Wood will always be popular, because it is a beautiful and environmentally friendly material. However, like all natural decorative elements, boards are afraid of moisture, and are a favorite habitat for insects, fungi, mold and other microorganisms. To increase the life of things made from tree species various protective agents and antiseptics are used. Today we will talk about such a wonderful substance as stain, with its help you can not only solve some problems associated with premature damage wooden materials but also to give their products an unusual and noble appearance.
Wood is a strong and durable material that is affected by adverse factors. environment, therefore, in order to protect products from it from possible damage, it is necessary to process them by special means. On the construction market, you can find a huge number of different antiseptics, varnishes and other impregnations that change the color and some properties of wood, the most popular and inexpensive product is wood stain. Some people think that stains are used only to change the color of an object, but this wonderful drug has other properties.
The properties of stains may vary depending on their composition. However, even if you make such a tint with your own hands, it will still have some protective properties.
Wood stain properties:
- If you want to change not only the color of the wood, but also highlight its texture, then stain is just what you need. It does not completely cover the drawing, like paint, but gives the whole product a pleasant shade.
- Wood staining will protect furniture from insects and rot, while preserving the texture and pattern of the wood.
- Stain is a protective agent that increases the service life of wooden objects and costs several times cheaper than varnish and paint. In addition, due to its watery consistency, it penetrates deeper into the wood structure.
- With the help of a stain, you can make even inexpensive pine, painted with colored stain, look like a noble and strong oak and exotic mahogany.
- Stain toning can lighten the wood. This technique is especially often used before painting wooden products.
- Impregnation with stain will strengthen the structure of the tree and give it a light moisture-proof property.
Not all stains have the above qualities. To understand which stain you need, you need to read its composition, and see what the instructions for use say. By the way, you can process not only whole wooden planks, but also chipboard, plywood or parquet items and other wooden crafts.
Water-based wood stain and alcohol stains
Wood stains on water based- These are the most environmentally friendly beys. They don't have a sharp bad smell and easy to use.
Such a tool can be sold as a dry, or ready-made mixture. Such dyes are most popular due to their low price and the possibility of their use, both for indoor and outdoor use.
The main characteristics of water stain:
- The colors of the water-based stain are very diverse. With their help, you can create a very interesting iridescent effect.
- You can use water beytsy without fear for your health. Even with the most high temperatures, such products do not emit harmful fumes.
- If you decide to experiment, and are wondering: “Which stain to choose so that it can be washed?” - then a water stain is what you need. Such a tinting agent can be easily washed off with water, so it is impossible to paint the floor with it.
- Toning a wooden surface with such a tool makes its texture more noticeable. Unfortunately, because of this, the product becomes more sensitive to moisture, so it will need to be varnished.
It is highly undesirable to tint resinous tree species with such an impregnation, as ugly spots can appear on them. For such products, it is better to use alcohol impregnation.
How long does alcohol impregnation dry? Almost a few seconds! This property is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Thanks to it, you can cover the butt of a sports rifle with alcohol stain, and use it in a few minutes, however, a large area can only be stained with an airbrush, otherwise the surface of the product will be covered with unpleasant streaks and stains, even varnish will not help correct the situation. Consists of alcohol impregnation of alcohol and dyes.
Treating wood with such an impregnation will make it more resistant to ultraviolet radiation and high humidity. However, due to the unpleasant smell of such a product, working with it is possible only in open space.
Benefits of oil-based stains and wax and acrylic stains
Stain on oil based has a wide range of colors and shades. It costs more than water beys, but useful properties she has more. Such a preparation can be used not only to change the color of the product, but also to emphasize its texture.
Treating wood with an oil-based stain is easy and convenient, it is applied in a thin layer and does not lift the fibers of the product. Also, this tinting does not fade under the influence sun rays, gives the tree resistance to temperature extremes and protects it from moisture. You can remove stains of oil stain with the help of White Spirit solvent, it can also lighten the painted wood a little. It differs from compositions similar in properties in that varnish is not needed to fix it. The disadvantages of staining with oil include: long drying of the tint and its toxicity.
