Finishing and Refinishing

[patnjacky]

hello i am curious about staining or changing the color of figured wood. if i use a pretreatment will that negate the effect of figured woods? also if i attempt to stain figured wood a dark color will the figuring still show through? thanks for all responses.patrick

[Steve Mickley]

Patrick;

...to change the color of wood.  The most frequently used technique is to apply pigment stain.  Pigment stains are the products you will find in virtually every big box, local hardware store, and paint store.  They consist of pigment suspended in a binder, usually varnish but lacquer is also used, and thinned to make them easy to apply.  Pigment, contrary to advertizing claims, does not "penetrate"; it  is an insoluble sold; it colors the wood by settling into structure on the wood (sanding scratches, pores, and defects), and by spreading a thin film of pigment over the face of the wood being stained.  The role of the "binder" is to hold the pigment in place after the thinner evaporates.  Were it not for the binder, the dry pigment could be brushed or wiped from the wood like so much dust (again, pigment is an insoluble solid).  It is the thin film of pigment held in place by the binder that alters the color of the wood in much the same way that a coat of paint changes the color of your house.  The difference is one of degree; there is far more pigment in paint than there is in stain.

The second technique is the application of dye.  Dyes come in several different forms; water-soluble, alcohol-soluble, oil-soluble, and liquid dyes soluble in multiple solvents.  Unlike pigment stains, dyes are dissolved in their respective solvent and are carried into the cell structure of the wood.  Dyes do not color the wood by laying down an opaque film; they actually change the color of the wood as they are absorbed into the cell structure of the wood.

It is in the way that the two (pigment stain and dye) color wood that we find the most important distinction relative to your question.  The thin film of opaque pigment laid down by pigment stains will diminish the figure in your wood.  The more subtle figure may be completely obliterated by being masked beneath the pigment.  The heavier the pigment (or the more you apply) the more the figure will be diminished.  Dye, on the other hand, will not reduce the clarity of the grain and figure of the wood being colored.  Since dye is dissolved in its solvent it is actually carried into the cell structure of the wood.  When the solvent evaporates the color will remain, thus altering the color of the wood.

The use of a so-called "pretreatment" ahead of a pigment stain will reduce the amount of pigment that can find a resting place by "sealing" the wood with a thinned coat of finish.  These products are nothing more than thinned varnish or lacquer.  When applied they create a film of finish (a "barrier coat") between the wood and the pigment stain.  This will reduce the extent to which pigment will obliterate subtle figure; but, it will also reduce the depth of color that can be achieved when the stain is properly applied.  If one continues to apply more and more stain (improperly) to offset the impact of the "pretreatment" the paint-like impact of the stain will return.  (Note: Pretreatment should not be used with dye since dyes must be able to penetrate the cell structure of the wood to work properly.  If you want lighter color with dye, dilute the dye.)

In a previous thread, Patrick, you asked about achieving an "espresso color" on a dresser for your daughter's room.  While I recognize that these things are matters of personal choice, if we are still talking about the same project, I would encourage to either set aside the figured lumber for another project, or I would change the color objective to something much lighter (even natural) to take full advantage of the figured wood.

I hope this helps...

Steve

[patnjacky]

Hi Steve thanks for the response and nice job on the post followup. The projects that I am referring to are two different projects one is a dresser and the other will be picture frames similar to the two that I have posted in the past. Since doing a pleated or figured maple frame before I have become fascinated and awed by some of the figured woods I have a local specialty wood shop locally. I am interested in doing a lacewood and ebony inlaid pic frame I just did not want to stain the wood and negate the natural spotting of the lacewood but I would like to achieve a caramel color. So if I am understanding your recommendation I should try to find a dye rather than stain my past projects have used tung oil on.do you have a good dye in mind that I could find locally at box store or rockler store? Thanks again for you time and response.sincerly patrick