Armstrong Clark Stains in Mahogany, Amber, and Black Walnut Colors

The key to a good wood stain is one that will protect, last long, and reduce the frequency of maintenance recoats. When it comes to IPE and other exotic hardwoods, maintenance can be more frequent than on more typical wood species. This is due to the dense nature of the hardwood. It can be tricky to get a stain to penetrate the wood and once it does, it does not want to hold for more than a year or so. This is really just the nature of exotic hardwood.

The other factor in dealing with hardwood stains, is applying one that will enhance the natural beauty of the wood. Covering up such a gorgeous species would be a shame. To get both excellent protection and an enhanced appearance, Armstrong Clark Hardwood Stain is a popular choice.

Armstrong Hardwoods comes in two semi-transparent colors that enrich the look of exotic hardwoods, Mahogany, Black Walnut, and Amber. Whether you like the richer look of the Armstrong Mahogany, the darker Black Walnut, or the lighter natural look of Armstrong Amber, you will find it outperforms all other brands of exotic wood stains.

Armstrong Mahogany, Amber, and Black Walnut colors offer a long-lasting finish like no other stain. This deep penetrating stain provides superb defense against weathering with less chance of wear. The heavily bodied oils of the Mahogany or Amber colors are specially formulated for IPE and other exotic hardwoods. They provide an oil finish that repels water, moisture, and UV rays to retain their color longer.

Armstrong Mahogany, Amber, and Black Walnut colors are best used on IPE, Mahogany, Cumaru, Tigerwood, and all other Brazilian Exotic Hardwoods. It is important to note that the exact color results can vary depending on wood condition, wood age, and application. To see how either color will look on your exotic wood surface try ordering a color sample. This will give you an exact color result so you can better choose Armstrong Mahogany or Amber colors.

Note: Colors will vary widely depending on wood species.

Amrstrong Clark Hardwood Colors

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    Kerri · 06/26/2022
    Is Amber lighter than Semi Trans Cedar? We just stripped our 15 year old cedar home and brightened it.  We did a test spot in Semi Trans Cedar and it seems too dark. Will it lighten when dried completely?   Could it be the age of cedar?  The new cedar board we used for  sampling was great.  Just dark on the house…
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      Armstrong · 06/26/2022
      Amber is a little lighter in color. Color will vary based on the age of the wood. Older would be darker as it is much more porous.
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        Kerri · 08/30/2022
        We brightened our home twice and it is very light. Now the Cedar looks too warm and not dark enough, any recommendations on mixing with another semi trans to cut the orange and darken just a tad?  Thanks:)
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          Armstrong · 08/30/2022
          Mix some Rustic Brown into the Amber to darken it more brown.
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            Kerri · 08/30/2022
            I should have said the Cedar semi transparent stain looks too orange on our home, (I have used cedar tones for years and decided I want a change). Should I try  Amber and Rustic brown?  Thanks
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              Armstrong · 08/30/2022
              Yes, you can mix the Rustic into the cedar. 
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    SteveS · 07/06/2021
    Finishing up (7/8/21) a 12 x 32 treated wood deck half over water. Installed 2" tongue and groove as fascia boards about 50" high around half of it. Across the front and half way back on each side. The deck boards are possibly some variation of southern pines and the other woods is possibly some type of fir. Attempted to research it and not really sure. Used 84 lumber for my post, framing, and joist. Used Carter lumber for the decking and tongue and groove. Really like the color of the amber. 4 part question. Is this good wood to use it on? When should I apply it? Will 1each 5 gallon can be enough to adequately do it all? How will the finish be effected by a tree and the debris that falls off of it? Will it stain the finish or will it be washable? 
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    SteveD · 05/21/2021
    Hi,I have a mahogany deck with some 3-year-old, untreated gray wood, and I'm replacing a lot of really old pieces with new. I've pulled all boards so I can re-space with a correct-size gap, and because I've added a "picture frame" and moved the posts to the inside.
    Anyway, my question is, would I be better off to try and clean and brighten the top side of the older gray wood, or the under side of the older wood. The under side looks nice except for the dark areas where it contacted the joists.
    When the time comes, I'm thinking of using the "Amber" stain to retain as much of the natural wood color variation and stay close to original wood color.
    I've included the 1000-word picture. What's your advice?
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      Armstrong · 05/22/2021
      The joist stains will not come out with cleaning so clean the top side.
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    Mike · 04/15/2021
    I want to bring out the natural red and the grain in my mahogany deck. It takes a ton of sun with a due South exposure. What would you recommend? Can I mix a transparent with a semi-transparent stain to get an intermediate effect? Thx
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    Robin Horne · 03/30/2021
    Can Hardwood Amber be used on pressure treated pine previously done with Thomson weather treatment, after stripping and brightener. Will it give more penetration and duration compared to your regular semi transparent stain ? Will the Amber tone darken or brighten appearance?

