You know I just thought: dymondwood may not take a traditional stain, possibly that fast drying stain that dries in like 10 minutes (good stuff but work fast) but gel stain does not need to penetrate to stick. Since it's made to more or less add a wood grain look to a smooth surface - like a steel door - gel stain may be the answer to the dymondwood question. I have a dymondwood riser, I may just try that out.