered my extensive IPE deck system after several frustrating years of using other products.
Quick questions:
Cleaned, brightened, and applied Mahogany to most of the decking. Had to leave roof covered area for a sevral days before staining. After 36 +/- hours that area appears a bit wet.
Just leave it? Or, wipe down to remove brightness? Rag with mineral spirits?
Wipe down with rag and mineral spirits. Saturate oil rags in wafter and lay flat to dry outside when done.
After the hardwood stain has dried for several days, is it possible to touch up a few boards that seem a little light?
You cannot spot apply as it will not blend and hardwood decking cannot take more than 1 coat. The wood is too dense.
I see the hardwood stain can be applied in direct sunlight and on hot days. Just want to be sure there’s not some catch or caveat. Will I be ok applying it in direct sun with temp is in the 80’s?
Yes.
Hi,
I have a leftover ½ gallon of your transparent cedar tone from 2021, but would love to switch to the amber.
Can the amber and transparent cedar tone be mixed?
Also, I’m guessing just restore-a-deck clean and brighten beforehand?
Thanks for all your help and support :)
You can mix them as long as the Amber has not gone bad. Prep is correct.
Thanks!
I completed my mahogany deck last fall. It has weathered for 7-8 months. What are the next steps to take before stain/finish?
Use this kit for prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Hello, I’m hoping that a freak rain storm and/or my lack of sanding didn’t mess up my stain application over the weekend. I applied on Sunday morning when it was in the mid 90’s and sunny and it ended up raining somewhat heavy for 20 minutes or so about 8 hours after I was finished. Now after about 44 hours of dry weather its still somewhat wet. Places in constant shade are wetter than spots that get sun, and in all areas I can rub off at least a little color and a lot of color in the shaded areas. Also, areas that receive sun have small raised wood fibers that were not apparent after the cleaning most likely due to the additional weathering that portion of the deck receives. This was a 1.5 year old untreated deck that still had graying after the RAD cleaning and brightening. So, a couple of questions:
1. How long should I wait before I draw the line of needing re-application?
2. Is there anything I can do about the raised fibers after the fact? It looks like pollen build up and driving me nuts.
3. If I need to reapply, should I sand prior to reapplication to get rid of the fibers?
Thank you!
1. A few days but if it looks good then it is fine.
2. No, not really.
3. You would have to sand all down to the bare wood.
Quick update: Its been 5 days with no rain and low humidity but it’s still somewhat oily and I can rub off some color with a towel no matter where I am on the deck, some areas way more than others. Thoughts?
Also, is the Amber color supposed to be this dark on a mahogany deck?
Thanks!
The color is correct. Has it rained yet? Typically that will wash off any residue that has not fully cured yet.
It did a little over the weekend but I hosed it off Sunday morning. There still seems to be a little slipperiness to it, like its not fully dry. Water beads but then seems to soak in as opposed to just staying on top. Is this normal?
Yes, it is not designed to bead but shed water.
hi there, going to be applying ipe stain to my ipe deck. Currently it has some penofin penetrating deck oil on it from last year. can I go over with the armstrong clark after power washing?
The Penofin needs to come off first. Use this kit while pressure washing: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
I’m preparing to use your hardwood / ipe stain on a massarandubba deck. It’s in the mid to high 80’s today with a good breeze. Under these circumstances, will the stain absorb faster? I’m trying to get staining done but now it appears that rain might show up before the 24 hour window.
You will be fine if it rains 24 hours later five or take.
can I use this product ( semi-transparent amber)indoors on a sanded oak floor?
No, you cannot.
Thanks for the quick reply!
How long should I wait to apply this stain after using the RAD kit? I read 24 hours one place and 48 another. Thanks!
48 hours after prep or rain.
Hello, should I wait for the overnight temperatures to be in the mid 50’s to apply, or are daytime temps in the mid 50’s to 60’s with overnight temps in the low 40’s ok?
40s is okay at night but not in the 30s.
Great, thank you.
