Just before you hit that online or offline store, here are a few things you should know about buying any wood stain out there.
What Is Wood Stain?
Wood stains are made up of dyes or pigments which get dissolved inside a solvent. Some of the common solvents include distilled petroleum, water, alcohol, or varnish. Some of the vehicles aren’t natural solvents which makes such stains appear suspended in the solvent. Smaller molecules such as dyes dissolve inside the vehicle, while the larger pigment molecules stand a higher chance of being suspended in the vehicle. This can create a variety of types of stains, such as oil-based wood stains.
Types of Wood Stains
Ultimately, finishes differ depending on how much of the wood’s natural grain is being shown. Note that the best opaque treatments are reputed to last a bit longer. However, it’s cool getting a semi-transparent finish for the beauty of it.
Solid stain
This type of stain is reputed to hold up the longest, with the best of them lasting up to five years on a deck. Solids are known to hide the grain of the wood the way paint does, which makes them perfect for decks.
Semi-transparent
This color is enough to cover the wood grain, but it allows you to see through the color, thus making them the perfect choice for wood you intend to show off, such as wood furniture. Aside from the regular transparent stains, certain brands offer what is referred to as toners and semi-solid stains. These options work similarly by giving more protection and depth to the wood surfaces without concealing the natural grain.
Clear sealer
This type of sealer usually contains limited pigments in addition to water repellant. They are perfect for boosting the beauty of the natural grain wood, such as on wood furniture, even though they don’t have what it takes to turn back natural wood which means the wood will turn gray with time.
Things To Consider Before Buying Wood Stain
Before you decide which stain to buy, here are a few helpful tips that should help you make the right choices.
Color
There are several wood stain colors out there that may suit your needs. While looking for the perfect stain color, you should consider if it will match the existing interior of your house. However, if you do not have to get a specific color match, are you looking for it to serve as a compliment? You will also find light and dark finishes to choose from as well as natural or stained.
Stain coverage
As far as stain coverage is concerned, you must decide between a heavy or light one. Are you searching for the one that permits the wood’s grain to catch the house’s attention? Otherwise, you should look for something that shines through subtly.
Light source
To find the right stain, you need to decide if the wood is located outdoors or indoors. Also, you need to know how the light source will hit it. This factor can play a vital role in your ultimate choice. While staining your decks or fences, you should examine the type of wood. If possible, you ought to clean and stand it to determine how the stain can affect the appearance.
Wood type
The nature of the wood also determines the type of stain you will require. Wood texture can influence the overall outcome of a type of stain. Is the wood rough, porous or smooth? Note that the stain has a way of highlighting the grain depending on the coverage you prefer, so you should consider the wood quality before buying. Different wood surfaces will react to stains differently.
Cost
Another essential factor you shouldn’t overlook before buying your stain is the cost. While you should be on the lookout for affordable ones, you should never place more value on cost over quality. With several manufacturers out there, finding the perfect stain may require you forking out a bit more. However, stains aren’t that expensive as you can get a very decent one for an affordable amount.
Safety Tips for Before You Stain
You may use a regular rag and stain brush or a sponge brush to apply the stain. Sponge brushes absorb some of the stains to enable you to spread them in an even manner over the wood. Because stain is quite hard to remove from your hands, it is ideal you use latex or vinyl gloves to protect your hands from stains. Also, it would help if you considered working in a well-ventilated area due to the intense nature of the stains.
Lastly, wood stains are essential for preserving your wood and giving them the needed aesthetic appeal. Getting the right stain shouldn’t be too difficult if you follow the tips and reviews contained in this guide.
You also want to be sure you dispose of your stain-soaked rags properly – or else, they could burst into flames (really.) For more safety tips, watch this video from Penalty Box Woodshop: