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Wood Staining and Finishing
Wood Stain and Finishing Links
Using shellac as a sealer. The shellac / varnish finishing system. Part 1
Using shellac as a sealer. The shellac / varnish finishing system. Part 2
Rubbing out with steel or synthetic wool. Finishing with paste wax.
Matching putty for your wood staining project. Swedish putty, pre-mixed putty, intermixing for custom color matches.
Get a good stain match every time you stain. Intermix pre-mixed stain colors for a custom match, add universal colorants, or re-wipe to tone.
Avoid smelly solvents altogether with a waterbased stain and finishing system.
Whitewashed oak or pickled oak gives a soft bleached stain look. Can be done with white or other pastel colors.
One of the most versatile clear finishes. An excellent fast drying sealer for use under oil based varnish. Can be used as a final finish.
An introduction to the two main types of wood stains: Penetrating and Wiping stains.
Oil based varnish is a time tested tough finish, often used over shellac as a fast drying finishing system.
Waterbased clear coats are great for non-yellowing applications, used with woodgraining and with waterbased stains.
How to mix and match a maple stain. What colors of stain go with maple stain and what colors to use on the walls with maple wood trim.
The Wiping Stain is similar to a gel stain. It can be used over sealed surfaces as well as on new wood. Wiping stains can be used for wood graining too making them one of the most versatile stains.
Oil based polyurethane is a heavy bodied brushing finish that is tough and abrasion resistant. Use it on new wood, or better yet, with the right sealer to speed up the process. Can be roller, brushed or sprayed.
Often you don't need to strip the finish and start from scratch. Clean, repair, touch up the stain and refinish. Much easier than a full strip and refinish.
Don't use an interior varnish for exterior stain work. Spar varnishes contain UV blockers and will flex with exterior temperature changes.
Wiping stains on the other hand are easier to control in terms of color saturation but will obscure the grain a bit because they are highly pigmented. See Interior Wood Stains. My favorite stain is the standard Minwax penetrating oil stain. Minwax stains have good clarity and come in many of the popular stain colors. You can make your own custom matched stain colors by intermixing the different pre-mixed colors. See Stain Matching.
Stain Application
Rag application
You must use chemical resistant gloves for rag application. This will keep your hands clean, and prevent contact dermatitis as a result of direct contact with the harsh solvents used in the stain. Dip a lint free cotton rag into the stain and apply it in a circular motion working the stain into the grain. Lay off the stain by wiping your final stroke with the rag in the direction of the wood grain. Don’t use a separate dry rag to wipe the stain off, you will wipe off too much stain . Use the same rag too lay off the stain s you used to apply the stain with. Rag application is the best for my liking because it does not apply too heavy a coat of stain.. Heavy stain application starts to become opaque and obscures the wood grain.
Too light - Too dark
Apart from the color itself, you will find the other variable in staining is how the wood "takes" the stain. Sometimes it will be too light. If this case you will need to stain the wood twice, allowing the stain to dry completely before re-coating or use a wiping stain with brush application. Sometimes the stain will be too dark. In the case of the stain being the right color but too intense or too dark, you will need to thin the stain by cutting it with clear stain base.
Staining Safety
**Rags saturated with solvent are a fire hazard and can be spontaneously combustible. Never clump or bunch saturated rags with solvent or stain when done staining. Hang rags used for staining and rags used in solvent singularly on a metal (coat hanger(s)) to air dry - outside away from the house.. Make sure air can get at all parts of the rag so that the heat can dissipate. Let the rags totally air dry. Dispose of rags in accordance with local ordinances.
Also provide for good ventilation during and after staining with a solvent stain , as well as when sealing and varnishing with solvent based products.
How to Stain Wood
Pre-conditioning
Porous woods may need to be pre-conditioned prior to staining. Don’t overdo the conditioning or you may over seal the wood and it won’t take stain. You don’t need to pre-seal hardwoods like oak, they stain very well without it. See also Pre-stain Conditioning.
Stains
There are two types of stains used for new wood trim: penetrating stains and wiping stains. Penetrating stains are more transparent and show more grain detail than wiping stains.
Brush Application
Prestain Prestain Conditioner, Shellac Wash Coat
Staining: Oil based stain, Waterbased stain, Penetrating stain, Wiping stain, Stain matching, Wood putty, Wood filler, Pickling, Application: brush, rag, spray
Clear Coating: Shellac, Varnish, Lacquer, Polyurethane, Waterbased clears,
Rubbing out; Buffing out, Finishing wax, Pumice, Polishing, Rubbing compounds, Hand rubbed satin, High gloss
Wood Stain
Information and tips:
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Brush application
If you want to apply the stain heavier because the wood is too sealed (either naturally , or from pre-stain conditioning etc..) then brushing the stain on will leave a heavier application. The downside of brushing is that you may leave brush marks and “artificial graining” (brush drag grain), and brush applied stain is thick and more opaque. I use two brushes for brush application, both are white china bristle (with standard oil based stains) which is softer than black bristle. One brush is used for application, and the other is for laying off the stain and dry brushing the stain out in the direction of the wood grain. Brush application is the only way to apply shading varnishes.
**"Hang rags contaminated with solvent or wood preservatives and stain outside or spread them out to dry on a nonflammable surface outside away from your house and other outbuildings. The area must be away from potential ignition sources, children and pets. When completely dry, the rags can be put in a trash bag and placed in the trash. Store the trash bag outside until trash pickup day".
"These procedures are intended for rags contaminated by household use of solvents or wood preservatives and stains only"
Colorado Department of Public Health http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/HM/hhw/howto/rags.htm
Wood Stain and Finishing Links
Oil-less tack cloth used for removing dust and debris prior to finishing.
Shading varnishes and urethanes are used to re-color and refinish previously stained wood work without the need to strip the finish off.
An introduction to the different sealers and fillers used for wood finishing.
Refinishing wood and changing the stain color with the use of a wiping stain.
Some soft woods will stain better and more evenly with the use of a pre-stain sealer.
Paste wax used as a final finish over sealed wood is provides a slick uniform soft gloss that is easily repairable.
White wood stain application to non porous woods (other than oak) gives a soft bleached look.
Fill the nail holes with matching putty. How to do this best and what products to use.
The fastest way to refinish a door (flush or panel door) is by sanding off the finish with progressively finer sand paper .
How to mix and match a walnut stain. What colors of stain go with walnut satin and what colors to use on the walls with walnut stained wood trim.
How to mix and match a medium oak stain. What colors of stain go with medium oak stain and what colors to use on the walls with mediium oak wood trim.
Shellac application methods. Use the best brush for shellac, or apply it with a roller or HVLP spray.
Six panel or flush door, stain application, using exterior stain and varnishes on entry doors (exterior side).
How do the different clear wood finishes compare to each other? Which on is best for different situations? All are clear coats, but each have different properties, strengths and weaknessess.
Spraying wood stain is a viable option in some new construction senerios. The best type of sprayer for this is the HVLP.
Sand before application of polyurethane, between coats and for a final hand rubbed satin finish.
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Understanding Wood Finishing
A thorough treatment of almost any topic relating to wood staining and wood finishing. A must have for any wood finisher from professional to DIY'er
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Wood Finishing Resources
- Wood Stain
- Colored Putty
- Wood Conditioner
- Varnish
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