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Stain - rules for applying the composition and tips for high-quality wood tinting (110 photos). How to choose a wood stain for tinting wood

Wood stain is very popular and is designed to give various wood products aesthetics and decorativeness, change their tone and texture, and most importantly - to increase their service life. To achieve this, the antiseptic properties of stains allow. There are also stains for wood that can protect the treated surface from insect pests, mold and fungus.

This article discusses in detail not only what stain is, but also its main types, properties, advantages, and why it is needed.

Depending on the purpose and composition, wood stain has the following advantages over a number of other paints and varnishes:

The possibility of combining shades (for example, dark colors, walnut or pine, light colors, black, etc.).
Coating with stains strengthens the structure of the material.
Increase the service life of products.
Partial imparting moisture resistance to lumber.
It makes it possible to both give the tree a noble shade and get another color scheme(there are a variety of stain colors).
Preservation of wood structure.

The main advantage of this tinting composition is deep penetration into the wood. This allows you to save the texture of the tree. Therefore, the answers to the questions about what is better - stains or varnishes, and why stain is needed, become obvious.

Color palette

There are different wood stain colors and it is very difficult to answer the question of how to choose the most suitable one. This material allows you to give almost any shade to wood products. For example, black stain is very popular, which allows you to give the surface the appearance of a black mirror. Before applying it, it is recommended to polish the base.

Gray stain makes it possible to avoid highlighting the finished product from the general interior. It is worth painting with it only if the walls and textiles in the interior are bright. Gray can cause depression, besides, products in this color will look too faded and gray.

Psychologists advise choosing a green stain (colored stain), as this shade causes positive emotions. Green color suitable for surface treatment various items interior. Blue stain allows you to get a very expressive look of the processed product. Choose it to combine with yellow and white tones.

There are more than natural colors wood stain. But there is a colorless impregnation that allows you to keep the surface in its natural color.

Main types

Impregnation for wood is different, depending on the composition. Consider the most common types of stains:

Wood stains on water based . Water stain is powder (water-soluble) and in the form finished formulations. It is an environmentally friendly product (regardless of external factors, there are no harmful fumes and smells), and it also has a rich color range. If necessary, the product can be easily washed off with water, so it is recommended to apply an additional protective layer (for example, varnish). The main disadvantage is the rise of wood fibers, as a result of which the product becomes more vulnerable to moisture (non-aqueous impregnation is used to eliminate the disadvantage). Water stains for wood are the most widespread.

Alcohol compositions. Are issued ready to use or in dry form (powder is required to be diluted). Are intended for protection of a tree from dampness and an ultraviolet. This impregnation dries quickly enough, which avoids raising the pile and swelling of the wood.

Oil formulations. The composition of the stain includes dyes soluble in drying oil and oils. It is possible to apply impregnations of this group by any method and tool. They do not fill the wood with additional moisture and do not lift the fibers. A variety of colors of stains for wood of this group, if desired, allows you to achieve any shade by simply adding dyes.

acrylic blends. Acrylic-based impregnations are an environmentally friendly, child-safe and fire-fighting product. Acrylic stain is great for all types of wood and dries very quickly.

Wax stains. Allow to process the painted surfaces. Wax-based impregnations reliably protect the treated surface from moisture. It is important to know that wax stain should not be applied before wood is coated with two-component varnishes.

On the video: stain selection rules.

Application methods

There are four main ways to apply stain:

Rubbing painting. The composition is applied to the surface, after which it is rubbed over the entire area. It is recommended to apply when processing porous breeds of trees.
Spraying. When staining wood by spraying, a manual or automatic spray gun is used as a tool for applying the stain.
Foam roller treatment. The method avoids the formation of streaks and helps to evenly distribute the mixture over the entire surface.
Wood processing paint brush . The method allows you to get a deeper and saturated color wood, but not suitable for all types of impregnation.

Before painting the surface with a stain, it is necessary to remove old coatings from it, and then degrease it better.
surface of conifers(for example, pine) must be deresined.
It is necessary to paint the wood with stain and remove excess only in the direction of the wood structure.
It is recommended to cover the surface with 2-3 layers, while for the first layer a small volume of the mixture should be used.
After the first layer dries, the surface must be sanded and the raised pile removed, and then, if necessary, apply the next layers (each next layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried).

The approximate drying time for oil-based impregnations is about three days, and for water-based impregnations and solvents - 2-3 hours (depending on how many layers were applied). It is recommended to divide large areas of the treated surface into small areas and paint them in stages. To avoid the possibility of the formation of defects on the surface, the composition must be diluted. For this, a solvent is used.

