Considering adding a gray wood stain to your wood project? Check out Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray – our full review & how it looks on 6 types of wood!
Gray wood stain is a cool option for your DIY woodworking projects.
Gray wood can look beachy, rustic, or modern. It’s a fun color to play around with.
I was really excited to test out my favorite 8 gray wood stain colors on 6 types of wood so you can see exactly how they each look!
Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray
Minwax is a brand commonly carried at Lowes. Click here to buy Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray at Lowes!
This is actually a wood FINISH and not a wood stain that I tested out. It’s semi-transparent, making it thicker than a normal wood stain. In fact, in the can, it looks like watery paint, not like stain!
So, I knew it would be a bit different than my other stains but I wanted to test it anyways, since it is an option for turning wood gray.
And honestly – I love it!
This is a super light – almost white – gray color. See all of my favorite white wood stains here!
However, unlike a pure white, this gray color has a bit of color and warmth to it.
It’s got a really cool look that I give two thumbs up!
Here is how Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray looked on each of six wood types!
How does Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray stain look on oak?
Oak is a really beautiful wood with natural red undertones.
Tinsmith Gray really covered the oak up and made it look very whitewashed. You can still see the texture of the grain, but that’s about it.
Personally, I would not use this stain on oak, and prefer to let the oak’s natural beauty shine!
How does Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray stain look on pine?
Pine wood has natural yellow tones with some slightly darker graining.
I love the coverage that this stain gave pine. It covered the variations in the wood and could even significantly cover the knots in the wood.
This is a great alternative to white washing pine, with a bit more warmth than your typical white.
How does Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray stain look on poplar?
Poplar has natural green and some purple undertones. Poplar has little almost dashes it it’s wood grain which gives it the look of a lot of texture.
This stain looked a bit more transparent on poplar than some of the other woods. I love the light warmth with the grain showing through. This is a great combo!
How does Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray stain look on plywood?
Birch plywood is very light, almost white, with very light tan grain lines. It has beautiful flowing grain lines.
Plywood tends to absorb stain more than other woods. And, you can see that it went almost solid white-gray.
If you like the solid color look, this is a great option!
How does Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray stain look on a 2×4?
2x4s are usually very light wood with darker knots and holes. Most uses of 2x4s don’t include staining them, but I think it’s interesting to compare!
I like that this stain looks light but still lets the grain of the 2×4 show through. It’s got contrast but not too much. It’s a great option!
How does Minwax Wood Finish Tinsmith Gray stain look on white wood?
White wood is a generic wood that is usually light, soft, and can have a lot of knots in the grain.
Tinsmith Gray gave decent coverage, though I feel like the goldenness of the wood and the darker grain still shows through quite a bit.
Once your stain has completely dried, don’t forget to seal it! Here are our tips for sealing stained wood.
Need to fill a project? Here are our favorite wood fillers compared!
Before you stain, learn about pre-stain wood conditioners and if you should use one!
We tested these ten stains on five different wood species!
Check out our favorite white wood stains and black wood stains and gray wood stains!
Here are our favorite light wood stains + dark wood stains!
Be sure to watch my video on how to open a can of wood stain.
Be sure to check out our other DIY wood stain ideas!
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!