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      Armstrong · 03/31/2021
      As long as you fully remove the Thompsons, then yes. Amber is a hardwood color but it can be used on all wood types. It enhances the color of your wood.
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    D · 02/26/2021
    Would you recommend the Amber color on redwood? I am trying 3 samples of your stain and I like how the amber looks. I am just wondering if amber is a good choice to protect redwood deck.
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    hf · 11/09/2020
    Hi

    We used Ipe oil this spring and our ipe deck looks terrible...dry dark brown color with scratches in the finish from furniture and traffic. I want it to look oiled like it did in the beginning but with a lighter color. If we strip and use your Amber product will the finish look like dry old wood after a month or will it maintain its new application finish? Unless all pictures of ipe decks online are taken after they are oiled, our deck shouldn't look like a mess after 5 months.
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      Armstrong · 11/09/2020
      IPE wood requires an annual prep and application and it does fade through the 12 months. The Amber is not a dark brown like the Ipe Oil. More of a clean wet look.
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    KariF · 08/22/2020
    I have a pressure treated 168 sq ft deck that had Behr deckover in barn red. What a total waste of money. Anyway, I sanded it off and still have paint in the cracks in between the boards. Will the stripper get the rest of this off? I think because I have remnants of the stain I should go with a solid stain. The railings were a complete disaster and we just replaced those with new pressure-treated lumber. How long do I wait to stain and what are the steps of the products I need to use? What stain would cover up any of the remaining red? Thanks for your help!
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      Armstrong · 08/23/2020
      A stripper will not get this off. The AC Stains do not come in a solid stain so they will not work over this unless you sand the rest off.
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    Fred · 08/08/2020
    I'm rehabbing an old deck - new cedar decking boards, but leaving the old railings and post. These,regretfully, were covered with Behr's deck over product (redwood color). I'm now tasked with either:
    1) matching the decking boards to the Behr redwood color of the railings or 2) attempt to go with a two tone approach, but have a artistic crisis - hard to imagine a Armstrong Clark stain that can marry up and compliment the redwood on the railings system. The stucco house is a cream light beige.
    - Does AC have a redwood stain that matches the Behr redwood? - Is there a picture somewhere showing a two tone approach where the railing is redwood and the decking is ... ?
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    Kerrie · 07/28/2020
    I plan to use Cedar color or Amber color on my new kiln-dried construction-grade redwood fence.
    1) What is the UV rating for each?
    2) Is the Amber (for hard & soft woods) a more heavily bodied oil than the cedar semi-transparent?
    3) Would you recommend one color/product over the other for my construction grade Redwood fence?
    thanks - Kerrie
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      Armstrong · 07/28/2020
      1. Amber has 2 times the UV protection than the Cedar Transparent. About the same as the Cedar Semi-transparent.
      2. No.
      3. Either is fine.
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    DaveR · 06/13/2020
    I tried some samples today on a chair bottom and surprised the stain isn’t more opaque and some level of film building. Here is a picture on what I’m told is eucalyptus or mahogany. Does this look like the proper amount of penetration? Would 2 coats provide more protection and deeper color?
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      Armstrong · 06/14/2020
      It is correct and no, more is not better. AC is a penetrating stain.
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    Marilyn Crooker · 06/08/2020
    Next question is: My cedar siding was done ten years ago with an oil-based product. Do I have to remove that finish before putting on something new, and how would I remove it if necessary?
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      Armstrong · 06/08/2020
      Yes, you have to remove it. We would need to see pictures and any info on the type and brand that was used.
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    Marilyn Crooker · 06/08/2020
    Is cedar considered to be a soft or hard wood? Also, is larch considered a hard or soft wood?
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      Armstrong · 06/08/2020
      Cedar is soft while larch is a hardwood.
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    BRENDASTEW · 06/07/2020
    where do I order
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    jeff · 05/17/2020
    Can you use hardwood colors on softer woods like cedar or pressure treated pine?
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      Armstrong · 05/17/2020
      Yes, but they will not look the same as they do on hardwoods.
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    Casey · 05/16/2020
    I have used your Armstrong Clark deck stain and really like the look and the coverage and durability seems great.Have you eliminated any color choices recently because I swear I had ordered like "rustic brown" before and dont seem to see it now?? Also I find my deck seems to pick up lots of dirt as it easily sticks to the wood just under normal day to day use...just best to hose it off and use a broom to brush it clean??
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    Dave r · 05/10/2020
    Can I mix colors to get different tones?
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    jrstoup · 10/08/2019
    Hello,

    I have a covered wrap around porch on three sides, about 850 sq ft of Mahogany decking. Wood is about 20 years old and still nearly perfect as I have just sanded the whole thing down to get off the old spar varnishes. Everything looks ready to go for refinishing.