It is very important to find a stain from a responsible and conscientious manufacturer. Judging by the reviews, the most popular firms are Vartan, Latek, Novbytkhim and Herlak.
Acrylic and wax stains are very easy to apply, they lay down in a uniform layer and do not leave stains and streaks. However, due to the rapid drying of such stains, you need to work with them very quickly.
Wax stain is used to protect wood from moisture. It can process parquet. This beyz is unstable to mechanical damage, therefore, to extend its service life, it is better to use varnish.
Acrylic, it is also rustic, stain perfectly emphasizes the texture of the tree. With its help, you can get the most different shades which is why this drug is so popular. A tree stained with such stain will still need to be opened with several layers of varnish.
Wood stain colors
Wood stains differ not only in composition, they come in different colors and shades. The most commonly used dark mixture, it gives the products a more noble look. With the help of such stains, ordinary larch and maple can turn into an oak board.
Modern stains can give the tree the most unusual shade. However, to this day, the range of natural woody colors is considered the most popular.
The most popular stain colors:
- Pine;
- Birch;
- Bleached walnut;
- Plum; Red tree;
- Olive;
- rosewood;
There are many such examples. It is noteworthy that the names of the same shade for different companies can vary greatly. When choosing a baize color, first of all, pay attention not to color palette, which is printed on the packaging, and samples printed on birch boards.
It is also important to consider that the intensity of the color of the stain depends on the type of wood on which it is applied. It will be more difficult to give a dark shade to a product if the wood from which it is made is lighter than to darken an oak object. Non-aqueous stain will not be able to paint over well enough pine board, if it is not previously desalted, but water-based stains are generally unsuitable for resinous tree species.
White wood stain
To make furniture white, it is not necessary to paint it. A brightening stain is also suitable for such work, which will not only make the product lighter, but also emphasize its structure.
Wood stain is designed not only to give the product a lighter shade, but also to protect it from the adverse conditions of the outside world. It is very important to consider, when considering different types of such a product, how and on what you will apply it. If there is a risk that moisture will spill onto the surface of the bleached object, then it is best to use wax, oil and acrylic preparations, but if your craft is in a dry and ventilated place, then a water stain will do.
With the help of white stain, you can achieve a very interesting effect and make an aged coating. It must first be painted with stain white color water-based, after it dries, the item must be treated with a stiff brush. A dark-colored wax or oil stain is rubbed into the formed pores on the wood.
When using a water stain, do not forget about the protective layer. The dyed product must be treated with wax or oil.
Light stains do not always have a pronounced color. There is a colorless stain, which is applied solely to protect the tree from adverse natural factors.
How to make a stain with your own hands
It is not necessary to buy a ready-made stain. By mixing dyes, such as coffee, a few drops of iodine or black bark shavings, and some chemical elements, it can be made at home. Homemade stain is not only effective, it is also natural.
- Boil a glass of larch bark in a glass of water. The resulting product can be coated with birch products, it will give them a beautiful reddish tint.
- Crush the dried shell walnut powder and boil for ten minutes. The resulting broth must be mixed with soda. Coat light-colored wood with the solution, and it will take on a brown tint. If you want to change the color of the product, you can treat it with vinegar or potassium bichromate. In the first case, the shade will be gray, and in the second, red.
- Brewed tea or coffee can give the tree different shades. The intensity of the colors depends on the strength of the tea leaves.
- With a solution of potassium permanganate, you will color the product in a cherry color.
- A red tint can be achieved by soaking rusty nails in vinegar for several days. Black stain is obtained by adding a decoction of oak or walnut leaves to the vinegar solution.
Self-stains are made quite often. They are environmentally friendly and harmless. Unfortunately, they all tend to fade, so to preserve the color of the product, a layer of varnish must be applied over the stain.