I have a comment for future readers….I am back at this website to buy more Armstrong Clark Ipe Oil in Mahogony. We installed ipe in 2010 and tried …everything….in 2013 I sanded the entire deck…again….we probably tried a half dozen different options in those three years. In May 2013, after sanding (tip: rent a floor sander, even belt sanders barely hit ipe) we then applied our first coat of Armstrong Clark Ipe Oil. Then we simply applied a new ‘over coat’ (just washed and applied, didn’t take the old stuff off) every month for three months…yep…by Sept we had four coats on. We were told this was way too much but …we were desperate. We are in the PNW/Seattle and we can pretty much count on it to rain most days for 9 month out of the year. The only dry time is about 6 weeks in summer with maybe a few nice days in May and Sept…otherwise we have to assume it’ll be wet and our deck is not covered. It does get direct sunlight but…Seattle sun is weak compared to the rest of the country. With all of that said… it survived winter and by the following summer our deck still looked great! We found that since Ipe doesn’t really ‘absorb’ oil like other woods, the oil seems to basically “wash out” with the constant rain….not sure how to describe it. There is no staining on the white posts below or anything but…somehow the oil very slowly fades away after a while…but it is a long while….very long. We put o n four coats that first summer, then the next summer I added a coat in June and again at the end of August. Then I put on a single coat every year for the next two years and then…I got busy and just stopped. I let the entire deck fall into disrepair but it wasn’t until we pressured washed it in 2020 that the stain actually disappeared….”washed out with the pressure washer”…or whatever you want to call that. So, after putting on all those coats my deck survived four Seattle winters (read: measurable rain for 9 consecutive months…we can grow moss in direct sunlight…) By the time we pressure washed it, the stain still looked pretty good, not great but it just needed a refresh, wash and new coat but not a complete redo ….we pressure washed it because algae and moss were growing on it…it grows everywhere here… but it still looked great underneath until my husband tried a direct hit with some stubborn moss…moss can be surprisingly stubborn to remove……so I am here to buy more. It’s the best stuff I’ve found for Ipe and we really love the color of Mahogony. It basically looks like natural Ipe from the store….not the light color. It isn’t glossy either but somehow has a sheen …it looks like something out of a magazine and I just applied it with a disposable mop. It’s great stuff.
After cleaning and using brightener on my IPE deck, noticed same gray and stains had not been removed. Spot sanded to fix these spots. Should I use brighter again before staining?
Yes.
Hi,
I just stained my IPE deck with the Armstrong-Clark IPE Mahogany Stain. Some areas are uneven – see photo. Any advice as to how to proceed?
Thanks,
Stephen
That is your wood causing this and is related to how there is a lack of absorption in those spots or marks. There is not a way to fix.
My contractor is suggesting applying oil over it. Any other suggestions to remedy?
Thanks,
Stephen
No, will not fix it and you cannot oil over the top of the AC deck stain. There is not a way to fix this as it is your wood internally causing this. Almost looks like something scratched or dented the wood there prior to staining and that is why the stain is not taking.
Ok thanks, much appreciated.
I am doing a mahogany deck. The mahogany boards have been stored in stacks at the site for over three months. 1. Do I still need to wait before applying AC semi-transparent? 2. I have read other articles that say to apply finish to all sides of the board before installing. I am confused. If I don’t apply before installing, I will have to wait until next spring to apply, leaving the deck unprotected through the winter in a high snow area.
Yes. You have to install, weather, prep, and stain. Do not stain all sides, just toe exposed side.
Thanks!
When I used the deck stain calculator, I have 445sq ft of deck and stair area and it says I need 5 gallons of deck stain. If I read the specs for area coverage, it says 1 gallon covers 300-400 sq ft so I would need 2-3 gallons. Can you clarify quantity needed? Thanks.
You need 4-5 gallons for two coats.
I asked this question before but it was never answered and now I see it was deleted. I’ll try again. In regards to the semi-transparent oil based stain. Do use waterborne resin-systems and coloring “pigments” that are light-fast. If not how is the light-fast quality and life of the coloring-agents?
No water-based products are used in the AC stains. AC uses oil-based pigments and the trans oxides are what prevents the UV fading.
Should we use Acetone after 80 grit sanding to open pores?
No. Clean and brighten the wood after to open the pores.
Hi – We had a crew sand our ipe porch because they scratched it moving furniture. After sanding, they applied Thompson’s Waterseal oil based. It is still greasy, so they are now sanding again to remove. I want them to apply AC. Can they just apply after sanding? What would be the best approach?
After sanding you should clean and brighten with this kit to open up the wood pores: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Thanks. Is the second sanding necessary to remove the waterseal, or would the RAD stripper have worked?
The Stripper would have worked.
