Wood is widely used in construction and furniture production. However, this material is easily susceptible to negative influences from external factors, so it needs additional protection. Of the products on the market, only food-safe wood stains remain the texture and beauty of the surface, creating a natural decorative finish. This article describes all the existing types of formulations, their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. This article will give you a complete guide about food-safe wood stains & also others wood stain details.
Features of wood stain
Wood is distinguished by its natural beauty and warmth, environmental friendliness. And the ability to create comfort around itself. Special tools are used to preserve all these properties of the material and extend its service life, including stains.
These compositions improve the decorative qualities of wood and provide reliable protection against various pests and the adverse effects of environmental factors. However, before you start choosing the right option, you need to figure out what a stain is and its purpose.
What is wood stain
Stain (stain) is a unique product designed for wood processing. Mostly dark stain. At the same time, the texture of the material and its natural pattern do not change at all since the product penetrates only into the top layer. Thus, the stain enhances the natural beauty of the wood and enhances its attractive sides.
This tool allows you to change the material’s appearance and protect it from the destructive effects of external factors. But, again, it was the multifunctionality of the stain that made it so famous.
Why do you need wood stain? This composition is used in the following cases:
- Toning the material while preserving its texture and woody pattern – the composition raises the material’s fibers without drastically changing its natural pattern.
- Imitation of elite wood species on budget materials.
- Protection of the material from damage by parasites – the antiseptic properties of the stain prevent the development of putrefactive processes (elimination of fungi, bacteria, and mold) and the reproduction of pests.
- Strengthening the structure of the material.
- Moisture protection of wood – the stain protects the material from the adverse effects of moisture, and some types of compositions create a water-repellent layer on the surface (partially).
- Extending the service life of wood products.
- Creation of the effect of finishing using different types of wood by combining shades.
The better to process food-safe wood stain
Professionals and do-it-yourselfers use stain as a means to add texture to the wood. Getting deep into the material, the composition tints it from the inside. Drying oil has similar properties. However, after processing, a film forms on the surface of the wood. This tool cannot penetrate deeply into the pores of the material, but it covers them well from the outside.
Varnish for wood is very different from stain. First, it forms a stable film on the surface of the material. Moreover, forming a protective layer occurs only after the solvent in its composition has completely evaporated. On the other hand, oil-based varnishes, after drying, form a film on the surface with strength and elasticity. Such a coating is quite challenging to remove, even with white spirit.
Like any other finishing option, the varnish will have to be periodically renewed. And for this, it is necessary to remove the previous layer. Paint used as a finish is quite common. This tool forms a dense opaque film on the treated surface. The paintwork completely hides the natural pattern on the wood. This is what distinguishes painting from stain.
Coloring compositions, unlike wood stains, are not able to give wood a natural shade. After 2-3 years, many paints and varnish coatings lose their properties, strength characteristics decrease. During operation, cracks form on the surface. The paint begins to peel off. To update the finish, you will have to remove the previous layer altogether.
The main types of wood stains
There are a vast number of wood stains on sale. The existing types of compositions can be divided into groups according to the following criteria:
- operating conditions (indoors or outdoors).
- Base or composition (aqueous and non-aqueous wood stains).
- The effect that the stain creates on the surface of the material after processing.
- Price category.
The most important selection criterion is the conditions in which the stain will be used. The composition of the products. So there is no need to use resistant stains containing toxic substances. For these purposes, water-based solutions are suitable.
The composition of wood stains for outdoor woodwork contains components aimed at improving the performance of the coating. After surface treatment with their help, wood acquires the ability to resist the adverse effects of ultraviolet rays and moisture. For external use, wax and oil stains are more suitable.
Water-based stains for wood include formulations made on a water and acrylic basis. The category of non-aqueous products includes alcohol, oil, and wax stains. Each type of composition has its characteristics, advantages. And disadvantages that must be taken into account. When choosing a protective agent for wood processing.
Food safe wood stain
Food safe wood stain: Characteristics of water-based wood stain
Water-based stains are the most popular and common type of wood compound. These funds can take several forms. First, the buyer can purchase a solution that is entirely ready to use. In addition, powders and concentrates are on sale.
Diluted powder food-safe wood stain must be drained before application. If the composition is not strained, then the surface staining will not be uniform. Nevertheless, powder products are good because various concentrations can be prepared on their basis, having achieved the required shade (dark or light).
Water-based liquid food-safe wood stain is sold in containers of different sizes. Such formulations are already completely ready for use and do not need additional preparation. But, on the other hand, they have a slight drawback.
Advantages of water-based wood stains:
- Affordable cost.
- Low consumption.
- A simple application system that does not require special knowledge and skills.
- Ecological cleanliness.
- Lack of unpleasant odor and harmful substances.
These compounds are ideal for indoor wood treatment. However, when buying a water stain, it must be borne in mind that this type of impregnation cannot change the color of the processed material radically. Instead, the solution dyes the wood one tone darker and makes its color more saturated.
There is one more feature of water food-safe wood stain. The solution impregnates the wood while lifting its fibers, making it possible to achieve a textured effect.
