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Staining Wood 101


A primer on coloring.
By Bob Flexner
Pages: 60-62

From the December 2010 issue # 187
Buy this issue now

A wood stain is a colorant (pigment or dye) and a binder (some sort of finish) with a lot of thinner added so the excess stain is easy to wipe off. This leaves some color in or on the wood.

A stain can also be just dye and thinner with no binder added.

Pigment is ground earth or colored synthetic particles, so it requires a binder to glue it to the wood. Pigment settles to the bottom of the can and has to be stirred into suspension before use.

Dye is a colorant dissolved in a liquid, so dye penetrates along with the liquid and doesn’t need a binder. Coffee and tea are examples of weak dyes.

Article: Learn how to properly sand to prepare your wood for stain.
To buy: Bob’s new book, “Flexner on Finishing,” includes 12 years’ worth of updated finishing columns.
Web site: Read more of our finishing articles.

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Featured Videos: Experts Guide to Gluing & Clamping Wood

Gluing and clamping is one the the most widely-used skills for woodworkers. Done correctly, you can make strong, lasting bonds in your projects. Done incorrectly, you’ll add additional time and frustration down the road. We’ll address best methods and practices and also look at possible variations. We’ll look at edge joints, mitered joints, casework and clamping and gluing curves. Our special thanks to Bessey and Titebond for sponsoring this series.

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