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.
- Armstrong Clark stain is tested by professionals and outperforms all other brands on exotic woods like Ipe, Mahogany, and Cumaru.
- Application is flexible, allowing use in direct sunlight, on hot days, and with a roller, brush, or airless sprayer.
- Drying oils lock in conditioning oils while pigments and water repellents protect against moisture and UV damage.
- Coverage is 300-400 sq ft per gallon on IPE and Hardwoods, though actual coverage varies depending on wood porosity.
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
More Info: Not sure if Armstrong Clark is the right fit for your hardwood or IPE deck? Read an independent guide to the best hardwood deck stains reviewed at DeckStainHelp for a full comparison.
I recently cleaned and brightened an Ipe deck before staining it with your mahogany product. I wiped off the excess the following day. On the third night it rained heavily and has left us with an uneven coat of stain. How do I resolve this?
You could try another very light coat to see if that evens it out.
is the $10 sample in Mahogony the same thing as the gallon of Hardwood/Ipe Stain in the mahogony color?
Yes. There are not two different mahogany colors. Same color.
Thanks for the quick reply. My question isn’t about the color, though. My question is:
is the $10 sample of mahogony the hardwood/Ipe stain, or the “regular” stain?
It looks like there are two types of stain on your website, and I want to be sure if I get a sample of the mahogony, it’s for hardwook/Ipe.
Thanks!
There are not two different versions, just one mahogany version/color, and it can be used on all wood types, including hardwood and ipe.
Tried to send a message in Chat. But When I added my email address to my questions it indicated to do, I got a message saying that I had an invalid eMail. My account shows this as my E-mail. has anybody had similar problems?
Hello, we just tested it with your email, and it seemed to work okay. What were your questions?
I just installed rough cut cedar porch posts and stair rails. They are in direct sun part of the day in Alabama. I like the semi-transparent product idea for UV protection but I’d like it to look as close to natural as possible. Which products do you recommend for prep and stain?
Look at the Amber color.
Can you use the amber color stain on pressure treated pine deck that was built in2020 . It has been stripped and brightened with Rad stripper and brightener
Yes, you can.
Hi My front porch (Ipe) (covered) and one large step (uncovered), has not had ANYTHING done to it, in at least 8-10 years (i.e.: no cleaning, staining, sealing, etc.). While it still looks OK overall, it clearly needs cleaning, staining, sealing. The are blackened areas of the one large step (on the riser), would you suggest power washing, sanding, or what exactly, prior to staining. If sanding, what are your suggestions for grit and should I be using a belt sander, floor sander, etc.? Help and THANKS in advance!
Pics? You can upload them in the comments.
sorry for the delay…busy life which is why this porch deck is way overdue for care…Here are photos. how do I clean the deck (power wash? With what cleaner?, or what??? Please remember it is Ipe.) HELP !
Thanks in advance.
PS: Rounding up, inclusive of 4 small steps at side of porch approximately 750 square feet.
There is still an old coating on there, so it’s best to use the Stripper and Brightener kit for prep:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
One kit should work.
OK, So far, so good! Once “Stripped” and “Brightened”, how much Stain (I’d prefer Amber) do I need for approximately 750 Square Feet? Again, as a reminder, Wood is Ipe !
About 3 gallons. Only one coat for IPE.
I would deck wash it and lightly sand it. I did mine and it turned out perfect.
Hello! We have a deck, mahogany, I like the natural color, though a little warmer would be okay. The deck is covered. Could I use the translucent one meant for softwoods or do I have to use the amber semi-trans. Thanks in advance!
You would need the Amber.
THANK YOU
Does the stain contain any sunscreen in it?
The AC stains do protect from UV and graying/oxidation.
is the semi transparent, black walnut, a water-based or oil base??
All our stains are oil based.
how much square foot covers one gallon.
Varies based on your wood type and the age of the wood. Do you know the wood type?
Hi I need help. I want my Ipe to look like it does when wet and retain the color variation. We have just installed it and need to seal it. I am confused about whether to get transparant or semi transparant. I want the reddish tone to stay but in the pictures the amber transparant looks like what I want best but the actual amber color looks yellow. please help.
You have to use one of our hardwood colors, and Amber is the lightest one that looks like wet wood when stained. It highlights the natural grain of our wood so your wood determines the final color.
Hello! We had painters use the mahogany stain on our deck after cleaning and it looks great. I want to stain some new teak planters to match. Given they are brand new, they don’t need cleaning. Do I need to sand or apply any kind of base coat before applying this stain with a brush? And do you recommend wiping the stain with a cloth after brushing and letting it dry for a specific amount of time?
Thank you!
See here about new wood: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/new-decking-and-armstrong-clark-stain
Three years ago, my order form indicates I bought “Semi-Trans Mahogany”. I don’t see semi transparent mahogany as an option anymore. Am I missing something? Is there anything to be aware of when selecting regular Mahogany? It’ll be applied to a Mahogany deck and I’m a bit nervous applying regular mahogany will turn out too red for my preferences.
There is only one Mahogany color and it is semi-transparent. It has not changed in color.
Just had my IPE deck washed sanded and brightened before applying Amber AC stain. Looks great. Can you recommend a frequency for maintenance coating and what prep do you recommned. I live in Northern CA and the deck is subjected to sun about 1/2 the day. Thanks
With IPE hardwoods, you will need to clean and recoat annually.
I don’t see any difference on the Armstrong Clark can that says it is for hardwood, last time I ordered I got a can that said for hardwood and softwood, did I get screwed? Ther is a difference in price.
There is only one version, not two versions and it can be used on hardwood or regular decking. Pricing is the same, no difference.