For aqueous impregnations, water is used, for oil impregnations, solvents for paints are used. Also, before starting work, the surface can be coated with Latek L 601 putty.

Wood stains for plywood perform an exclusively decorative function. Therefore, if there is any doubt what to choose - stain or varnish, it is recommended to use them in combination. Before covering the surface of the plywood, it must be moistened, and the mixture itself is recommended to be heated.

After covering the wood with stain, varnishing follows (layers must be very thin to avoid the possibility of smudges). As a tool, you can use a brush, roller or sponge. Wood varnish will enhance protective properties impregnation. By following these recommendations, you can easily stain wood at home.

Defects and their elimination

Carry out staining wooden furniture it is necessary to be extremely careful, otherwise there is a great possibility of the formation of defects, which are quite difficult to eliminate. But if you know how to get rid of them correctly, then problems should not arise.

The main defect is the formation of streaks. They arise as a result of a large number mixture and its subsequent rapid drying. In this case, it is necessary to remove the impregnation layer applied to the wood, then apply a new layer on it, which will soften it, and then remove the excess impregnation with a rag.

After the wood stain has completely dried, it can be removed with paint thinners. Before that upper layer removed with emery or a planer, since the solvent is not able to remove all the pigment.

You can pick up a special wash that will remove an extra layer of coating impregnation from the tree. You can use a hair dryer in combination with a scraper and brush - sometimes it's better than washing.

The most difficult defect is the spotting of the product. To remove it, the painted area is treated with a planer (this defect is not washed off with a solvent). In plywood, all face veneer must be removed. To avoid spotting, it is best to use a gel stain or first apply a test coat on an unwanted piece of wood to see how the coating behaves on the desired surface. It is worth remembering that it is necessary to store the impregnation in a place closed from children.

Parquet made of mahogany or oak is not affordable for everyone. But this is not a reason to deny yourself the contemplation of noble shades. It doesn’t matter what your parquet is made of - tinting will help it “repaint” into the most expensive breeds wood. To do this, there are special tinting compositions - stains, with which wood can be given any color. As a rule, this is the color of a more expensive, elite breed. What tinting liquids are called stains? According to what characteristics they are chosen and how they are applied to wooden surface? Read about all this below.

What is a stain and why is it needed?

Stain is a tinting liquid that is used to give wood a shade that is not characteristic of it. Penetrating into the structure of wood, stain stains it without forming a film on the surface. In other words, the texture of the wood remains visible, only its color changes. Due to this, the pine floor can be given a visual resemblance to walnut or oak parquet. Naturally, this similarity will be only external! Other characteristics of the breed (resistance to decay, hardness, strength) will remain unchanged.

Types of stains: we select the desired composition

Modern stains-impregnations can be completely different in composition. Depending on the "content", they are divided into:

water;
alcohol;
oil;
nitro stains.

Let's take a closer look at each option.

1. Water stains - the most common, allow you to paint wood in any tone: from the lightest "pine" shade to dark mahogany. Such stains are sold in two forms: in a liquid and dry state. Liquid water stains are ready for use immediately, while dry powders require preliminary dilution with warm water.

Water stains are practically odorless and this is a huge plus if it is necessary to stain wood indoors. But they dry for a long time - about 12-14 hours. In addition, water stains have the ability to lift the pile of wood during the staining process, which leads to the need for its subsequent polishing.

Among water stains, acrylic stains made on the basis of acrylic resins. They are resistant to fading and are not washed out by water, they lift wood fibers less. Their disadvantage is the high price.

2. Alcohol stains are solutions of various aniline dyes in alcohol (denatured alcohol). After applying the stain, the coloring pigments quickly penetrate into the texture of the wood, and the alcohol evaporates. Complete drying of alcohol stain occurs in 15-30 minutes. Therefore, it must be applied quickly to avoid the appearance of stains and washouts. Uniform staining with alcohol stain is obtained by spraying it from an airbrush.

3. Nitro stains - solvent-based stains. In their specificity, they are similar to alcohol stains. Requires rapid application, preferably by sprayer.

4. Oil stains - solutions of dyes in oil (most often - linen). They are evenly and easily applied, do not lift the fibers. The coloring pigments of oil stains have a high light fastness, so the surfaces painted with them long years do not change their brightness and retain their original appearance.

When applying oil stain, you can use an airbrush, a wide brush, rags. Drying oil stains usually lasts 2-4 hours.

What color to choose?

