Use shoe polish. If you prefer a darker look, simply allow the first coat to dry before adding another coat. Then you know whichever side it lays on won’t get tarnished or stick to the surface when laid down. The premixed stains you find on the home center shelf are typically pigment-based stains (or pigment/dye mixtures). Cherry drink powder will come out red, grape will come out purple, etc. The best perk of using drink powder as your dye? wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Here are a few easy steps that can make sure you achieve a perfect finish every time. Use a higher-quality brush with this type of stain/finish. How can you eliminate brush marks when finishing? You can even dip the object into stain or pour the stain onto the wood and spread it around. Step 1: Stir the Can ProperlyThe first thing you need to do when you get your wood stain is to shake it well. On woods with large, open pores, such as oak, mahogany and ash, increase your pressure to work the stain into the pores. Wood bought from craft supply stores (blocks or beads, for example) is ready to go. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Let sit for one to five minutes. No mixing or heating up necessary. If you like the current shade, consider sealing it with polyurethane spray or a wood varnish. Next, to avoid raising the grain during dyeing with a water-soluble dye, pre-raise the grain by wiping it with a water-moistened sponge or cloth. There are many different types of wood dyes out there, and some are just wood stains. Too dark? Here are three great dye/stain recipes to try: Unlike pigmented stains, dyes come as concentrates (powders or liquids) that must be mixed with a solvent (usually water or alcohol) before application. It's HARD working from home. To apply this wood stain remover, you can use either a brush, nap paint roller or a putty knife – whichever you prefer. While any stain makes wood darker, dye’s semi-transparent nature also lets you make wood lighter, or at least brighter, without becoming muddy. Figured grain, which can be obscured by pigments, also benefits from dye's grain-popping penetration. Apply Thinner To Fix The Uneven Shade. For a stronger colour, apply a second coat after four hours. Apply the wood dye first so it penetrates the wood and then add the stain over it. pores, starkly emphasizing the The beauty of liquid watercolor is that it is good to go. Apply a sealer coat (Zinsser Sealcoat) of a shellac-based finish by wiping: flooding the surface with finish and wiping it off. For a rich, layered look, choose the best of both worlds. before adding the dye and stirring J. Dillon November 11, 2012 7:45 am Marc, Excellent demonstration! You can also combine colors (red and yellow make orange, for example) if the color you want is unavailable in flavor form. This produces a noticeably different look than pigments, especially on dense, tight-grained woods, such as maple, that offer few places for pigment to settle. thoroughly. If you want to apply a second coat of varnish, give the first a very light rub over then remove any dust and debris and then apply your second coat. If you want to achieve a rich color, you can use both together! Clean off the sanding dust, and dye the wood again. Add as many coats of stain as you want to get the desired finish. It’s not a bad idea to dip in one side and set the wood down to dry on a side that isn’t dyed yet. When you pour it in, that's all you need to do. For more tips, including how to dye your wood with coffee, read on! Brush or wipe on dye with a foam brush or rag, using enough of the solution to keep a wet edge between your brush strokes. If you want a darker, deeper shade, just add less water. Rubbing or brushing against the direction of the grain will help fill deep pores with stain. Sanding: You can sand by hand or use a mechanical sander. If you're going to use a gel stain, apply it … Just dip your wood into the paint so it’s fully coated and leave it to dry on a sheet of wax paper. band-secured coffee filter into a Apply to clean, smooth bare wood surface, rubbing the Colron Refined Wood Dye along the grain with a dry lint free cloth. Or, if time is short, reach for a product that combines both stain and finish with one coat. Allow to dry before using the wood. If you want the wood to look darker, add more stain. It will be slightly darker when wet. Scrollsaw, Carving, and Decorative Projects. All you need to do is mix it with hot water and soak your wood in the solution for 10 minutes. early and late wood. It's suitable for all ages.". Thanks, FES. Select the color of choice and rub it over raw wood. This adds a varnish or shine to the object in addition to providing a seal against general wear and tear. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Cover your hands, too, with rubber gloves; if you don’t, you’ll end up with fun-colored fingers by the end of the project. With a longer open time, water-soluble dyes offer a more forgiving application than alcohol-soluble dyes. Dyeing a dining room table that seats 14? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. lumps of dye. Learn how to properly apply wood stain to decks and other wood surfaces like a pro. Reply. Apply it going in the same direction as the wood grain. Emphasizing highly figured wood grains, such as bird's-eye maple and walnut burl. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. You can also take a brush to spread it on. This won't give you the exact final hue, but it'll be close. Fortunately, mixing them is surprisingly easy. Use a rag or brush to apply the stain to the wood. But they cost more. For more tips, including how to dye your wood with coffee, read on! Keep this in mind for your objects, too. Wherever the solvent soaks into the wood fibers, it takes the dye with it, changing the color of the wood cells themselves. Simply paint it on, leave i… Pieces that will sit in direct sunlight. Wearing gloves, mix 1/2 cup of liquid dye or 1 box of powder dye with two quarts of very hot water. Dip your rag or brush into the stain and spread it on the wood, working your way across the piece in sections. It’s only important that you wipe off all the excess before the stain dries.If you let the stain begin to dry in spots before wiping off, you will get a type … How to Stain Wood in 8 Simple Steps. © 2020 Meredith Corporation. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. First, remove any dust, stickiness, polish, wax, paint, grease or dirt by either sanding, using a wax and polish remover or a paint and varnish ... Next, sand the old surface to provide a clean, fresh key for … Check the color. This article has been viewed 117,918 times. Highlights the beauty of the wood, producing a rich depth of colour, helping your interior wood to truly look its best. Depends on the color, but there are some, for example; ebony is black, redheart is red or pink, bloodwood is red and yellowheart is yellow. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. This makes it easier to control and is better for smaller objects that have nooks and crannies. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Dye-Feathers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Dye-Feathers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Dye-Feathers-Step-1.jpg\/aid1981689-v4-728px-Dye-Feathers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"