deck stain question

[toolmiser]

I have less than a half gallon of Cabot Semi Transparent oil base deck stain.  I need a little more than a half gallon to cover it.  I also have a partial gallon of Cabot Solid color oil base deck stain.  Do you think I will have problems if I add some of the solid color to the semi transparent so I have enough to cover the deck.?  I know it will change the transparency a bit.

I must admit I called Cabot's 800 number and the person immediately said not to do it but didn't explain why.  I also know they are in the business of selling, not stretching some existing sale.


What are your thoughts?  I am cheap, and don't want to waste or purchase more if I don't have to.  This is an older deck that I've maintained fairly well, I at one time used solid color and eventually it peeled, so last year I stripped it and used the semi transparent and it's working fine.  I don't think adding a little of the solid to the transparent will cause any issues

Opinions appreciated.

Thanks

[JosephP]

Why not just add a little thinner?

[toolmiser]

I thought about adding more thinner, but the semi transparent is already pretty thin.  Maybe add some solid and some thinner and hope to get the same result?

[Bill Bob]

Someone said "If its worthwhile doing then do it right."  Buy a gallon, you'll be  happy in the long run you did.

Regards, 
Bill Bob

[tomsteve]

maybe do a test with a couple tsp's of each.
and let us know how it turns out,please.

[EricU]

my mom used to mix paints herself.  The outcomes were awful most of the time.  One thing I expect you to mess up doing this is the adhesion. I swear she wasted so much money on paint that she could have bought whatever she wanted.  Even Habitat charges real money for opened paint.

[fredhargis]

I looked at what Cabot calls the "technical data" of the 2 (?) products. The question mark is because I may have looked at the wrong 2, they have 3 series in each (semi and solid) and I could rule out the acrylic, but that still left me with 2 oil based versions. One thing I noticed (the comparisons are very similar) was that the solid color is considered a film forming finish (2-3 mils) and the semi is not, it's considered a penetrating finish. I think the worse that would happen is you would mix them and get a thin penetrating finish with a thin film finish on top. Of course that's all a guess, and the only way to know is to try it. But I don't think using it the way you want would be a huge disaster, it just might not work quite as well as 100% of one type.

[toolmiser]

I added a little solid color, and a little thinner.  I'll try to post the results next year.  It did seem to soak into the wood which is what I was going for.  The deck must be 20 years old now.  I might replace some year with a man made product.  Problem is I built it 16" on center and I think most of the man made products need 12" oc.  The best news is that both the railing and deck is redone so I can relax on them now.

Thanks for the comments.