Post #398159 by woofmutt on Fri, Aug 1, 2008 8:44 AM

The pattern looks similar to some heavily textured vinyl wallpaper I've seen used in commercial applications (hotels, restaurants).

A vinyl covering would be good on a bookshelf as it'd handle wear better than a natural fiber covering. That particular pattern might be difficult to find. I've seen vinyl versions of grass cloth and other natural fibers. You may want to check out wallcovering sources that sell materials for commercial purposes. Phillip Jeffries Ltd. has a good selection.

"...The wood putty in the nail holes that is supposed to take stain...doesn't. What can I do about that? "

If it's just a few small spots here and there I've used a Sharpie™ to cover putty that won't stain or silver nail heads. Even though it leaves a blacks spot on most medium to dark surfaces this is far less noticeable than mismatched putty or nails. Use a new pen so the point is sharp and it leaves a smaller mark.

Certain paints can work as well and used in tiny amounts are less noticeable than a poorly stained putty.

For larger fills I've actually dug out the offending putty and matched it with one that is made to look like the wood it's filling. Or found a material that will take the stain or paint better.

In some cases a combination of paint with a coat of stain over the paint can make a perfect match. This can work well if you need to replace a large chip or gouge. Use a paintable wood filler then match the surrounding wood. Practice and a good eye are key.

If the walnut stain you've used isn't giving you the dark wood tone you'd like you may need to change stain colors. Woods vary as to how they take stain and often don't yield exact match results to the example on the label.

Sometimes several coats of stain will do the trick. Other times you may need to go over one color with another to get the results you want.

I've also had good results with combinations of paint and stain, either with a wipe of paint underneath (apply the paint and then remove it immediately), or a coat of stain on top of paint. (This gives a sort of aged quality. It was called "antiquing" in the late 60s-early 70s when it was very popular, usually done poorly, and responsible for screwing up genuine antiques.) If you're handy with a paint brush you can even get a convincing wood grain laid down then stain over the top.

In situations where I am trying to sort of conceal the wood (either to look older or hide mismatched grain) I've used the stain more like paint and not wiped them down per the directions on the can but built up layers. You can get some grain showing through but at the same time cover up the not so great areas.