Okay thanks. They have only done a small area that’s a bit out of the way. Should I just have them stop and use the stripper? Also, what is shipping time? Ordering today.
Proabbly. Stripper and brightener would be better. 2-4 days to arrive.
Thanks! Just ordered and will go that route.
Secondly, will there still be waterseal in the wood after sanding? Will that affect the application of AC even after cleaning and brightening?
That would depend on how deep they sand. It does need to come off fully.
Applied a coat to my Tigerwood deck and a couple hours into drying I’m noticing spots I missed or didn’t get as even as I’d like. Can I touch up once it’s dried and I’m able to walk on it? I applied with a stain pad. Do I need to allow a full 48 hours for curing?
You cannot spot apply as it will probably not dry evenly. Applying another coat to a hardwood deck can also create issues with drying and curing. Only one coat for exotic hardwoods like Tigerwood.
On this link: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/wood-and-decking-stains
I am looking for semi transparent oil based cedar colour
Hello,
I stupidly sanded parts of my IPE deck.
1) Will using a wood brightener help stain adhere better?
2) Would it help any to apply the wood brightener multiple times?
I have some “true” oil exotic hardwoods Sherwin-Williams Super deck – can’t buy in Connecticut any longer.
3) If I apply this stain, what would I need to do to be able to apply AC IPE stain over it at some later point in time?
thanks
1. If you spot sanded then the stain will not go on evenly and there is not a way to fix this besides natural weathering for a couple of months and then redo prep with a cleaner and brightener.2. No.3. You will need to strip and brighten for prep.
thanks for the quick reply. Sorry – I wasn’t clear – When I said “parts” I meant the whole of the portion of the deck in back of my house (I also have a side portion). So, in this situation, ie. not spot sanding, 1) will a brightener help open the pores for better adherence 2) will multiple applications of brightener help more than 1? and a new question: 3) with respect to helping porosity, is it better to use a stiff brush with the brightener or better just to rinse it off? thanks for your patience and your quick and helpful reply
What grit paper did you use?
Hi, thanks again for your quick reply. I used a palm sander with 60 grit.
That’s good. Best to give it both a deck cleaning with a pressure wash and then a wood brighener. That will open up the pores. One coat of stain:https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Restained the deck using IPE in mahogany two days ago. We did not over apply and have used this exact stain before however this time it is taking a long time to “cure” it’s been two days (over a full 48 hrs) and the color will still lift if I wipe areas with a paper towel. We have a small, young dog and cannot let him or us out onto the deck until it stops bleeding. Any thoughts/advice? It’s been hot and humid, although no rain. Deck gets a lot of sun.
Try wiping down the excess stain with rags and mineral spirits. Make sure to take all oily rags and saturate in water after when done. Lay them flat to dry outside after.
I have a tigerwood deck. Is it necessary to use one of the three hardwood stain options, or will the other softwood stains work as well?
It has to be one of the 3 Hardwood colors.
I’ve stained my deck 3 times in the past 6 years. Each time I’ve cleaned/prepped it exactly the same way and used Armstrong mahogany stain. This time, however, it didn’t seem to take as well. I have some areas where the water isn’t beading as it should. See pics. I’m thinking it’s because the stain itself was around 4 years old. Does that make sense? I’ve ordered a new can. Can I put a second coat on the whole thing? On just the areas that aren’t beading? Please advise.Thanks.
Just do a light cleaning, let dry, and then one very light coat of the stain.
Just cleaned mahogany deck is it clean enough and should I use amber
Looks clean. Amber would work for this.
Thank you ! What’s best method of application with least amount of waste
Deck staining pads.
I have used the AC mahogany stain on my IPE deck for years with good results. I would like to stain it this year with a slightly lighter shade of mahogany. Do you have a product that I can use to dilute or lighten the current shade of mahogany? Would the Amber color work for this?
Amber would be your best option.
Was thinking about using your product for a covered porch with Batu decking that I am currently building. I understand the allowing it to weather for 12 mos to remove the mill glaze prior to oil/stain, however, if I chose to sand entire deck with 80 grit to open pores/remove glazing, is there any harm done by staining/oiling right away? Is it something I will regret having done with regards future maintenance?
Sanding closes the pores, not opens them. You cannot stain right away. See this for tips: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
What products would you recommend for staining a new kayu batu deck on a screened porch in New England? Most of the deck will won’t see much direct sunlight. tHANKS.
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
After wait and prep, use one of the 3 AC hardwood colors.
