Stains, or more specifically Wood Stains, are used to change the natural color of wood as can be seen here:

Raw cherry wood.
Raw cherry wood.
Cherry wood with wiping stain.
Cherry wood with wiping stain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a wide range of stain types available for interior applications and the colors that can be achieved are virtually limitless. The most common types of interior stains are:

  • Wiping stains
  • Gel stains (heavy bodied stains)
  • Spray stains
  • Spray-and-wipe stains
  • Dye stains (toners, NGRs)

Wiping stains are far and away the most common stains used for interior application. Most have the consistency of water and are typically applied with a rag, brush or stain sponge. The most common brand of wiping stain is Minwax, though most professionals steer clear of this brand (the reasons for this will be covered in a future article). Following are examples of wiping stain brands:

[Individual pics of tagged photos: ArmiCoat, Old Masters, Lenmar, ML Campbell, Fuhr]

Gel stains are, simply put, a very thick version of a wiping stain. And though they can be applied directly to wood in a similar manner as a wiping stain, they are most often used to shade, age or otherwise accent a previously-stained (and clear-coated) surface as shown here:

Cherry wood with wiping stain.
Cherry wood with wiping stain.
Cherry wood with wiping stain and glaze.
Cherry wood with wiping stain and glaze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similar to wiping stains, gel stains are typically applied by rag or brush; then, while still wet, they are manipulated with a clean rag or brush until the desired effect is achieved. Using a gel stain in this way is referred to as glazing, further details of which will be covered in a future article.

Spray Stains provide an aesthetic similar to wiping stains but are very fast drying and therefore are typically applied in production environments using professional spray equipment. The benefits in this case are that it speeds up production versus using a wiping stain. Many who primarily use spray stains feel they can achieve a better overall look than if they were to use a wiping stain. Using a spray stain versus a wiping stain is based purely on the personal preference of the finisher.

Spray and Wipe Stains are faster drying than wiping stains and, like spray stains, are used to speed up the production process. Simply put, they are a cross between a wiping stain and a spray stain and provide a similar aesthetic to these stains. As the name implies, they are applied using a spray gun and immediately wiped off using a rag until the desired effect is achieved.

Dye Stains are very fast-drying stains and are often also referred to as toners or NGR (non-grain raising) stains. Technically, these are also spray stains; and though they can be wiped in certain (very limited) applications, they are intended to be applied with professional spray equipment as they dry too quickly to be applied with a rag or brush over anything other than very small areas.

As the name implies, the color in dye stains is typically created by use of dye concentrates (versus pigments) similar to those used to achieve color in magazines, leathers and fabrics. As a result, very deep and/or rich effects can be achieved with dye stains that cannot be provided by other types of stains. Dye stains are typically used in one of two ways: they are either applied directly to the wood, followed by a clear-coat then a glaze (or heavy-bodied stain); or they are mixed directly into a compatible clear finish (thus slightly toning the clear finish) and applied over a stained wood surface. In both cases the dye stain adds a rich depth that a standard stain alone cannot provide. Following is an example of a spray stain used to add depth/richness to a surface:

Cherry wood with wiping stain.
Cherry wood with wiping stain.
Cherry wood with dye stain and wiping stain.
Cherry wood with dye stain and wiping stain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope this article was helpful for you. Stay tuned for future topics, and please contact us if we can be of help on your next project! Also, please let us know if there are specific topics you would like us to cover in the future – we would love your feedback. Thanks for reading!

 

Note: always thoroughly read the manufacturer’s product label, technical data sheet (TDS) and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS or SDS) prior to using the product. The manufacturer’s information always takes precedent over any information provided by Hunter Coatings.

 

by Andy Stanush