The modern building materials market offers a huge assortment of various products for repair. Stains are no exception, which can easily extend the life of any wood, as well as make its appearance brighter and more fresh. You will learn how to choose the right stain for wood products from this article. You will also get acquainted with the features of such tinting agents, their varieties and a variety of color palettes.
Features:
Stain is a special tinting mixture with which any wood product can be given the desired shade.
There are several features of such funds:
- Almost all stains dry very quickly.
- All mixtures are safe for humans and non-toxic.
- They are easy to apply; when using them, you do not need to contact a specialist.
- The composition of the stain is evenly applied to wooden surfaces. At the same time, there are no stains and streaks, like paint
- Acrylic stains and wax variants do not lift wood grain after application.
- When choosing a quality mixture, you can be sure that it will protect the tree not only from excessive moisture, but also from negative external influences.
- When using one or another type of wood stain, you can easily emphasize not only the beauty of the tree, but also its structure.
- For very soft wood species, many manufacturers offer special stains-gels, which not only improve the appearance of the products, but also reduce the porosity of the wood.
- The average price for such toning mixtures ranges from 70 to 250 rubles, depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, anyone can buy products of this type.
A small disadvantage of using water stain is the raising of the wood fibers. This is due to the fact that when impregnated the wood becomes less resistant to moisture, but this does not apply to all varieties of mixtures of this kind. In addition, often after using the stain, the wood must be additionally coated with a special varnish.
Kinds
Today, stains are presented in a huge assortment.
Depending on the base from which the tint liquids are made, such funds can be divided into:
- alcohol;
- oil;
- aquatic;
- acrylic;
- wax.
The most relevant and affordable are water options. They are often used to cover wood, since this type is distinguished not only by a safe composition, but also by a good color palette. Many manufacturers offer ready-made stains, as well as options in powders, which must be diluted on their own according to the instructions.
With the help of one or another type of stain, any wood can be painted in the desired color. Many brands offer tinting fluids in natural wood shades, ranging from lightest to darkest.
How to choose?
When choosing the desired variety and color of wood stain, a wood test should be carried out in advance. This condition is mandatory, since all wood species have a different absorbency coefficient.
It is very difficult to impregnate conifers with any tinting mixtures , since they have a rather dense surface. This means that it will not be possible to radically change their color, but it is quite possible to give a light shade. As for hardwoods, on the contrary, they very well absorb a variety of staining compositions of wood stains.
To choose the right stain, you need to proceed, first of all, from what result you want to get in the end. If you just need to give the necessary shade to a wooden product, then you can safely purchase a water-based stain. But do not forget that you cannot radically change the color with this mixture.
Oil-based stains are suitable for completely changing the shade of different tree species. These stains are special dyes that are dissolved in oil.
Alcohol-based stains are very similar to water-based stains. They should be chosen if you want not only to get a good shade, but also to protect the tree from further destruction. Since alcohol is an excellent antiseptic, it will surely protect any wooden product from bacteria and fungi. In addition, alcohol mixtures do not lift wood fibers. The only drawback is that the drying speed is too high, which makes it difficult for many to work.
The most modern stains are acrylic and wax impregnations, which have excellent properties for high-quality staining and toning of wood. They are recommended to be chosen by those buyers who want to use not only brushes, but also sprayers when applying mixtures.
Color spectrum
A wide range of colors of modern wood stains can please even the most fastidious customers. Some shades may differ slightly, it all depends on the manufacturer.
The most popular flowers are natural varieties that harmonize perfectly with the tree. Some of the most popular are the shades of bog oak, teak and beech. If you are looking for something brown, then look at the mix options in shades of mocha, wenge and nutmeg. A bright and rich burgundy palette is represented by shades of mahogany, red cherry and maple.
Since the shades are not always exactly what the master or client wants, sometimes several stains are mixed. However, it is very important to take into account the proportions and use mixtures of only one manufacturer when creating a color.
The colors of the wood stain "like pine" and "like larch" are presented in different shades. These can be both deep dark and delicate light options.
Unusual effects
To stylize an antique wood product and give it a shade of white oak, you should mix several tones of mixtures. Often, a white water-based stain is used for this, which is applied in the first layer. Then, after drying, the product is coated with an oil-based mixture with warm wax in the composition. The wax gives the already pre-colored product a slight grayish tint.
Alcohol and water stains help to enhance the beauty of natural wood , and they also easily mimic the natural finish. When choosing a tinting mixture to protect and change the color of wood, as well as to give a noble shade to the coating, choose ebony or Peruvian walnut stains. With their help, you can revive the most ordinary-looking products, even if they are made of low-quality material.
To create unusual effects on wood, use not only classic wood-like shades, but also brighter ones (blue, black and burgundy). With their help, you can diversify a wide variety of wooden products. An interesting effect can be obtained by covering the floor with such a composition.
To create a noble oak or pine effect, or to enhance the appearance of old wood products, rub the stain with a special rag.
Application Tips
- You can apply the tint mixture yourself. The process is usually pretty straightforward, but it does take some effort and follow the instructions.
The most efficient and simplest way to apply the stain is by spraying. This technique is considered to be of very high quality, since the coating in such cases falls on the surface as evenly as possible. Both regular wood and plywood can be coated with this method.
If the wooden product is not very large, you can distribute the colored stain over it using a roller.
A popular coating method is also a brush, but it is not always suitable for quick-drying solutions, as they can leave behind streaks if the surface is not painted as quickly as possible. Which of the staining methods is right for you is hard to say. Here you should proceed from what kind of material you will cover, and the stain with what composition you will use.
- When diluting and applying this or that mixture, be sure to read the instructions that come with the product. Do not forget about safety precautions and be sure to use protective gloves.
- The number of layers of stain will depend on how intense the shade you want.
- When processing wood, especially when it comes to conifers, do not forget that it must first be degummed. Also, many experts believe that it is best to apply the stain along the grain of the tree.
- Powdered mixtures should only be dissolved in pure and distilled water.
- In order for the stain to penetrate as deeply as possible into the structure of the tree, many professionals recommend heating the ready-made mixture. Some stains are added to wood varnishes. The same effect is obtained, but with improved protective properties. However, this technique does not work with all types of wood stains. Information on this issue should be checked with the store's consultants.
- Stains and tint concentrates are recommended to be purchased only in trusted building materials stores. Be sure to check the expiration date, as stains, especially oil stains, can deteriorate over time. If you are not sure that you can independently choose the desired type of stain and cover the wooden product with it, it is better to use the help of specialists.
For information on how to choose a wood stain for interior woodwork, see the next video.