I applied your stain last year on my new ipe deck. Only confusion now is the can says I only need to clean the deck with a bleach/dish soap/water mixture before applying this year’s coat but most of your posted answers seem to suggest I should use the cleaner again. I tested the can’s suggested mixture and it appears to clean nicely but the weathered color in areas that were in full sun is only lightened slightly. Can you clarify what will yield the best results this year and going forward? Also, I still have last year’s cleaner in my sprayer. Would it still be useable?
The cleaner will not be good from last year. Needs to be mixed again. Use the RAD Cleaner, not bleach. The recoat.
We have a 14 year old IPE deck in direct sun that has been stained/restained many times with Sikkens Proluxe Cetol DEK translucent satin wood stain finish. The color is Natural Oak 005. Over the years the deck has developed more color variation than we like. We have also found it necessary to restain every one to two years. We are about to hire a flooring professional to sand the deck to the bare surface and want to start over.
We understand your product is recommended by some for IPE. Is your product better for IPE than the the Sikkens product we have been using? If so, why? What life can we expect from your product?
See the pictures attached and recommend a color in your line that would come closest. We would like to come as close as possible to the look in the first picture. The color in the second which has been resanded is lighter than we like.
On IPE, nothing will last more than a year requiring annual prep and reapplication. The AC is better than the Sikkens DEK in that it is very easy to clean and recoat as needed. You would have to use one of the 3 hardwood colors.
Looking for a recommendation for material to use on Alaskan Yellow Cedar. I have 52 outdoor benches that see the year round weather in Illinois. We have tried several different materials and nothing seems to hold up for more than a year.
Make sure to prep and remove all previous coating and then try the AC in one of the semi-transparent colors.
My cumaru deck is 11 years old and i have used your hardwood mahogany for the last 4 years. Very happy with results. As the deck is older do you still need the hardwood formula for penetration or could I transition to your regular deck stain. More colors available.
Need the hardwood colors for best results.
Hello, I am looking to put my first coat of AC Hardwood Amber on my new mahogany deck this spring. The deck was built this past fall and its ready to stain. The deck has become a more muted color, and after doing some testing, when the amber stain is applied without the RAD cleaner it becomes a beautiful golden color that perfectly matches my house. I would like to keep it this color if possible, but the restore-a-deck cleaner brings it back to its original red color (as it’s supposed to). Is it possible to prep without using the RAD cleaner?
No, you have to remove the mill glaze and oxidation so it needs to be prepped.
Last spring I used the RAD Stain Stripper/ Brightener Kit on my Tigerwood deck and then applied the ARMSTRONG CLARK HARDWOOD/IPE STAIN Semi-Trans Mahogany color. By far the results were better than any other stain I’d previously used. My question is going into this spring, do I just clean and apply stain or do I have to strip it again?
Clean and then apply.
Hi. I bought a house with a Tiger Wood deck that was not maintained well. It does have a stain on it (in places) whereas in others, it has worn right through. The previous owners used Woodrich Exotic Hardwood Wiping Stain on the deck. The previous colour in Amaretto. How does your project compare to this in terms of quality and longevity? I’m thinking that I should clean it, strip it, sand it and then re-stain it. Is there anything else that I should think to do to help ensure the best result? Thank you for your advice.
Strip and brighten for prep. No need to sand. Your wood type requires annual maintenance. Easy to do with the AC. Just clean and re-coat.
I have a 3 month old mahogany deck, and wish to seal it, but also want to keep the deck as natural as possible so as to feature the color and grain variegation in the wood. What deck stain/sealant would you recommend would be best for my objectives, please?
Amber is the lightest tinted color. It looks similar to a clean “wet look”.
Can I mix the black walnut and mahogany stains for a custom color? It would be used on an older mahogany deck. Thanks.
Yes you can do this.
Thanks. Love your hardwood stain.
Continuing my deck restoration project: Replaced rotting cedar railings with new cedar posts, rails and spindles, just in time for snow the next day, and still snowing. So, can’t stain new system until next Spring (temps too low).
What would you recommend for staining/treating new cedar railing next Spring….stripping, cleaning, brightener?, and does A/C have a stain color to match old system color – Sikkens Semi-Transparent Teak. Incidentally, installers discourage using Sikkens on exposed railings — too tight a seal — and estimated 90% of railings they replace originally had Sikkens applied.