Each stain color according to the international classification has its own code. And the name corresponding to the type of wood, the color of which imitates the stain. For example, stain "Mahogany", "Oak" or "Plum". But choosing impregnation only by name or picture on the label is unreasonable. You can get unpredictable results. There are reasons for this:

The colors of stains of the same cipher, but from different manufacturers, can differ significantly in shades. For example, the water stain "Larch" of the manufacturer "Tsaritsyno paints" has a pinkish-brown color, and the same "Larch" from "Novbytkhim" differs in a pale yellow tint. Many shops put on display dice-samples, painted with different stains. Samples will be more accurately passed real color stains than the picture on the label.
The type of painted wood is significantly influenced by its characteristics - natural color, density, structure. For example, stain on mahogany will look darker than on maple (provided that stain of the same tone is used). This is due to the fact that mahogany wood itself is a darker shade.

The same experiment with maple and pine samples will show that pine wood stains more intensely and faster. Pine is softer and more porous, while maple is denser and harder. Therefore, it is easier for coloring pigments to penetrate pine wood.

The degree of staining also depends on the texture of the wood. Oak with a pronounced texture quickly darkens with stain due to the fact that the coloring pigments penetrate into the recesses of the veins. The main part of oak wood (outside the veins) is painted less quickly and intensively.

What is the best way to apply stain?

For applying stains, you can use: an airbrush (with a nozzle size of not more than 1.5 mm), a wide brush (100 mm wide), a foam swab, and rags. If to be processed large area, then definitely it is worth preferring the spray gun. It is also used when using nitromorillok and alcohol stains. They dry too quickly, so when they are applied with brushes or swabs, stains often form on the wooden surface.

Water and oil stains are well applied with brushes, swabs and rags. Brushes with natural bristles are more suitable for oil stains, with synthetic bristles - for water-soluble. The bristles must be strong, leaving no hairs on the surface.

Fabrics and swabs used for stains can be used cotton, foam rubber. They also should not “pour” pile and threads, which can remain on an already painted surface and reduce the quality of the coating.

Preparatory stage: making a color sample

After purchasing the stain, but before the start of direct staining, it is advisable to make a color test (trial color). It is necessary to understand whether this stain is suitable for a particular surface, to identify the final color and to determine the number of coats of color required.

For the manufacture of a color sample, a board is used, processed (sanded, sanded) in the same way as the wooden surface to be painted. Naturally, the type of wood of the sample board should also coincide with the main surface.

The plank is covered with stain in one layer. After drying, the second layer is applied to 2/3 of the sample. The third layer stains another 1/3. The dried stain is covered with two layers of varnish. Comparing the intensity of staining of each part of the sample, choose the number of layers that is most suitable for a particular surface.

To choose the most best option often do a few trial vykrasov. To do this, several planks are covered with different stains. Then they make a choice.

Surface treatment before work

Before applying stain, wood flooring need to prepare. Do it in stages:

1. Remove the old coating (if any). To do this, perform scraping and grinding boards. In addition to removing the old coating, these procedures will level the floor surface.

2. Clean the surface of grease and oil stains by wiping problem areas with a rag soaked in white spirit or gasoline.

3. Conifers, before applying the stain, it is desirable to remove the resin. That is, to remove resin from the wood structure, which can interfere with the absorbency of the stain. Solutions for deresining are prepared according to the following "recipes":

In 1 liter of water heated to 60˚C, dissolve 50 g of potassium carbonate and 60 g of soda ash.
In 1 l warm water(soft) dissolve 50 g of caustic soda. The surface is treated with the resulting 5% soda solution.
Mix 750 ml of distilled water with 250 g of acetone.

Any of these solutions are abundantly applied to the boards, preferably in several layers. After half an hour, wipe the surface with a cotton cloth and rinse with warm water.

Step by step staining technology

Despite multiple preparatory stages, the direct process of applying the stain is quite simple. Perform it according to the following scheme:

1. The stain is slightly heated to increase the degree of penetration into the wood.

2. A swab, rag or brush is moistened in the stain. Strong moistening should not be allowed, otherwise the occurrence of streaks and uneven coloring is inevitable. When using a sprayer, pour the stain into the tank.

3. Apply the stain along the wood fibers. They try to work quickly, without interruptions to avoid spots. When streaks form, wipe the surface with a soft cloth, “pulling out” excess liquid along the fibers. Leave the stain to dry completely.

4. Apply a few more layers in a similar way to obtain the desired shade (usually 2-3 layers).

5. Finally, the stained surface is varnished in several layers, sanding each intermediate layer with fine-grained sanding paper.

