Wood has been used by mankind in construction and decoration for a very long time. This material has a special variety. This is stained wood. Such material lived two lives. At first, the tree grew under the rays of the sun, and then ended up in the bowels of the water. It has been here for a long time.
As a result, the material acquires a characteristic dark tint. In addition, its building qualities are improving. The wood becomes very durable. After such natural processing, it is not subject to decay, bugs and insects do not start in it.
In addition to its strength characteristics, stained wood is famous for its luxurious appearance. This is an excellent material for interior decoration, furniture facades. The cost of stained wood is quite high.
To give the material a sophisticated look, various means are used. Therefore, it is quite possible to process wood with your own hands.
Stained natural wood
The natural process of wood processing occurs in a natural way. The tree falls under water, where it is for a long time. The longer, the better its quality. To establish how many years the material has been under water, a moraine analysis is carried out.wood. In some cases, the duration of this period exceeds 1000 years.
The cost of the presented material reaches 300 thousand rubles. per cube m. This is a very rare oak wood. Other breeds may also be subjected to natural processing of the type shown. Most often on sale you can find birch, larch, pine, aspen or spruce, the staining process of which lasted 30 years. The cost of the material, depending on the variety, can range from 2.5 to 25 thousand rubles. per cube m.
Not everyone has the opportunity to use such material. Therefore, wood is processed artificially.
Buy or make stained wood?
In today's world, a cheaper option is very popular. This is an artificial stained tree. The material is treated with special compounds, emphasizing the beauty of the texture.
Sale of stained wood that has been processed artificially is carried out everywhere. This material is widely used in the furniture industry, when finishing floors, walls or ceilings. Various building structures and parts are made from this tree.
The cost of artificial material is much less. But it should be remembered that unscrupulous sellers with the help of wood stain can sell cheap types of wood under the guise of expensive varieties. It is sometimes quite difficult to determine what type of material is presented to the consumer without examination. Therefore, if you want to use artificially stained wood, it is better to doprocessing yourself.
Stain properties
Artificial materials allow you to create a product such as stained wood. Almost everyone can do the impregnation with their own hands. Before that, it is necessary to study the properties of tinting and the technology of its application.
Special chemical compositions are applied to the prepared surface. They are absorbed by the wood, which makes it possible to preserve its unique structure. First of all, the presented impregnations are designed to ennoble natural wood.
With the help of one or more shades, you can create the most beautiful interior decoration. This turns parquet, furniture facades into a real work of art. Some types of stains extend the life of the material by protecting it from insects and fungus. Such chemicals prevent the formation of wood decay processes. Therefore, their use is beneficial in all respects.
Water-based stain
Stained wood, which is very expensive to extract and process, is used in luxury construction. Most often, the materials on the market today are treated with water, alcohol, oil, wax or acrylic based formulations.
The first variety is actively used in the self-processing of wood. Water stain is dry and ready. In the first case, the powder is mixed with water in the required proportion.
The presented stains are somewhat difficult to use. They lift the fiberswood. It takes a lot of time to achieve an even shade. First, the starting material is impregnated with water. Next, the surface is sanded. This makes the wood resistant to the negative effects of moisture. This type of stain allows you to emphasize the texture of wood.
Alcohol stain
Alcohol-based stain differs from the previous variety in drying speed. It does not lift the wood fibers, which eliminates the swelling of the base. Alcohol stain is characterized by good antiseptic properties. But due to the high drying speed, a non-uniform shade and even spots may appear on the surface.
Therefore, when creating, for example, stained wood parquet, it is worth giving preference to other types of chemicals. Alcohol stain is used for small wooden parts. In this case, the impregnation lays down evenly, spots will not appear.
Included in the composition of organic dyes, pigments on small surfaces look pretty good. Thanks to this treatment, wood will be durable in operation. Apply alcohol stain exclusively with a spray. The brush is not acceptable in this case.
Oil stain
Another popular type of chemical impregnation is oil stain. It has a number of advantages. Dyes are dissolved in drying oil or oil. This type of impregnation has a wide range of shades.
Furniture made from stained wood treated with similar means is verybeautiful and durable. Fibers are not taken during impregnation, and the agent lays down quite evenly even on large areas.
This type of stain is less demanding on the method of application. Even a person with minimal experience in carrying out the work of the type presented will be able to use it. After processing, the products are quite simply repainted and restored. When working with a solvent, widely available mineral spirits can be used.
Wax, acrylic stains
In the modern world, stained wood processing is carried out to the highest standards and requirements. The most environmentally friendly and fireproof substances for tinting the material are wax and acrylic stains. They do not emit an unpleasant odor, they are easily applied to the base. They are used in a variety of industries.
Acrylic impregnations can be mixed to obtain more subtle toning colors. This quality is widely used to create parquet or furniture. Even applying the product in 2 layers, you can create a monotonous shade without spots or lines.
Wax stains are applied to the base with a soft cloth. The agent is rubbed on the surface. When applying this type of tinting, it should be remembered that it is incompatible with acid-curing varnish or polyurethane coatings. Wax stains look very good after polishing. Therefore, they are actively used in the woodworking industry.
Methods of applying stain
Stained woodobtained through the use of one of the 4 techniques below. The product can be applied by rubbing, spraying, as well as using a roller or brush.
The first method is suitable for porous wood species. The agent is rubbed on the surface. In this case, a slowly drying stain is used. Spraying is carried out using a spray gun. The tool is evenly distributed over the base.
Brush tinting is not applicable to all types of wood. This makes the color more saturated. For small parts, apply the stain with a roller. This approach allows you to achieve a uniform color. But this method is still better to use for small surfaces. The method of application must be chosen in accordance with the type of product.
Processing recommendations
Stained wood requires adherence to when creating a special technology. This allows even at home to create high-quality material for further use. Experts recommend applying the stain in 2-3 coats using the most appropriate method.
The first layer should be thin. When it dries completely, the base is sanded. The agent is applied strictly in the direction of the wood fibers. After all layers have been created and dried, the surface is rubbed with a sponge, polished with a soft cloth. Movements are made along the fibers or diagonally.
If you need to process a large area, it is divided into sections, each of which is processed separately. The layers must dry one by one completely. Depending on the type of basemeans this process can take from several hours to several days.
If the product is very thick, it can be diluted. Water-based stains in this case require, respectively, water, and oil-based stains require a solvent.
Troubleshooting
Properly treated stained wood looks exquisite. But novice masters in the process of applying the product may have certain problems. It is quite difficult to eliminate defects after the product has dried. In this case, the top layer of material is removed mechanically.
If streaks appear during processing, then too much substance has been applied. It should be removed. For this, a second layer of the product is applied, and the excess product is removed with a rag.
In order to avoid stains on the wood during work, it is necessary to check the application of the product on an unnecessary piece of this material. If the layer lays unevenly, you must choose a different stain. It will be thicker and dry more slowly.
Choosing the right stain for wood, taking into account the advice of experts in the process, you can get high quality material.
