What Is Oil-Based Stain?
Oil-based stains are a type of “stain paint” that colors by soaking into the wood.
There are two types of this stain paint: water-based, which is made with a water base, and oil-based, which is made with an oil base. Oil-based stains, as the name suggests, are paints made with an oil base.
The advantage of oil-based stains is that they produce a shine and wood grain that only oil-based paints can, while the disadvantages include a strong odor and difficulty in post-treatment.
Uses of Oil-Based Stains
Oil-based stains are used for painting indoor and outdoor wooden products. Oi-based stains should be selected if the wood grain is to be retained while coloring.
Oil-based stains are also widely used for wood decks outdoors and for finishing solid wood flooring and wooden furniture indoors, as they give the applied wood a deep shine.
Principle of Oil-Based Stains
Oil-based stains are composed of paint-forming ingredients, additives, solvents, and pigments and dyes. Common paint materials, such as so-called paints, are classified as “film-forming paints” and form a film on the surface of the material to which they are applied. Oil-based stains do not form a film on the surface of the material. Oil-based stains penetrate into the wood, allowing the wood to be colored while retaining its natural grain.
However, since it does not form a film on the surface, it does not provide strong protection to the wood. Oil-based stains consist of a film-forming component, additives, solvents, pigments, and dyes.
The paint film-forming component is a resin. Specifically, they include acrylics and urethanes, as well as natural oils such as sunflower oil, linseed oil, and castor oil. Solvents include ethanol and turpentine oil, and their purpose is to adjust the fluidity of the paint. Additives include pigment dispersants and antifungal agents.
Types of Oil-Based Stains
There are several types of oil-based stains. Traditional, common oil-based stains are paints that are used only to color wood and do not contain any extra ingredients. Recently, however, varnished oil-based stains, which contain varnish as a finishing agent, and oil stains that contain insect repellents and preservatives, are also available.
1. Oil-Based Stains With Varnish
Varnished oil-based stains are intended to reduce the work involved. With ordinary oil-based stains, a coat of varnish is necessary to protect the wood. With oil-based stains, however, varnishing is not required.
However, the disadvantage is that it tends to be uneven and difficult to handle when coloring. Therefore, it is safer for beginners to choose a varnish-free stain.
2. Oil-Based Stains Containing Insecticides or Preservatives
Oil-based stains containing insecticides and preservatives are designed to protect and improve the durability of wood when used outdoors. It is mainly used for exterior products such as wooden decks. However, there is a disadvantage of poor coloration. It is important to use different types of paints depending on the location of the object to be coated.
Other Information on Oil -Based Stains
How to Apply Oil Based Stains
Oil-based stains are colored by penetrating the wood to which they are applied, so surface preparation is important. In addition, a finishing material must also be applied if other than oil-based stains with varnish are used. The basic application procedure is as follows.
Before applying oil-based stains, the wood on the surface to be coated is sanded and prepared. Oil-based stains penetrate wood, but if the surface to be coated is covered with dust or oil, it will be difficult for the oil-based stains to penetrate and cause uneven color.
For the ultimate stained finish, start with a sandpaper of about #240 and finish with sandpaper of about #400. If you use too fine of a sandpaper, the surface will become too smooth, making it difficult for the oil-based stains to penetrate. Next, carefully remove wood chips from the surface of the wood. Wiping with a cloth or paper is recommended.
After the above pre-treatment, apply oil-based stains. When applying Oil Based Stains, stir the stain well and adjust the viscosity with a thinning solution if necessary. After applying oil-based stains, wipe them off with a rag. This is necessary to rub the oil-based stains into the wood. Finally, apply a finishing material to the surface. Varnishes and waxes are available as finishing materials.