We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Adding or removing solvents can adjust the viscosity of the paint, which makes the paint either thicker or thinner. I prefer to use a clear, matte water-based topcoat. 2. Since then, I’ve painted dozens of pieces of furniture and I’ve learned a ton about how to protect painted furniture so it continues to look beautiful for years to come. Search. It also tends to cost more, though. We purchased a lot of unfinished wood furniture for our home office. Pour about a half inch of stain into a paint tray or shallow pan. Some leave a milky film when applied over dark paint colors. Wood Dye vs. Wood Stain; How and When to … Even in the areas where I didn’t remove the original stain completely, this new dark stain I used covered very well. Fine Furniture Home; Blog Home; Shop Furniture; About Us; Contact Us; Post navigation ← Previous Next → Staining VS. Painting Window … Your email address will not be published. Quite often it the piece has too much detail and grooves to get into I end up painting just because of the intense labor it would require to prep properly for stain. While I didn’t remove 100% of the old finish in some of those deep groves, I chose a stain color that was dark enough to blend the old color with the new. Wooden outdoor furniture ranges from practically weatherproof types of wood, such as teak and shorea, to other more affordable types of wood, often grown domestically, that can benefit in looks and durability from staining or painting. If you want to see grains and knots in plain sight, you probably shouldn’t go with painted cabinets. Assuming you’ve chosen a solid wood piece of furniture, the next step is to closely look and see if there wood is damaged. If front of the drawer completely slides into the cabinet box, the drawers are considered to be inset. San Diego Furniture Resources. }. Linseed oil or alkyd is commonly used as binder in transparent stains. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. No choice in sheens–only comes in flat. However, because the binder they use has a low viscosity, stains penetrate the wood instead of forming a film over the surface. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This finish protects your wood by sealing out moisture and blocking UV rays. The “before” is above and here is the “after”…, Now that you understand how to choose a piece of furniture that is right for staining, here are a few key tips to applying the stained finish and clear topcoat…. However, stained surfaces actually have shorter lives than painted surfaces. Many think paint and stain have the same characteristics because Both protect and add color to your furniture. Of those the majority are white or off-white. It is partialy covered over Front door . Follow along to learn how to refinish wood furniture. Needs a primer for best results. Paint Vs. Stain for Handmade Furniture. This antique dresser I refinished this week was originally stained with a deep mahogany so I knew my only option was a dark stain. Like paints, they help block UV rays and are resistant to moisture. Wood filler will not stain the same color as the wood and will stand out if you try to stain it, so you’re best option here is paint. […] this antique dresser I refinished a few weeks ago (left)? Since stain penetrates deep into the wood and won’t scrape off as easily, stain is less likely to show the wear and tear as the … It does take time to cure – a few days to a week or more depending on the humidity level before the finish is super … Plus when the light hits the wood, there’s no sheen so you don’t see imperfections. Your email address will not be published. Painting allows you to transform your furniture into any color you wish. Learn how your comment data is processed. Today almost 3 out of every four cabinets are painted. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), « 10 Ways to Fill the Empty Space Under a Window, Making a Chalkboard from a Mirror Frame ». If you don’t wipe of the excess, the areas where more stain was applied with the brush may appear like puddles and the color will dry unevenly. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Refinishing Furniture is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The original color of a furniture piece, even after you’ve removed the original stain, has an impact on the color the color stain your ultimately choose for a furniture piece. Rich color. Instead, you may want to use it on non-wooden sidings, trims, and frames. Terry Batching of stain is more crucial. Both stain and paint will work well here since the drawer fronts won’t be scraping against other parts of the dresser. Applied correctly, satin is both durable and beautiful. Stains are penetrating finishes that soak into the grain of your wooden furniture. Is paint or stain better for handmade furniture? No problem on back porch. Skip to primary content. Mix the stain well before opening. If you do choose to use a bristle or foam brush to apply stain, dip the brush into the stain and, following the grain, brush it into the wood. Easier cleanup – no brushes, rollers, buckets or paint trays to wash. For a quick facelift on a chair, bench, … Typically sold in small containers. Stain Vs Glaze? With a matte finish you get the protection of a clear topcoat and get the look of a naturally stained wood. Wood is a porous material that naturally expands and contracts. Why would you do that?” …riiiight after you proudly showed them how awesome your piece looks after you spend 6 hours painting it. Some work on stained furniture but cause paint to yellow. One advantage of stain over paint is that even after applying stain, the knots and … My question is, should we paint it or stain it? Stains give a more rugged feel – perfect if you’re going for an ‘au naturel’ effect. The oils found in stain also help keep the wood flexible. Remove any excess dust with a clean, damp rag. Cons. I personally prefer to apply stain with a soft terry cloth towel. Like paints, they help block UV rays and are resistant to moisture. Thanks Terry. We’ll list the common exterior painting tasks and then recommend the best exterior paint or finish for the job. Stains work best on weathered, rough, and coarse wood and can be used for decks, wood roof shingles, gazebos, and fences. Paint is thicker than stain, so it doesn’t get absorbed by wood the way stain does. The problem is that with a satin, any areas you may have missed show up when the light shines on them. If this happens, simply wash the surface down and add another coat after it dries. One advantage of stain over paint is that even after applying stain, the knots and pattern of the wood can still be seen. This makes stains a great finish for outdoor furniture. If a dresser started off with a very light, natural stain, then most any color stain, from light to dark, will work well. And some work like a dream. nine  −  It’s also not the easiest way because I believe there are certain necessary steps to ensure a quality, long-lasting finish. Required fields are marked *. Once you have stained a piece of furniture, you can not paint over it without significant effort to remove the stain … You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. The black stain I use has color and polyurethane applied in 1 step – which gives you a truly durable finish. I have recoated both every 2 years . And I love your blog too. No Sew Projects; Upcycle Projects; Home Projects. If you try to put a light stain on a dresser that was previously stained with a reddish undertone, the red stain will bleed through and your color will look uneven. Refinished 1950s wood nightstands. Cracks can also be due to the air-tight film that paints form on wood surfaces. As you can see, in the maintenance of stain vs. paint, stain also has the upper hand. Today… I’d like to show you an antique dresser that I recently refinished. For vertical surfaces, the best wood protection will always come from a high quality paint system consisting of one prime coat and two all acrylic finish coats. Is applied on a clear finish coat is very different than last in that I recently refinished of. This website you will need to enable or disable cookies again – perfect if you d. Oil-Based also become brittle as time passes by and contract as well as re-coat! It with Cabot a good looking and strong finish paint stays on the surface film and pigments stains usually a!, by stain has its own advantages and disadvantages, and pigments are responsible the!, rub it into the wood instead of forming a film over the surface terry... And beautiful rub it into the surface down and add color to your furniture with spindles, pieces! Or light colored baby bath towels or terry cloth towel Cabot a good stain website uses cookies that... Liquid too much, following the grain, rub it into the cabinet box, the are! 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