Clean and brighten for prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
AC does not have a color that matches Sikkens.
I am planning to use Armstrong Clark Hardwood/Ipe Stain 1 on my enclosed front porch where there will be high traffic with winter salt and snow and rain water tracked through. Should I put a top coat over the stained wood and if so does Armstrong carry a top coat or have a recommendation for one?
It is not possible to top coat over the AC stains. That would lead to peeling.
how to order the ipe hardwood samples? sample page does not specifically list ipe. Is Amber, Mahogany or Semi-Trans and Black Walnut samples for ipe?
There is only one version of Amber, Mahogany, and Black Walnut, not two. https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/samples
Will this hardwood/IPE stain in mahogany come out the same color on a new pressure-treated pine deck? I love the mahogany color, but I don’t want to use it if it will not show right on pine. Does anyone have any pictures of this color on pine decking?
No, you cannot get PTP to look like an exotic hardwood deck. It will be much redder/orange on your wood type.
Thank you! I’m glad that I asked. Is there a color that you can recommend that will give a warm rich tone (similar to mahogany) to PTP?
You cannot get PTP to look like an exotic hardwood deck like Mahogany wood. It will never stain to that nice of color and appearance. Closest would be the Chestnut color.
Just finished the whole process and stain. It’s been 20 hours.
1- if I go to wipe any boards fibers come up when wiping?
2- can I touch up dry spots/ boards with dark then dry areas… with bit more stain?
3- color varies a lot. Does this look good/normal? Especially photo 3 … boards in front of door blotchy?
please lmk your opinion
tks very much
1. Wood fibers do not come up.
2. Hard to spot apply and have it blend but you can do this.
3. That is your wood causing this. It is normal.
Is there going to be a big difference using this stain on standard pressure treated wood, what are your concerns with doing so?
You can use it on all wood types.
What is the process to stain new African Mahogany outdoor patio furniture (table and chairs) the with AC mahogany stain? Thank you.
See this about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Thanks for your reply. I get the waiting time and proper prep, but I was more interested in the application of applying the stain on the wood. I’ve done some experimentation and I found “one medium coat at room temp” and then “wipe off any excess after 2 hours” seems to give very good results (color and depth) on new mahogany with a 1-2 month wait time and “no prep” – use of brightener, etc. My application is on outdoor patio furniture (chairs and table) not a deck. I just wanted to hear your recommendations for such projects. Thanks.
You cannot back wipe after 2 hours as that will potentially remove the curing oils before the stain dries fully leading to overall issues. You can if needed after 24 hours. Only one coat is applied to Mahogany.
You will need to follow the full weathering and prep for the furniture as the article explains that we sent prior.
Ok. But I thought I read somewhere that if you were staining an outdoor bench to wipe off any excess stain after one hour to prevent the pigment from attaching to your clothing.
The mahogany color is perfect when I wipe after 2 hours. If I leave the stain alone for 24 hours the color is very dark in comparison. So how long do the curing oils need to do their job? 24 hours, or less? (I live in a hot and dry climate.)
So what will happen if I don’t prep? Lifespan of the stain is lessened? I will need to re-apply again? When? Thanks for your help.
Not with the AC stains can you wipe off an hour later. You need about 12-24 hours. You have to weather and prep so the stain can soak in.
Sorry for the delay. Attached is a photo of the possible mold. fran
For prep, you would need to strip and brighten all wood. https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
I’m about to stain using 4 inch brush. After going over it all do I wait 12 hours and emails up excess?
If so with what material?
And is it light wipe just to soak or to also spread stain and even it more?
Thanks.
Only if needed, wipe oof any excess stain that did not soak in with rags and mineral spirits. Saturate all oily rags in water and lay flat to dry outside when done.
Ok so rags soaked in mineral spirits to wipe?
and how long do I wait to see if stain soaks? 12 hours?
tks
12-24 hours.
Bought a house that has a small deck in NC., (humidity) In an area of 365 square feet, there are some black spots, that were under an outdoor carpet, not all over, though. I’m pretty sure this is mold. Can I sand the mold spots out? The owner has a a can of Clark’s Mahogany Stain in the garage. fran
Post some pictures.
Stripped, brightened, and stained ipe decking with AC Mahogany. Looks great!
How long to weather before another coat of stain can be applied, and do I need to use brightener first?
IPE needs to be done annually. Use the cleaner first when reapplying.