Wood tinting with wood stain: step by step instructions
To make the product look neat and beautiful, you need to cover it with stain correctly. If the stain is applied poorly, it can fade after a few weeks, and if you do not follow the staining technology, you risk getting a surface covered with stains.
How to properly stain objects:
- First of all, it is necessary to remove a layer from the surface of the product old paint. You can do this with sandpaper.
- Next, the surface is degreased with alcohol, white spirit or gasoline. If the product is made from resinous tree species, then it is deresined.
- The stain is heated and applied in a thin layer to the surface of the product. The top of the item is processed first. Layers are applied from above, one on top of the other, until the desired shade is achieved.
After the stain dries, the product must be covered with several layers of varnish. Before applying a new layer, the dried varnish is treated with fine-grained sandpaper.
Wood stain (video)
Wood stain is a great way to replace one wood color with another. Such funds are different types, they may have various formulations and colors. Use the stain correctly, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful product.
Using in home interior wood, you wonder how long it will last. The answer depends on whether you know how to choose stains and varnishes for internal works on wood. It is also worth considering further use: for furniture, choose non-toxic compounds, for the floor - resistant to abrasion.
We select the mixture according to the type of surface and its further application
Each surface has its own characteristics and risks of damage. To protect the tree and preserve its beauty, you need to carefully choose the composition of the mixture covering it.
The coating may have the following properties:
- toxicity - the safest ones are made on the basis of water, wax and oils. Nitro-varnishes and polyurethane are applied in a respirator;
- drying speed - alcohol-based formulations dry the fastest (almost instantly). Slightly inferior to them are varnishes and stains on the water and nitro-varnishes (about three hours). Oil solutions dry the longest (at least a day);
- the ability to prime small irregularities and porous wood - they are conditionally divided into ready-made self-priming compounds, nitro-varnishes with a large dry residue and varnishes with the addition of a filler;
- wear resistance - the most durable to any damage polyurethane varnish, but with inaccurate use tightly glues the planks. The most unstable nitrocellulose;
- resistance to fire - ready-made fire-resistant varnishes. Fire resistance directly depends on the thickness of the layer;
- lack of smell - there is no fuse at acrylic varnishes and water-based stains. The smell of epoxy and oil compounds disappears up to three days.
They differ in the type of application:
- brush - viscous compositions based on oil, resins and wax are applied;
- spray gun - a mixture based on alcohol and water.
We select stain for interior work with wood
The first thing that interests any person is what visual effect the stain will give, they are repelled from it, choosing the composition.
Choice by visual effect
Wood staining with wood stain is used not only as decorative coating, sometimes toning hides the mistakes of previous experiments or helps to achieve a uniform color for a porous wood product. For tinting, powder stains are used, mixing them with a solution in which the pigment is added.
If you are a follower vintage technology, use organic dyes, they retain color for centuries. Their color scheme is more meager, but if you have a recipe, you can create the same shade after decades.
Using herbal ingredients, you can achieve the following shades:
- red - a decoction of larch bark or onion peel;
- brown - nutshell powder with the addition of soda. If you need a rich color, mix willow and oak bark, alder catkins and walnut shell, on this composition, cook the tincture with the addition of soda;
- gray - after applying stain with nut decoction, soak the surface with vinegar;
- black - with the addition of a decoction of oak or alder bark;
- yellow - mix a decoction of barberry root with alum and boil;
- scarlet - juice composition wolf berries and Glauber's salt;
- blue - juice of wolfberries with the addition of soda;
- green - potash with wolfberry juice.
Powder stain is diluted with a decoction and applied as when diluted with water.
Colorless stain to enhance the natural beauty of wood
This category includes all types of stains, without additives. True, they shade the color of the boards a little. This is due to the type of wood - on dense wood, the natural color will remain, and on the porous structure it will become several tones darker.