Video example of working with a massive board

To understand the staining technology with stains, it is enough to see this process once. We suggest you familiarize yourself with the video, which shows the method of staining massive board by rubbing the stain.

All photos from the article

Wood is one of the the most beautiful materials, known to man. Via various ways its finishing can achieve the most vivid expression of this beauty, and today we want to talk about the most effective way - the use of wood stain. You will learn which stain to choose for a tree, and what features are characteristic of its various types.

Purpose and varieties

What is a stain for?

Stain for wood, or stain is special composition for toning natural wood in the process of finishing. As a rule, the material is a liquid that is applied to the surface and impregnates the outer layer of wood tissue, changing its shade.

Unlike, stain does not create an opaque solid film on the surface of the material, but is absorbed into the pores and fibers to a certain depth, which depends on the type of wood and the characteristics of the stain.

Since the wood fabric is a multi-layered structure, in which the layers have different density and permeability, the stain stains them with different intensity, thereby emphasizing the surface texture. This feature has made this material popular among restorers, furniture makers and woodworking specialists.

It should also be said that wood stains often include antiseptic additives that are absorbed and additionally protect products. Stained boards last on average two to three times longer than untreated boards.

We can define the purpose of wood staining solutions as follows:

Important!
With the help of stains, you can create beautiful and unique wooden surfaces with your own hands, and this does not require expensive tools or special knowledge.

Varieties

To choose the material suitable for your tasks, you should study the types of wood stains. They differ in the composition of the base and the dyes used.

AT contemporary practice the following varieties are used:

Alcohol stain for wood. Aniline dye dissolved in 96% denatured ethyl alcohol;
Water based wood stain. Water-soluble pigments color the liquid and penetrate well with water into the wood structure;
Oil formulations. Usually use linseed oil in which dyes are dissolved. For breeding use white spirit;
Acrylic stain. This composition has a water base, but it is separated into a separate group, since acrylic resins give a special effect and do not have the disadvantages of conventional water stains;
Nitromordants. This group includes compositions mixed on the basis of organic solvents. By their properties they are close to alcohol;
Wax solutions and emulsions. They can be water-based or mixed with turpentine. Are used for internal and external works.

All of the listed materials can be used in wood tinting work, however, depending on the base, they should be applied in different ways. Consider the properties of the main groups of stains:

stain type	Features and properties
Water	Water stain for wood is used for outdoor and internal works, applied by any convenient way. It is undesirable to use for resinous rocks. In addition, there is a rise in the fibers. Safe, well highlights and emphasizes the texture, has a rich palette
Alcohol and nitromorilka	Both types are highly resistant to moisture and UV, dry quickly and penetrate deeply into the material. However, they should be applied with a spray gun, otherwise stains may occur. It is undesirable to use for internal work due to the pungent odor and toxicity.
oily	Suitable for outdoor work, it is distinguished by a uniform tone and ease of application. It dries longer than others, which is a plus when applied manually. The fiber does not lift or close the pores, while it well emphasizes the structure
Wax and acrylic	These are the compositions of a new generation, which are practically devoid of shortcomings, the only thing is the high price. Used for works in a rustic style and restoration, protect the material from moisture, require varnishing

Important!
As you can see, an unequivocal answer to the question "Which wood stain is better?" does not exist.
The compositions are selected depending on the tasks and goals, while each master may have his own preferences acquired with experience.

Application rules

In conclusion, we would like to give a few practical advice for applying stain to the surface. In each case, the instruction will have its own characteristics, but we will try to consider the most general points.

So, let's start with what we recall: stain is not paint, it must be absorbed into the pores to a certain depth, so the most favorable conditions for this should be created.

First of all, you should prepare the surface. It must be cleaned of any coatings, dirt and dust, and treated with fine abrasive sandpaper to open the pores. At the same time, it must be remembered that they will be open for no longer than two hours, so grinding must be done immediately before starting work.

You should also prepare a stain. It can be heated to a temperature of 40 - 50 ˚С, so it will be more fluid and better absorbed into the material. It is especially important to ensure the permeability of dense wood species, for this the composition can be diluted with water, and if the wood stain is non-aqueous, with a solvent.

When working with aqueous solutions, in order to avoid raising the fibers, which is fraught with loss of protection against moisture, the surface is pre-wetted, and then wait a while and grind it sandpaper. This allows you to level the undesirable effect.

When applying the material with a brush, work should be along the lines of the fibers. Thick formulations and gels should be rubbed thoroughly, for this you can use cotton swabs wrapped in cotton cloth or gauze.

