Wood stain - what is it for?

Wood is a popular, sought-after building material. You can give the wood any shade. For this you will need to process it with a special mixture. Wood stain is also a good antiseptic. The service life of machined parts is increased several times. Paintwork compositions give aesthetics, decorative, emphasize the texture of any species.

Material Features

They produce stain in liquid form, more often it is a dark-colored compound that can give a tree a translucent shade. With its help, you can drastically change the look of the furniture. The liquid penetrates deep into the wood, changing its color range without disturbing the texture and pattern. Special varnishes are used in the restoration of various products for bleaching, brightening.

The main feature of multifunctional compositions is the absence of a film after drying, the identification of a natural pattern. The surface becomes contrast and juicy. Stain processing is the most effective way to protect the tree from rotting and warping. During the work it is possible to combine various shades of mix for all breeds - a pine, an oak, a nut, a black rosewood.

Types of stain

The main component of the stain can be oil, water or alcohol. Typical separation allows you to select several types of material, each of which interacts differently with wood. Some of them penetrate deeply into the wood when other mixtures change the tone of the upper layer only.

Water based

The largest group of impregnations. The mixture is available in finished form, which does not require additional preparation for application, or in powder form. The second option is preferable, since it is possible to independently adjust the shade. Color saturation will depend on the amount of bulk material.

Water-based wood stain can be used inside and outside the dwelling. It does not have an unpleasant smell, it is absolutely non-toxic. The composition has a low consumption, easy to apply. Among the shortcomings can be noted poor resistance. After applying the wood fibers rise, which opens the way to moisture. The painted surface dries for a long time - 12-15 hours. It is not desirable to use for resinous woods.

To work with water stains just do it yourself. The technology is pre-soaking and sanding parts. Sandpaper well removes the lifted hairs. Before use, the composition is filtered and mixed well. It is possible to increase moisture resistance by means of a finishing varnish covering.

Oil based

Universal oily blends include special oil soluble dyes. Such wood stain dries quickly (2-4 hours), it is easy to apply, it lies flat on any surface without expanding the wood fibers. With this composition, you can easily cover the tree evenly and without streaks.

In preparation for the application, the oil stain should be diluted with a solvent. In addition to the decorative functions, the composition has excellent protective properties. Oil penetrates deeply into the upper layer of wood, does not allow it to melt under the influence of external factors, it maintains air exchange.

Mixtures on linseed can be applied with any tool and method, manually or with an airbrush. It is possible to achieve different shades, even those not characteristic of the breed, by adding a dye of the desired color. In this way, you can make a white, green, red stain. It will preserve the saturation of the shade for a long time, since it does not fade in the sun and is not erased.

Alcohol based

A mixture of denatured alcohol is produced in the finished liquid form or as powders. The cost of such stain is significantly higher than other analogues. The question, why use an expensive composition, finds the answer in the high quality and special characteristics of varnish.

Dyes are instantly absorbed into the surface, reducing drying time to 15 minutes. The obvious advantage can also be seen as a drawback, since deep and rapid penetration during staining will create major problems when removing the upper layer in the future. Of the minuses can also be noted the complexity of the application, unpleasant pungent smell. You can avoid such consequences if you apply alcohol stain correctly:

• Spread evenly over the surface;
• Work quickly, having thought through the staining sequence;
• Use a spray bottle.

Acrylic stain

New mixtures based on acrylic are devoid of many of the drawbacks of an oil solution. The main advantages are the creation of a beautiful surface, the possibility of tinting in any color, endowing with water-repellent properties. Acrylic stains are often used for decorating individual areas of wood. Due to the high wear resistance, they can be used when painting wooden floors and parquet boards.

Acrylic-based solutions are safe for humans and animals during work and during operation of the treated items. Such stain does not emit toxic fumes, do not have an unpleasant odor, perfectly fit on flat surfaces.

The only negative is the high cost. It is better not to use acrylic blends as a starting coat before applying varnishes and polyurethane blends. The solution is not absorbed into the wood, lays an additional protective layer on the surface.

Wax stain

Used for the restoration of old wooden coatings. With the help of wax stains paint the discrepancy of color, complement the picture, hide the faded, darkened areas. The compositions have high moisture resistance, create a dense film on the surface. Stains are presented in a huge color range. A significant drawback is the vulnerability to mechanical damage, the need for subsequent varnish coating.

Wax stain is applied using a piece of cloth, a tampon by gradual rubbing. The mixture has the consistency of soft wax, available in small containers. Before using the wax stain is heated, increasing its penetrating ability. Wood is stained along the fibers in several layers to obtain the desired shade.

When choosing wax compounds, it is necessary to take into account that they do not permeate the wood, but only create a protective layer.

Whitening Stains

White color will make any interior elegant. It can be whitewashed floors, plain walls, ceiling, pieces of furniture. To achieve the necessary degree of whiteness of wooden objects is very simple. One of the means available is a bleach stain.

You can process wood in several ways. The choice of method and additional materials will depend on the location of the wooden object. If the tree is inside the room, a natural shade that emphasizes the direction of the fibers can be used for bleaching. Often used for artificial aging in the style of antique. In this case, wood pores should be deep and sharp. Apply gray oil, acrylic, wax stains. The main task of wood stains for external use is to protect the tree from rotting and bluing.