Food safe wood stain: alcohol-based wood stains
Stains based on alcohol can be either liquid or dry. The main advantage of such formulations is their quick drying. That these products have a specific pungent odor. Therefore, during the stain application, it is imperative to provide good ventilation in the room.
The quick-drying of alcohol food-safe wood stain can be regarded not only as an advantage. But also as a disadvantage. It isn’t easy to evenly distribute the composition over the surface with a brush.
Alcohol stains have excellent penetrating power. They deeply impregnate the wood structure, thereby providing reliable protection of the material from the sun and moisture. The advantages of alcohol-based stains include a vast variety of shades. Despite this, these formulations are not as popular as water-based solutions. The fact is that working with them requires the right equipment and specific skills and experience. In addition, the cost of alcohol stains is much higher.
Food safe wood stain: oil-based wood stains
In addition, they contain dyes that dissolve in drying oil. Therefore, if the stain is thick, it can be diluted. For these purposes, drying oil or white spirit is suitable. With their help, it is possible to make various consistencies to achieve the desired shade of wood during processing.
Oil-based stains penetrate deep into the wood, well impregnating its structure. Thus, after processing the material, no streaks remain on its surface. To paint wood with an oil-based food-safe wood stain, it is advisable to use a brush. This type of impregnation provides excellent protection against the adverse effects of moisture and damage from wood-boring insects.
Benefits of oil-based stains:
- Environmental friendliness.
- Lack of harmful impurities.
- Excellent penetrating power.
- The coating retains colorfastness for a long time.
- Lack of unpleasant odor.
- The treated surface acquires moisture-resistant properties.
Oil-based solutions are suitable for indoor and outdoor use since the coating is not afraid of direct exposure to sunlight and does not fade. Moreover, to apply the product, you can use any painting tool. Therefore, even a beginner can handle such work. However, oil stains for wood also have disadvantages. The main disadvantages of these compositions include a very long drying time and their high cost.
Food safe wood stain: Oil-wax wood stains
For the manufacture of oil-wax wood stains, natural ingredients are used. Therefore, these compositions are environmentally friendly. But, of course, this fact affected the cost of the Beats, which is relatively high. Despite this, wax-based stains are not without their advantages. The advantages of oil-wax formulations are numerous:
- The composition can be used not only for tinting wood but also for restoration since it can eliminate minor surface defects.
- When applied, the composition is distributed evenly over the surface. Forming a thin protective film layer.
- Stains are resistant to ultraviolet radiation, so the coating retains its original color for a long time.
- Wood treated with oil-wax stain does not need additional varnishing.
Characteristics of modern wood stains in the form of gels
Stain gels have a thick consistency. These products are ideal for coloring and protecting softwoods. After they dry, the treated surface becomes more durable.
On sale, there are stains in the form of gels only from foreign manufacturers. These compounds are suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. Gel stains are suitable even for the treatment of wooden floors in rooms with high traffic.
Features of stain gels:
- After processing, the surface acquires a rich shade that well emphasizes the natural wood pattern.
- Unlike solutions with a liquid consistency, after treatment with a gel stain.
- Gel stains have excellent hiding power, which is double that of liquid formulations.
- Gel stains do not lift wood grain.
- The product dries very quickly. If you need to apply a second layer of gel stain, you can do this 2 hours after the initial treatment.
Food safe wood stain: Acrylic Wood Stains
To make acrylic stains, manufacturers use acrylic resins. The product is available in the form of an emulsion, which makes it easier to apply. Getting on the surface of the wood, it penetrates deeply into its structure. Acrylic-based stains have an extensive palette of colors, so buyers have no problems choosing the right shade.
Advantages of acrylic stains:
- The coating is UV and moisture resistant, protecting the wood from the damaging effects of these factors.
- In the composition of acrylic stains, there are no toxic substances, so they are odorless, and besides, these impregnations are fireproof.
- Acrylic solutions do not harm the environment and are entirely harmless to human health.
- Stains deeply saturate the wood.
How to make wood stain at home
Most wood stains are made up of solvent and natural pigment. So you can make your wood stainer.
Homemade stains are of several types:
- Based on herbal ingredients
- Based on synthetic materials.
- Food-based.
For example, slaked lime will enhance the brown color of oak. If you treat a nut with this tool, the wood will acquire a greenish tint.
How to make your food-safe wood stain
Coloring pigments are also found in food. For example, you can use coffee to give the wood a brown tint. To prepare the stain, it is necessary to firmly weld the grains or granules. And then thoroughly saturate the wood with this agent. Tea contains theanine. This component gives the wood its natural brown color. After which, they must be left in a dark place for at least 48 hours.
Dark shades of cherry and brown at home can be obtained with a solution of potassium permanganate. To do this, dilute 50 g of powder in 1 liter of warm water. To get a more prosperous and darker shade, this procedure must be repeated. Potassium permanganate quickly fades in the sun. To give the tree a herbaceous shade. Before use, this solution must be boiled for 10 minutes.
