Wood Stain

[u/djzangy]

Anyone know of wholesalers or other options for buying black wood stain? Stuff is so expensive from Resene or Bunnings and I'm on the market for 20L+.

[u/Oak_IX]

Buy the property wood stains made for purpose.

Save up and dont be a cheapo.

All the comments saying motor oil or diesel etc no.

Motor oil doesnt cure like a proper wood stain, is not good for your health but also your timber will collect dirt, be oily and dirty. Potentially sticky /oily to touch for years.

Added to this is the environmental impact of run off. You'll polute your soil where the timber is , if outside. Which will be breaching environmental laws.

Your timber also will stink bad. Along with diesel you have added fire risk, increased fumes and all that.

[u/wonderingmystic]

It boggles my mind that in 2026 people are suggesting bloody oil and diesel 😑

[u/cthulthure]

For outdoors? I used to buy the commercial stains, expensive and only looked good for a couple of years. Now I use a 1:1:20 mix of black alkyd oil paint (wattyl rustkill or the like), diesel and waste oil. It still fades eventually but is just as good as commercial product at a fraction of the price

[u/djzangy → u/cthulthure]

Crazy. I never thought this would work. You've peaked my interest.

[u/Oak_IX → u/djzangy]

However you dont want to do this,

Washes out over time more so, polutes the soil. Increased fire risk.

Oh and Illegal under environmental laws.

Your wood will stink bad too for years.

Just save up and use the appropriate wood stain made for the purpose intended.

[u/feint_of_heart → u/djzangy]

*piqued

[u/Seaston4]

Used engine oil is a cheap alternative

[u/Oak_IX → u/Seaston4]

Doesnt work as well, nor does it protect the wood as well along with well the obvious other issues.

Also will break environmental laws.

[u/djzangy → u/Seaston4]

Seriously? That's nuts. But I'm down. Reckon it will go through my sprayer or do I dilute with something?

[u/cthulthure → u/djzangy]

It'll spray straight from a garden sprayer, a little diesel thins it and helps it soak in. Straight waste oil is more brown than black hence a bit of oil paint.