Rustic stain for vintage look
There are two ways to get this effect. Buying a ready-made composition with increased seepage into deep layers or applying ordinary stain to a sanded surface, followed by removing it in convex areas. To enhance the contrast, you need to walk along the wood fibers wire brush, then the softer areas will become deeper and darker.
Compositions for multi-colored application
Used to obtain the color "Arctic oak", " bleached oak» and other bleaching options. For work, they acquire a water-based stain with white pigment, oil stain and wax. The first layer is applied for bleaching, and the second with a stain mixture with the addition of melted wax. The excess is removed with a rag. The oil soaks into the veins, emphasizing the wood structure.
Not all solvents are universal, some are not suitable for a nursery, but they are indispensable when processing parquet. Before purchasing the composition, decide where it will be used.
Which breeding ground is right for you:
- alcohol - resistant to ultraviolet, does not require additional protection varnish;
- oil - perfect option for beginners without special tools, environmentally friendly and resistant to abrasion;
- wax - not suitable for further coating with polyurethane and two-component acid curing varnish;
- nitro - applied with a spray gun due to capriciousness and frequent stains;
- water - requires grinding after application due to the lifting of the fibers.
It is better to purchase several types than to spoil the product in pursuit of savings.
Protecting wood with varnish
The stain is not able to protect the wood from contact with other objects, therefore, after it has completely dried, it is recommended to varnish the product.
Desired end result:
- glossy - looks good in rooms with poor lighting giving depth to the surface. In a room with bright light, it creates a mirror shine that hides the beauty of the tree;
- matte - retains a natural look;
- mother-of-pearl - during the play of light, internal flicker appears;
- tinted - with the addition of pigment to change the shade.
When applying mother-of-pearl and tinted varnish, do not forget that the color saturation depends on the number of layers.
Varnish types
Like stain, varnishes have various bases, some of them emit toxic substances during operation and require long ventilation.
They are divided into the following types:
- alcohol - most often used for small items by restorers or when processing musical instruments;
- water-soluble - odorless and not afraid detergents, suitable for children's furniture;
- oil - used to cover the floor, shade the wood with yellow;
- alkyd - glyphthalic and pentaphthalic synthetic resin is used as a base;
- polyester - suitable for items with frequent use, form protective film. Withstand not only washing, but also the ingress of reagents;
- epoxy - the same resistant as polyester, but with more speed drying;
- polyurethane - one of the most resistant, most often cover parquet in in public places and yachts;
- acrylic - used for processing children's toys and furniture, the safest for health.
When mixing, pay attention to the fact that the stain and varnish components do not conflict, but it is better to apply them separately. The varnish prevents the wood stain from penetrating into the wood, so such experiments end up with ugly dark stains and spots on the surface.
Tree under the influence of negative factors lose their natural beauty over time and worsen operational characteristics: burn out under the influence of UV; deformed from excess moisture; rot during the reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
To give a rich shade, preserve the structure, protect against destruction and extend the service life, a special wood stain is used. Further about what are the compositions, how to prepare them and what are the features of processing wooden surfaces.
What is a stain for?
Stain, or stain, is a special deep penetration compound that allows save natural structure wood and give it required shade. It can also be used for surface treatment of plywood, fiberboard, chipboard and MDF.
The main difference between stains and decorative enamels and paints is deep penetration of tinting components, which allow you to paint wood from the inside, while maintaining its texture and without forming a protective film on the surface.
Staining a tree is necessary to achieve the following goals:
- wood staining V specific color or imitation of expensive breeds;
- from rotting and internal destruction with the negative effects of moisture, infection with mold and pathogenic microorganisms;
- restoration and restoration of old and damaged wooden surfaces;
- giving wood natural attraction;
- increased strength and weather resistance;
- increase operational life material;
- decoration by combining different shades.
When choosing an impregnation, it is important to consider that not all compounds have the above characteristics.
