Picking the appropriate wood stain for your job is dependent upon the kind of wood you select and the type of object you are working with. Staining is a fast and simple way to update furniture and breathe newer life into old objects. Transform household treasures or save mature items from the dump. Learn which stains are suitable for certain types of projects. The options are varied on account of the many finishes and colors of wood stain available.



Wood Stains

Colored sealants, aka wood stains, supply protection once they are applied. Stains soak pigment into the wood fiber and tend to be considerably lighter when compared with paints. The solvent undergoes a chemical reaction and binds into the wood. The color is connected to the wood after it's dried and cured. There are tons of selections for wood stain products. Interior wood stains can help you refinish that table or your kitchen table and chairs. You need to comprehend the different applications for wood stain initiatives. There are several wood stains that vary by their solvent base.

Oil-Based Stains

Oil-based indoor stain is often what people first think of when they hear the term “wood stain.” Uncomplicated to apply, these stain products are widely available. These stains possess noxious chemicals. Be sure to invest in a respirator mask to put on since oil-based products feature many harsh chemicals.

Formulated with a linseed oil binder, this enables one to easily clean up before the product dries. It is possible to apply oil stain with a cloth, a brush, or a rag.

This kind of stain is often used to invigorate wooden furniture items. With a slower drying time, it will be possible to achieve a consistent finish. Oil stains saturate much deeper compared to water-based stains. It provides a rich colouring that is capable of growing warmer with added coats.

Oil-based stain offers a durable wood finish due to superior surface adhesion, offering peeling resistance. Not needing to remove other finishes before is an additional bonus of using oil stains. Use mineral spirits to thin out the previous layer.

Water-Based Stains

Straightforward to clean and fast to dry, interior water-based stains are simple to work with. The single binding agent in this product is water. These items may be cleaned up with water and thinned out. Water-based products are considerably more environmentally friendly compared to oil-based. Immune to mold and mildew, water-based stains are fantastic for many applications. Their rapid drying time means they are excellent for small projects. They can be applied with a rag or a brush. These stains don’t permeate the wood as much as oil-based stains. This lets you obtain a delicate shade or increase the coats to achieve a darker possibility. Apply to raw wood whenever possible which has no wood finish.

Varnish

The varnish is frequently used as your final coat or a finish. These products can be found as shellac, polyurethane, or lacquer. It may include lacquer, polyurethane, or shellac. This hard, clear finish is applied as a final touch to wood. It makes a protective, transparent coat over your stain to seal and finish your piece. There's not much color given by varnishes. They are made of a drying oil combined with resin and a solvent or thinner. This variety of stain is a bit thicker in uniformity compared to oil-based stains. On average, they take 4 to 6 hours to dry out. Varnish may add new life to your next interior wood build. It offers more moisture protection compared to lacquer.

Gel-Based Stains

The gel stain items are halfway in between paint and stain products. The products encourage the natural markings and the elegance of the grains to appear through the wood. Like oil-based products, these gel solutions need mineral spirits for cleaning. Gel stains demand less preparation in comparison to traditional stain or paint. These items are thick and untidy; however, they are user friendly. For the greatest application, count on a cloth or a rag. Gel stains certainly are a wise choice for wood that is subject to blotchy finishes such as pine and is a good choice for staining pine flooring and pine furniture pieces. The blotchy effect results from different densities connected with resin deposits throughout the wood.



Lacquer

Lacquer provides a strong finish with an intense shine. Lacquer happens last as the safeguarding topcoat. This product is applied as a finish coat over top of a stained piece. It dries very fast and is typically applied with a spray gun. It's used to seal cabinetry, interior woodwork, moldings, carpentry and trim. Lacquer is not made for exterior use.

Food-Grade Finishes

If you're refinishing a kitchen table, island, or bar counter top, make sure you use products that are considered food-grade safe. The labels on your oil-based and water-based products will help you determine if the product is considered food-grade safe. Don’t panic if you accidentally discover you chose a non-food-grade-safe product. Just get creative with some placemats or a tablecloth to place some distance between the chemicals and your food.