it ain't me, it's all about the good wood - hard to screw up pretty tiger stripe grain! however, i've always felt that aqua fortis (iron nitrate) makes it pop better than an actual stain. i used kibler's iron nitrate in two coats, with high heat for both, then 6 thin wipes of tru-oil with lots of cure time and scotch brite scrubs between coats. it's not bad. time to get it sooty 'n' scuffed.