Types and composition
Modern impregnating stains can classify according to their composition. There are the following types:
- water;
- oil;
- alcohol;
- acrylic;
- wax.
Water based
Such impregnations are produced in powder form (soluble in water) and ready-made liquid formulations. This environmentally friendly and safe a product with an impressive range of shades.
Water stain does not have a pronounced odor, so it can be used to treat interior and exterior wooden surfaces. In addition, she has high elasticity and adhesion to wood.
Despite its safety and practicality, the composition has some disadvantages.
Chief among them is her not suitable for wood processing high content pitches. This may result in dark spots.
The next drawback is that when stained, the wood fibers rise, which entails obligatory surface polishing. To eliminate this drawback, a non-aqueous wood stain is used.
Another disadvantage is decrease in moisture resistant characteristics wood with prolonged contact with moisture. They are quickly washed out with water, so they are not able to provide reliable protection material.
Oil based
The basis of oil stains is made up of coloring solutions in linseed oil or drying oil.
They are easy to apply to any accessible tool, are distinguished by good resistance to fading, high humidity and temperature extremes.
In addition, they do not lift wood fibers and fill them excess moisture when staining.
Due to its high performance characteristics, this type of composition is suitable for processing structures inside and out, forming a moisture-resistant protective film.
Thickened stain is diluted with white spirit.
Alcohol based
Impregnations are special solutions consisting of aniline dyes and denatured alcohol (alcohol base). They are available in powder form and in the form of ready-made formulations.
Deep penetration of dyes into wood fibers leads to fast painting and drying of the surface.
For uniform staining of wood with alcohol stain it is recommended to use a spray gun. This will avoid the appearance of characteristic spots and stains.
Such compositions provide reliable protection of wood from negative atmospheric effects, therefore, they have been used for a long time. for surfaces that are used outdoors.
Important! The main disadvantage of alcohol stains is the presence of a sharp chemical odor.
Acrylic and wax based
Acrylic and wax impregnations practically devoid of the shortcomings that are characteristic of traditional species . The compositions allow you to paint surfaces in any shades and increase their water-repellent properties.
The composition of the stains includes special acrylic resins And natural wax, creating a thin film to protect against the negative impact of external factors.
- Acrylic stains. They are ecological, fireproof and practical materials intended for various kinds wood. They do not have a pronounced chemical smell, dry quickly, and have a wide color palette. To obtain a high staining result, it is better to apply the stain in two layers, the thickness of each of them should not exceed 3-4 mm.
- Wax stains. They are intended for the treatment of painted wooden surfaces. Provide reliable protection against high moisture and temperature extremes. Ingredients are applied using soft tissue circular rubbing motions.
How much dries
Each type of stain has different drying times, which are indicated on the packaging or in the instructions for the selected composition.
- water stains, when applied to the surface, dry from 12 to 20 hours;
- alcohol formulations dry quickly, up to 5-7 minutes. In conditions of low temperatures or high humidity, the drying time can be 30 minutes;
- oil impregnations after application dry from 1 to 2 days;
- acrylic compounds dry within 60 minutes;
- wax stains after application, dry for 12-14 hours.
Color spectrum
According to international classification each color has its own code and name.
For example, stain "pine", "walnut" or "fruit tree".
To choose a wood stain in a suitable color scheme, necessary test paint wood and take into account:
- natural shade and type of wood processed. Staining with stain can lead to the appearance of new shades;
- color scheme declared in the catalog. Colors under the same code from different manufacturers can give shades of different depth and saturation on various types wood. The same composition on pine will look lighter than on red wood. This can be explained by the fact that such wood has a more saturated natural shade;
- stain quality. Compounds in the same color from different manufacturers can give a different staining effect. Therefore, you should not choose products of dubious quality;
- stain density. The lower the density, the more the composition is absorbed into the wood. This results in a less saturated and deeper hue.