Color variety

The most popular natural shades of stain, in harmony with wood in the best way. For furnishing furniture often choose bog oak, walnut. More brown color will give wood wenge, mocha, nutmeg. In the burgundy palette are mahogany, maple, cherry.

To achieve the desired shade by mixing several types of stains. At the same time it is important to observe proportions, use mixtures of only one manufacturer. For larch and pine fit both dark and light, nutty options. Classify such paint according to the international standard. Each color has a name and its own cipher.

When choosing a mixture, carry out a trial color of the wood. The natural color, grade of material will influence the received shade. Quality, density of solutions is of great importance. Compositions of different manufacturers that are identical in numbers may produce shades of different saturation and depth.

Rules and methods for applying to the surface

Apply stain to the surface in several ways. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account the type and type of wood, since the texture on each will appear differently. Apply the following methods of staining:

• Using the spray gun. Suitable for alcohol and nitromorilok used in large areas. Instrument settings affect color effects. Using spray guns is the best option for uniform application.
• Pouring or dipping. Used when applying mixtures of low viscosity and quick-drying, for example, aqueous stains. Positive aspects - material savings, high performance. Due to the lack of a human factor, perfect repeatability of tone is noted. In hard-to-reach places, the formation of unpainted spots is excluded.
• Dumping, impregnation rags. As a tool, you can use foam, cotton materials, leaving no fibers behind. Condensed wax, acrylic mixture is used in small areas. It is carefully smeared on the surface to obtain the desired color.
• Paint brush. Appliances with natural bristles are suitable for oil blends, synthetic fibers - for water. The brush should be strong, medium hard. If the surface is large, the device should also be massive and wide. Start working better from the top edge, moving down.

Master class on wood toning

Tinting any wood, furniture parts is easy to carry out with your own hands at home. The procedure will enhance the texture, give a refined shade, mask the defects, if necessary, radically change the appearance of the tree. First of all, it is necessary to determine the color of the stain, select the technology of application and check the color on a piece of wood of the same breed. The process of applying the mixture goes through several stages:

1. Surface preparation. The base is thoroughly sanded and cleaned. Then moistened with water and remove the embittered fibers with sandpaper.
2. Application tinting mixture. Proceed to staining after complete drying of the tree. Apply one color layer, remove excess wood stain with a cloth.
3. Drying. Each type of tinting composition has its own drying time. After a certain time, we check the compliance of the shade, if necessary, apply a second layer.
4. Varnishing Applying a protective layer is necessary to give the surface greater strength.

Expense calculation

The main indicator that must be considered when calculating the flow rate is the degree of porosity of the base material. Any stain has an excellent absorption capacity. On average, 15 m2 will require one liter of composition. It is also important to consider the intensity of the shade. Conifers have low absorbency, so they will need to be processed in several layers to achieve the desired pattern, which will increase consumption at least twice.

The amount of material consumed is influenced by the shape of the painted surface, the presence of corner locks, hard-to-reach places. On each container of the mixture, manufacturers indicate how much it is necessary to spend the composition in order to obtain a specific pattern. The exception is oil formulations, the task of which is to saturate the wood until the pores are completely filled. In this case, the type of tree and its state are taken into account.

To reduce the consumption of stain when dyeing coniferous wood, it is necessary to remove the wood resin from the base in advance.

How to choose a stain

The choice of stain depends on the purpose of the object being processed and the method of its application. For tinting furniture choose a safe mixture with a minimum amount of volatile compounds. Wax, oil, water compositions are suitable.

For the treatment of window frames, doors, it is better to pick up spirit stains. It is easier to apply the mixture on even surfaces, which minimizes the formation of stains. It is possible to restore old tables, chairs, cabinets with small blue spots with oil and wax compositions using any tool. When choosing a tonic, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Drying speed. Alcohol formulations dry up almost instantly, the stains on water last for 2-3 hours. Oil solutions for complete drying will take at least 24 hours;
• Toxicity. The safest stain is oil, water, wax. Acrylic, alcohol mixtures are applied in protective clothing and respirator;
• Resistance to fire and mechanical damage. Resistance to fire depends on the layer thickness. Oil, wax stains have the lowest degree of protection against scratches;
• The degree of filling the pores of wood. The highest rate of occupancy of pores in oily formulations;
• Lack of smell. Completely absent from the smell of water, acrylic stains. Pairs of oil mixtures are weathered for several days.

Dealing with defects - what to do if the stain is wrong

Quite often, after applying the stain, various defects on the surface are formed. They may not appear immediately, but only after drying. The sooner measures are taken to eliminate them, the greater the chances of complete restoration of the applied layer. Most often you have to work with the following defects:

• Flows. If the resulting drip is noticed at the time of applying the stain, it must be soaked with varnish, which will dissolve the bottom layer. Then the area must be cleaned with a clean cloth and process the mixture again. An already dried wort is first softened with a solvent, then removed with a knife, a plane, an emery cloth.
• Spots. First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of their occurrence. The case may be in the wood of poor quality, having black areas, unevenly absorbing wood stain. In the case of the external array will help the plane, with plywood will need to remove the entire veneer. Re-coating of the site is best done with a thick wax mixture.

Conclusion

Wooden furnishings look beautiful, but quickly lose their appeal. They are influenced by consumer, external factors, time. To keep a decent look and the original structure for a long time will help stain. Due to the diversity of species, it is possible to choose a suitable composition for a certain type of wood, reproduce the pattern, highlight the natural texture, draw a flower, any convex pattern.