    I ordered your Hardwood Mahogany semi-transparent stain. Do I need to put down two coats or just one? I do not want to over-apply. Decking near the house never got heavy sun and the old finishes just built up. The outer half and edges always wore down and greyed. Even though the 20 year old wood now after sanding is even colored and looks like new, will the surfaces getting full sun need a second application?


    Thanks!

    John S.
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 10/08/2019
      Just one coat is normal. Mahogany wood needs a good cleaning and reapplication with the AC once a year.
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    Jason Terzis · 09/30/2019
    In other words, is the Amber Hardwood stain considered a transparent or semi-transparent? or neither?
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    Jason T · 09/30/2019
    Hi Armstrong Clark,

    Wondering what the main difference is between your Semi-Transparent stains and the ones designed for Hardwoods & Softwoods?

    I have samples of your Cedar & Natural Oak – but was about to get a sample of Amber. What’s the difference between them? And can Hardwood colors be used on any wood surface?

    I’m not sure what type of wood I have. My deck is 20-years old and I just stripped and cleaned it.

    Thanks,
    Jason
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 09/30/2019
      The hardwood colors can be used on all wood types. It is closer to a semi-transparent in color.
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    james · 09/09/2019
    I have sieera redwood down now but after a few months not as vivid in color when put down redish I would like to put down a semi solid close to the sieera redwood or something that looks wet glossy in color all the time any recommendations and can you stain over stain without striping if you don't care to color
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 09/09/2019
      You cannot have a "wet glossy" look to a deck stain. That means it will be like a varnish and that would lead to major peeling on a deck. You cannot apply a semi-solid over the sierra redwood without stripping it first.
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    Brian · 05/16/2019
    I have a tiger wood deck that need to stain. I really like the red color it has when it is wet, but when dry the color browns significantly. Will the Amber or Mahogany be better to highlight the reddish color after it dries?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 05/16/2019
      Amber will highlight similar to a wet look. Mahogany will be a richer red color.
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    J Hansen · 04/01/2019
    We live in north FL (lots of sun and humidity) and have built a pergola out of milled cypress. The wood is drying to a beautiful bluish gray. What is the best stain to apply for maximum UV protection and still preserve some of the natural tones?
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 04/01/2019
      If you want the best UV protection then you must have a rich color tone and that will enhance the natural wood tones. Ay of the semi-trans or semi-solid colors will work.
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    aldrin · 02/14/2019
    i have also decking of basaralocus or red locus do you have a stain sothe wood remains its natural color? e.g. a nartural stain instead of ipe amd mahogany?
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    robert teer · 02/11/2019
    Is there a phone number I should call to order ?
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    Robert Teer · 02/11/2019
    I have about 400 square feet of Mahogany facing. I would like to apply two coats. How much would I need of the Amber
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      Armstrong · 02/11/2019
      Only 1 coat should be applied to Mahogany wood. 2 Gallons should cover this.
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    bob teer · 02/08/2019
    Is the amber oil and highlight the Mahogany wood. Also, will it take because the wood is so hard.
    Thank you
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 02/08/2019
      The Amber is tinted and will enhance the wood grain similar to as if wet with water. It is designed for exotic hardwoods. Just one coat.
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    robert Teer · 02/07/2019
    I have mahogany siding on the exterior. Your Mahogany stain appears pretty red. If I like the natural look of the sanded Mahogany, will your Amber stain work Is it a clear oil?
    Bob Teer
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      Armstrong · 02/07/2019
      Amber is tinted golden, not red. The look will appear similar to as if wet with water.
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        SteveD · 05/12/2021
        Is this a picture of AC's Amber stain on sanded mahogany? Like the original poster Robert, I like the natural look of sanded mahogany.
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    Bob Evans · 10/19/2018
    I have a large 8 ft front door with 2 side lights that is about 12 years old that gets direct morning sun. I am stripping it to bare wood and wonder if your product would work on it. If so which product would you recommend.
    Thanks Bob
    • We will reply to your comment shortly
      Armstrong · 10/20/2018
      Sorry but the AC is not designed for front doors.
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    Andrew · 04/01/2018
    Will the black walnut work on a pressure treated deck