Wood Coloring Systems

WOOD COLORING SYSTEMS
	Spray Only Stains These products are made with both opaque pigments and/ or transparent dyes mixed in a sprayable base. Toners can be used over other stains to darken or even out colors § Produces a very even color across the board. § Color ranges in clarity from transparent to slightly muddy, depending on the amount of pigment in the product. § Does not darken the pores of the wood. This reduces blotchiness on maple and cherry. This also means that woods like oak will need the additional application of a wiping stain or a glaze to highlight the texture and grain. § Quite often used for light to medium colors, especially on light woods like maple. § When used alone, does not produce deep, dark colors. § Since this color lies on top of the wood it can sometimes mask the grain of the wood.
	Dye stains – spray only Dyes mixed in a fast solvent and then sprayed on to bare wood. § The color is very transparent, not muddy. § The color sometimes has a shimmer to it. It doesn’t look “flat.” Like Spray Only Stains. § Does not darken the pores of the wood. This reduces blotchiness on maple and cherry. This also means that woods like oak will need the additional application of a wiping stain or a glaze to highlight the texture and grain. § Quite often used for light to medium colors, especially on light woods like maple. § When used alone, does not produce deep, dark colors.
	Wiping Stains Wiping Stains are made with both pigments and/ or dyes in a slow drying base, such as mineral spirits. § Can produce medium dark colors. § Darkens the pores of the wood. Brings out the grain on oak. § Will appear blotchy on maple and cherry. § Does not look as transparent as the dyes stains. § Color is not as even across the board as with spray only stains.
	Toners Toners are made with both opaque pigments and/ or transparent dyes mixed in a lacquer or varnish base. Toners can be used over stains to darken or even out colors. § Used over stains, or between coats to selectively darken or even out colors. § Color can look slightly muddy, depending on the amount of pigment in the product. § Does not darken the pores of the wood. § When used alone, does not produce deep, dark colors. § Quite often used for light to medium colors, especially on light woods like maple. § Since this color lies on top of the wood it can sometimes mask the grain of the wood.
	Glazes Thick bodied stains made with large amounts of opaque pigments. Generally they are applied over a pigmented primer or a clear sealer coat, and then removed in such a way that some of the product is left behind on the wood. § Produces great contrast in pores. Can be used to produce white grain on black oak, or black grain on natural oak. § Used to selectively darken portions of a door or panel, like the corners and grooves. § Used to make “brush marks” on painted surfaces. § Used to make wood look old and to bring out distressed areas. § Produces a very opaque color.
Two Part Systems These systems use the above products in combinations to take advantage of each product’s unique characteristics.
	Wiping stain over a dye stain § The only way to produces very deep, rich colors, especially on light color woods like maple. § Dark yet reasonably transparent. § Excellent grain and pore definition. § The dye is used to change the background color of the wood so that you can get reddish colors on brown colored woods like walnut, and browns on red colored woods like mahogany and cherry.
	Wiping Stain with a Toner § Can produce dark colors. § Can produce reasonably even colors across a board. § If a toner is used over a dye the color will be dark, but the grain will not stand out. § If a toner is used over a wiping stain the grain is slightly obscured. § Clarity can vary depending on the amount of toner used. Here are a few of the other more common two part systems. § Glaze over single color stain § Glaze over paint § Pearlescent clear coat over paint
	Three Part Systems There may even be a situation where you would use the 3 part system such as § Applying a wiping stain over a dye stain and then apply a glaze. § Applying a wiping stain over a dye stain and then apply a toner. § Crackle finishes can be two or even three part systems, depending on whether a glaze is rubbed over the crackle to highlight the cracks.