The following colors of water stains for wood are considered the most popular:
- "oak" - a rich brown shade;
- "Red tree"- noble burgundy shade;
- "pine" - the shade is close to the natural color of the wood;
- "natural" - natural light yellow tint;
- "light walnut" - practically does not change natural color wood, used as a protective composition;
- "cherry" - light red and rich burgundy;
- mahogany - Brown color with light shades of red;
- "wenge" - dark shades of brown;
- "larch" - from dark yellow to orange.
How to DIY
Simple wood stain you can make your own at home:
- from herbal ingredients;
- from tea and coffee products;
- from chemical components.
Based on vegetable raw materials
- Decoction onion peel for a bright red color.
- A decoction of the peel walnut for a rich brown color. To do this, the shell is crushed to a powder state and boiled for 12 minutes in water. In the finished strained broth 1 tsp is added. soda. To get a red tint, instead of soda, potassium bichromate is added, for gray color- vinegar essence.
- Decoctions from the bark of oak, willow and alder give a rich black color.
- Decoction from buckthorn berries will paint the wood in an attractive golden color.
From coffee, tea and vinegar essence
- To get a rich brown tint, it is enough to combine natural ground coffee and soda.
- For coloring light wood, you can use strong black tea.
- To obtain a deep black tint, it is necessary in a container lay metal nails and pour them acetic acid . Insist for 5-7 days in a dark place.
Based on chemical components
- A brown tint is obtained after processing the wood with a solution slaked lime.
- A deep cherry hue is achieved by applying to the surface potassium permanganate solution. This will require 60 g of potassium permanganate, which is diluted with a liter of heated water.
- A rich yellow tint is obtained by treating the surface with a decoction of barberry roots, in which alum is added.
- Grass color will be obtained by combining 60 g verdigris and vinegar essence. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes.
- Dark brown color is obtained by combining wolf berries with blue vitriol . Glauber's salt with these berries gives a red color, and soda - a blue tint.
With whitening effect
Bleaching stains are used as a base before painting wood, allowing you to get unusual color solutions . For example, the wood of an apple tree can acquire a noble milky shade, and a walnut can acquire a red or light pink color.
Whitening stains can be prepared as follows:
- Composition based on oxalic acid. For this, 6 g of acid is diluted with 120 g warm water. The finished stain is suitable for processing light or bleached wood. After application, the surface is thoroughly washed with this solution: 4 g of soda and 16 g of lime are diluted in 110 g of water.
- Hydrogen peroxide solution. This will require a 30% peroxide solution, which is commercially available at any pharmacy. It is suitable for bleaching various types of wood. However, you should not use it for oak, rosewood and mahogany.
- The stain container is shaken and slightly heated to a temperature of 36 degrees. This will ensure a deeper penetration of the composition into the wood.
- A roller or brush is wetted in a small amount of stain. When using an airbrush, the composition is poured into a special compartment.
- The vertical surface is processed from the bottom up to avoid the formation of smudges and sagging.
- The horizontal surface is painted like this: along the fibers - across - along. The impregnation is applied in thin even layers.
- Excess composition is removed with a clean rag.
- Surface treatment is carried out quickly and without long interruptions to prevent staining.
- The desired color is obtained by painting the surface in several layers. In this case, each next protective layer is applied after the previous one has dried.
- At the end, the surface must be varnished and sanded with fine sandpaper.
Staining of wooden surfaces is The best way preserve the natural texture of the material and give it an attractive shade. Stains are suitable for processing wooden walls, ceilings and floors, decorative elements, window and door structures, garden furniture.
Similar product has a lot of advantages, but in order to get a good effect from staining, you need to choose the right suitable composition according to the type of surface to be treated.
Wood stains are a thing of the past, allowing only to shade the natural color of wood or darken it by several tones. Modern stains are wonderful antiseptics that extend life at times wooden products allowing you to paint wood in a wide variety of colors. The palette of stains is expanding every year.
Varieties of stains
The classification of stains consists in the division of impregnations into groups depending on the quality of the base on which they are made.