Sorry last post error…… no SANDING 😳
Hi I used your Mahogany on a freshly sanded deck last year…WOW FANTASTIC…I would not waste my time with the big box stores stuff……
MY question is …For your semi solid stain on a “full sun”deck would it peel or just ware off and you can reapply…..no standings?
Thanks for your time…
Cheers Mike👊😎
It does not peel. Fades or wears slightly. Clean and recoat as needed.
Hi – I have a Tigerwood deck about 7 years old. I stained with Armstrong 2 years ago and just power washed, stripped and brighten it and just got my mahogany stain today. Do I only apply 1 coat or can I do two?
One coat for hardwood decking.
I am going to sand my ipe deck and apply brightener…do I need to apply 1 or 2 coats of stain…if 2 coats what time between coats and what overage should i assume for the second coat
Only 1 coat if you power sand.
Sanded down to bare wood, this is one coat! Came out beautiful.
My IPE decking is ready to stain, but it’s colder than it has been today. I’m concerned about the overnight temperatures while it dries. What’s the temperature that it must be above to dry properly?
Above 50-55.
Hello again. Thank you for your very helpful responses. I have another question for you.
We have cumaru hardwood floor boards and railing caps on a half-covered porch. The boards and caps are stained with the AC Amber hardwood stain.
We recently had the house pressure-washed and specifically asked the cleaner to not clean the cumaru boards. However, he said he used a dish soap solution on the painted surfaces around and above the porch. It seems like the soap dripped onto the cumaru and sat for some amount of time before being rinsed off. There are now light spots in the various places around the porch where this happened. There are MOSTLY in out-of-the-way places near the edges of the porch and on and under the railings.
What is the best course of action from here? Can I just re-apply some stain lightly in these areas? Should I clean the affected areas or whole porch with RAD Cleaner or similar and then re-apply some stain? Is there anything else you’d recommend in this situation?
Thanks again!
You cannot spot stain, it will not blend. The only way to fix would be to prep and stain all the wood.
Please help me decide on the stain and color. My new porch has the black galvanized balusters white post, but my problem is the builder had to use pine treated lumber for the railings and the black balusters is attached to the pine railings. What color railings would look good
Hi,
Color choices are up to you and your preference. We cannot make that decision for you. You can test some colors on your wood to see what you like:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/samples
Will this product extend the life of my ipe deckboards. – they have never been treated and are aged and drying on the ends.
Yes, it will.
What does the mahogany and amber color look like on greyed/patina ipe? Is there any special steps for application on old, never finished wood? Does it apply well? Thanks
Hi,
You cannot stain oxidized/gray wood without prepping it first to remove the gray. Once that is done, then you can stain it. You use this for prep:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
Do the color samples shown on this site represent the stain on old/prepped wood or is that the color for new wood only?
Colors will vary drastically based on the age of the wood and the type of wood. Best is to order samples so you know how it will look on your wood after prep.
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/samples
IPE wood stains much differently on than other wood types. See photo album as well:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/armstrong-clark-photo-album
Impressed with this stain! I have two small covered porches that have about 200 sqft of angelim pedra/Angelheart decking, which has a natural reddish blonde color. I stained them with Behr about 10 years ago (terrible – don’t ever use it). The decks don’t get too much sun or rain, but the Behr stain was wearing/flaking off and some parts were going a bit gray.
After about 4 hrs sanding with 60 and 100 grit, the remnants of the old stain were removed and decking was looking pretty refreshed. I purchased the Mahogany color at firt, but I was worried that it would be too dark, so I ended up using the Amber color instead. Mahogany would have been way too dark.
I taped off all of the edges and applied the stain with a 6″ mini roller, taking care to smooth out any bubbles with a brush and to even out any noticeable pools/excess stain. Angelheart is very dense, not quite as much as Ipe, and it absorbs very little of the stain, although it does seem to soak in to a point. After an hour or so, I wiped any excess stain with a clean rag. I couldn’t be happier with the results – the decks look amazing.
A couple of things:
– I purchased two 1-gallon containers, but only needed one to cover my 200 sqft of decking.
– Be sure to shake the can well. These stains are semi-transparent, and when you open the can, the stain is opaque. It has quite a bit of colorant in it – so make sure to shake and stir. I did my front porch second, and I notice that it is a bit darker. I’m guessing this is due to more color that had settled to the bottom of the can. Be sure to sharke and stir!
– I applied the stain while it was in the upper 90’s (Texas summers…)
– This may be common sense, but… after prepping your deck, I recommend wetting your deck down and deciding how you feel about the color. If you like the natural wet color, go with Amber. If you want it to be darker, go with Mahogany for a more red color, or Black Walnut for the darkest option.
hi- amber stain was applied and looks like it needs a second coat. Can you apply a second coat?
Post a picture.
Is there anything we can do to stain in-between the boards? In some places it is very noticeable
Just a narrow brush.
Here are the pictures, hard to tell but it looks like it needs a second coat the wood has soaked up the stain. Is that possible to do?
Do a test board to make sure it dries correctly as you do want to over apply to hardwood decking.
I just applied ipe stain (amber) to my ipe exterior deck and it looks great. However, I am looking for a product to possibly apply on the newly stained ipe to give it a a little shine. Not full blown glossy finish but a satin to semi gloss finish. Can you recommend a product that I can use?
Thank you. Andrew
It is not possible to add a top coat over a deck stain like the AC and adding a shine to exterior decking will lead to peeling and mildew. Do not do it.
AC stain mahogany on IPE 2 years ago. Just now cleaned but water does not bead at all. Will the coverage still be better than 2 years ago? At that time, had cleaned off old Messmer’s for hardwoods, sanded, recleaned, and brightened.
Same coverage as last time.
Thanks. A gallon would seem enough on IPE I just recall it penetrated more than I anticipated. 175 sq ft.
One gallon should cover this amount for IPE.
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