SAMPLE FINISHES
Shellacs
Stains
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Dyes & Stains
There are many reasons for changing the color of the wood in a piece
of furniture and almost as many methods of imparting color to woods. Most
often a dye is used to even the intensity of grains and differing pieces
of wood to give the work a more uniform look.
There are generally three vehicles for carrying the dye/stain to the
wood, those being water, alcohol, and oil based thinners. There are also
stains– carried in lacquers, urethanes, and other oil based coatings–
for which I have no use (use of these is called painting).
1. Water based
dyes are, by far and away, my choice for most of my
staining needs. These dyes are generally aniline dyes, much like the
dyes used for fabrics. Water based dyes are the deepest penetrating
and most fade resistant. They also give the wood an unsurpassed richness
and deep color.
2. Alcohol dyes
are generally the same dyes used in water, but they are far faster drying
and mainly used for spot repairs or imparting a little more stain than
is possible with water based stains. These dyes do not penetrate as
deep as the water based dyes and aren’t quite as colorfast.
3. Oil based stains,
while the easiest to use, are the least penetrating of stains. I rarely
use these types of stains.
4. Other methods
for coloring the wood, although not as common, work quite well. Dyes
can be made by boiling the shells of certain nuts. Ammonia will turn
many woods (oak will go gray, while mahogany will go almost black).
Chlorine can be used to bleach many woods.
Finishes
Most any type of finish can be applied to a piece of furniture depending
on the desired look and end use. A piece such as a huntboard or highboy
may be finished with a shellac or oil, whereas a frequently used table
will require a varnish or urethane finish.
1. Shellacs
are a personal favorite for their color, depth, and feel. While shellac
does have an aversion to water, alkalines (ammonia or lye), and alcohol,
it also provides one of the finest finishes available, and is easily
repaired. For classic pieces (Queen Anne, Chippendale) there is no substitute.
Shellac is a substance that is created by a bug (Laccifera
lacca) that feeds on the sap of trees found in India and Thailand and
excretes a substance to create a cocoon. The cocoon is the raw material
for shellac, which is then refined to varying degrees to obtain the
different colors and clarity. The shellac is purchased in a dry form
called buttons and flake, which are dissolved in alcohol. It is then
brushed or padded on with five to ten coats being applied before it
can finally be hand rubbed to the desired sheen. A couple of coats of
wax are then applied over the shellac. This process can often take nearly
as long as it takes to build the piece.
2. Oil
finishes also lend themselves to fine furniture quite well, and give
better protection against water and other liquids. Depending on the
type of oil finish that is used and the thickness of application, repairs
can range from rather simple to more difficult. Oil based finishes have
been used as a finish for as long as there has been oil. Today there
are many different types of oil finishes available, ranging from citrus
oils for butcher blocks, which will not dry, to polymerized oils, which
will harden and allow the building a shiny top coat.
3. Urethanes
are generally reserved for heavily used furniture and where a low maintenance
finish is required.
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