Based on this, all impregnations are divided into:
- water;
- oil;
- alcohol;
- acrylic;
- wax.
I would like to note that when choosing the color of the stain, it is necessary to pre-produce a wood sample of one or another shade of your choice. This need is dictated by the fact that wood of different quality has different ratio absorbency, which determines the final color of the dyed product.
For example, conifers, due to the fact that they are impregnated with resins and oils, they do not allow various impregnations to penetrate deep into themselves, and therefore they will not change color much, while deciduous trees with good absorption will be painted more intensely.
A wood sample will allow you to avoid unnecessary costs and get the desired result.
Let us consider in more detail the main types of impregnation, wood stain colors, photos of painted products.
This type of stain can be presented in two forms: liquid, ready for use, and dry - in the form of a powder for the manufacture of the final product.
A distinctive feature of a water-based stain is that with its help a tree can be painted only in wood shades of various saturation, it will not be possible to radically change the color of the product.
Then apply a layer of water-based stain. In this case, the product will have an attractive appearance and remain protected from the negative effects of moisture.
Excess water-based stain that has not absorbed into the wood panel must be removed from the surface by blotting it with a lint-free cloth.
This type of stain makes it possible to paint wood in a wide variety of colors and shades. Oil-based stains are dyes dissolved in oil. As solvents for this type of impregnation, "white spirit" is used - a universal dye for oil paints.
This type of impregnation is an excellent antiseptic. Alcohol stain does not lift wood fibers, but has another significant drawback: it dries very quickly. Someone will say that this is a virtue, but it is not. It dries so quickly that it is not recommended to apply it to the wood with a brush, because. stains will remain, and the coloring will not have a decorative look.
Their advantages include the following:
- They do not rear up wood fibers, which means they protect the wood from the penetration of moisture into the wood sheet.
- They form a layer on the surface of the wood that prevents the wood sheet from getting wet;
- Allows you to paint in a wide variety of colors and shades.
- They dry fairly quickly.
- They can be applied with a brush or spray.
The main advantage of stains is that they do not paint over the natural structure of the fibers, but only emphasize and shade it, which gives the interior naturalness and originality.
Using wood in a home interior, you think about how long it will last. The answer depends on whether you know how to choose stains and varnishes for interior woodwork. It is worth considering further use: for furniture, choose non-toxic compounds, for the floor - resistant to abrasion.
We select the mixture according to the type of surface and its further application
Each surface has its own characteristics and risks of damage. To protect the tree and preserve its beauty, you need to carefully choose the composition of the mixture covering it.
The coating may have the following properties:
- toxicity - the safest ones are made on the basis of water, wax and oils. Nitro-varnishes and polyurethane are applied in a respirator;
- drying speed - alcohol-based formulations dry the fastest (almost instantly). Slightly inferior to them are varnishes and stains on the water and nitro-varnishes (about three hours). Oil solutions dry the longest (at least a day);
- the ability to prime small irregularities and porous wood - they are conditionally divided into ready-made self-priming compounds, nitro-varnishes with a large dry residue and varnishes with the addition of a filler;
- wear resistance - polyurethane varnish is the most resistant to any damage, but if used carelessly, it tightly glues the planks. The most unstable nitrocellulose;
- resistance to fire - ready-made fire-resistant varnishes. Fire resistance directly depends on the thickness of the layer;
- lack of smell - there is no fuse in acrylic varnishes and water-based stains. The smell of epoxy and oil compounds disappears up to three days.
They differ in the type of application:
- brush - viscous compositions based on oil, resins and wax are applied;
- spray gun - a mixture based on alcohol and water.
We select stain for interior work with wood
The first thing that interests any person is what visual effect the stain will give, they are repelled from it, choosing the composition.
Choice by visual effect
Staining wood with stain is used not only as a decorative coating, sometimes toning hides the mistakes of previous experiments or helps to achieve a uniform color for porous wood products. For tinting, powder stains are used, mixing them with a solution in which the pigment is added.