Oil and nitro stains are quite toxic, so when working with them it is better to ventilate the room or go outside. Also, gloves and goggles on the eyes will not interfere.

To create the effect of aged wood, the stain is first applied liberally, and then washed with a rag. Thus, the texture becomes especially expressive and varied. For such work, oil or wax should be used.

Important!
Alcohol solutions are made on the basis of ethyl denatured alcohol, which can contain up to 10% methanol, and it is a dangerous poison.

Conclusion

Wood stains are selected depending on the tasks. The most common aqueous and oil solutions, and in recent times acrylic and wax emulsions are gaining popularity. To learn more, watch the video in this article.

Wood impregnations are primarily used to protect wood from destructive external influences: the sun, mold, precipitation, insects, etc. The addition of impregnations significantly improves the properties and characteristics of wood. It stabilizes in size without being so deformed by temperature, becomes more durable, significantly reduces the tendency of the material to crack, and also increases resistance to chemicals and moisture.

Types of impregnations

Capillary impregnation penetrates well into all wood capillaries under the influence of natural pressure.
Diffuse impregnation is absorbed into the wood due to capillary diffuse movement within the wood.
Hydrostatic impregnation is absorbed into the wood through its capillaries due to artificial pressure.

According to the type of impregnation, there are film-forming and without formation protective film. Film-protective impregnations serve to protect wood from sunlight, moisture and mold. On the surface after use of this type impregnation forms an elastic film that can expand and contract with the wood. The integrity of the structure is not violated at all. Impregnations without the formation of a protective film are absorbed into the wood and are designed to protect it from insects and mold. Impregnations reliably serve on average from 6 to 10 years. If the tree is additionally covered with a special yacht varnish (for example), then the service life of the impregnations is extended by several more years.

Wood stains are designed for deep processing before staining wood. Often this kind of coverage does not provide any protection. Modern stains incorporate translucent dyes that penetrate and linger deep in the pores of the wood. The subsequent application of additional layers gives the tree a darker and more saturated color.

Mordants are:

Oily
Oil stains contain dyes dissolved in oils. They need to be diluted with white spirit. The process of applying oil stains is simple, they do not lift the fiber and at the same time form a uniform layer. To get the desired shade of wood, stains of several colors are taken and mixed.

Alcoholic

Such stains are aniline dyes dissolved in denatured alcohol. The disadvantage of alcohol stains is their rapid drying. This leads to the appearance of spots at the points of contact of not completely dried layers.

Aquatic

Available in ready-made form, as well as in the form of crystals or powder. They need to be bred in hot water on one's own. Water stains are different from other types long time drying, so it will take a very long time to achieve a uniform color of the wood. Before using a water stain, the wood should be well sanded so that the fiber does not rise, and then moistened.

Acrylic

For wood, acrylic stains are the newest water-based stains with the addition of acrylic resins. When using this emulsion, a colored thin film is formed on the surface of the wood. Acrylic stains do not lift the wood grain as much, and fade much less in the sun compared to water-based counterparts.

The whole application process protective coating on the surface of a tree is similar to conventional painting. The surface before this must be well prepared. Take for brushing a small amount of means and evenly applied to the surface necessarily along the fibers. This must be done quickly and accurately.

It is important to ensure that the liquid is applied continuously. Otherwise, it will dry in one area faster than the other, and this will lead to noticeable seams and uneven color. If the tree consists of several sections, then you need to carefully monitor that the liquid does not overlap each other. Before processing a wooden surface, it is recommended to practice a little on some inconspicuous area of \u200b\u200bthe wood. This will avoid certain difficulties in the work.

The use of impregnations will reliably protect any wooden house from harmful effects environment, and the use of stains will give the desired shade and emphasize the structure of the wood.

Wood stain manufacturers

Today there are many manufacturers of impregnations and wood stains for wood protection. Of these, the most famous German companies FLAMINGO, DUFA and CAPAROL. The latter even developed a whole line protective equipment for wooden surfaces. No less well-known companies from Turkey in this area BETEK, DYO and MARSHALL. The company stands out in particular BETEK, which has proven itself very well in the post-Soviet space. More recently, Slovenian companies have entered the market of protective materials HELIOS and BELINKA BELLES D.O.O.

If, in your understanding, wood stain is nothing more than a type of paint, then you are very, very mistaken and you should become more deeply and specifically familiar with this substance and the methods of finishing with it. After all, this substance gives a second life to shabby furniture and unpresentable doors and window sills. Having a jar of stain on hand, you can change an old interior beyond recognition, without the obligatory replacement of windows and doors.