If you are an adherent of ancient technologies, use organic dyes, they retain color for centuries. Their color scheme is more meager, but if you have a recipe, you can create the same shade after decades.
Using herbal ingredients, you can achieve the following shades:
- red - a decoction of larch bark or onion peel;
- brown - nutshell powder with the addition of soda. If you need a rich color, mix willow and oak bark, alder earrings and walnut shells, cook a tincture with soda on this composition;
- gray - after applying stain with nut decoction, soak the surface with vinegar;
- black - with the addition of a decoction of oak or alder bark;
- yellow - mix a decoction of barberry root with alum and boil;
- scarlet - a composition of wolfberry juice and Glauber's salt;
- blue - juice of wolfberries with the addition of soda;
- green - potash with wolfberry juice.
Powder stain is diluted with a decoction and applied as when diluted with water.
Colorless stain to enhance the natural beauty of wood
This category includes all types of stains, without additives. True, they shade the color of the boards a little. This is due to the type of wood - on dense wood, the natural color will remain, and on the porous structure it will become several tones darker.
Rustic stain for vintage look
There are two ways to get this effect. Buying a ready-made composition with increased seepage into deep layers or applying ordinary stain to a sanded surface, followed by removing it in convex areas. To enhance the contrast, you need to walk along the wood fibers with a metal brush, then the softer areas will become deeper and darker.
Compositions for multi-colored application
They are used to obtain the color "Arctic oak", "bleached oak" and other options with bleaching. For work, they acquire a water-based stain with white pigment, oil stain and wax. The first layer is applied for bleaching, and the second with a stain mixture with the addition of melted wax. The excess is removed with a rag. The oil soaks into the veins, emphasizing the wood structure.
Not all solvents are universal, some are not suitable for a nursery, but they are indispensable when processing parquet. Before purchasing the composition, decide where it will be used.
Which breeding ground is right for you:
- alcohol - resistant to ultraviolet, does not require additional protection with varnish;
- oil - ideal for beginners without a special tool, environmentally friendly and resistant to abrasion;
- wax - not suitable for further coating with polyurethane and two-component acid curing varnish;
- nitro - applied with a spray gun due to capriciousness and frequent stains;
- water - requires grinding after application due to the lifting of the fibers.
It is better to purchase several types than to spoil the product in pursuit of savings.
Protecting wood with varnish
The stain is not able to protect the wood from contact with other objects, therefore, after it has completely dried, it is recommended to varnish the product.
Desired end result:
- glossy - looks good in rooms with poor lighting, giving the surface depth. In a room with bright light, it creates a mirror shine that hides the beauty of the tree;
- matte - retains a natural look;
- mother-of-pearl - during the play of light, internal flicker appears;
- tinted - with the addition of pigment to change the shade.
When applying mother-of-pearl and tinted varnish, do not forget that the color saturation depends on the number of layers.
Varnish types
Like stain, varnishes have different bases, some of them emit toxic substances during operation and require long airing.
They are divided into the following types:
- alcohol - most often used for small items by restorers or when processing musical instruments;
- water-soluble - odorless and not afraid of detergents, suitable for children's furniture;
- oil - used to cover the floor, shade the wood with yellow;
- alkyd - glyphthalic and pentaphthalic synthetic resin is used as a base;
- polyester - suitable for items with frequent use, form a protective film. Withstand not only washing, but also the ingress of reagents;
- epoxy - the same resistant as polyester, but with a faster drying rate;
- polyurethane - one of the most resistant, most often cover parquet in public places and yachts;
- acrylic - used for processing children's toys and furniture, the safest for health.
When mixing, pay attention to the fact that the stain and varnish components do not conflict, but it is better to apply them separately. The varnish prevents the wood stain from penetrating into the wood, so such experiments end up with ugly dark stains and spots on the surface.
