When you use a wood stain, it can add depth to any wood. This one can also improve the grain’s appearance and colour. Woodworkers have been doing this for hundreds of years.
In the past, wood staining was carried out in the most straightforward ways. They frequently soak a rusty nail in vinegar to produce that dark stain. However, wood stains have grown more challenging today. These days, the majority of wood stains contain three separate components.
The dye or pigment, solvent, and binder are these components. It is the dye that gets inside the wood. The pigment is the substance that covers the wood in a manner akin to painting.
The solvent maintains the liquid state of the colourant and the binder. After application, the solvent disappears, leaving the binder to keep the colourant in place.
After drying, does wood stain truly become toxic?
Petroleum-based wood stains are the ones that are regarded as being particularly harmful to the environment. The stains with the most solvents produced from petroleum are those made of acrylic and urethane. The ones with the least amount are the water-based and natural oil stains.
The solvent in the stain will evaporate as it dries, releasing a volatile organic compound, or VOC. This one has the potential to both harm people’s health and contribute to air pollution. Because of this, you should consider the VOC content of wood stains before choosing one. The better it is for you, the less VOC there is.
various wood stains
Stains Made of Water
This kind of wood stain is the one with the lowest VOC content. This is also easily cleanable with soap and water and dries rapidly. But keep in mind that you should stay away from stains that contain glycol ether. This is due to the poisonous nature of the chemical.
Oil-Based Natural Stains
The stains that are most durable are those that are natural or plant-based. Like the ware-based ones, they won’t require any sealer either. However, you should be aware that they can have a higher VOC content.
Oil-based or synthetic stains
The oil in our synthetic-based stations is a stain that contains acrylic or urethane binders. These are the ones that have the potential to cause harm and produce a lot of VOC. Since they are more weather resistant, these stains are frequently utilised outside.
Oil Finishes in Nature
Plant-based wood stains such as tung oil or linseed oil are regarded as natural oil finishes. They will be able to protect the wood that they are put to by entering the wood. However, these stains don’t offer as much protection as a varnish or lacquer. Additionally, this one has less VOC.
However, if you decide to use this kind of stain, you might need to apply extra coats of it. These stains take a while to dry and must be applied again every year.
Varnish
Use a varnish, such as one made of acrylic or urethane, if you want the best defence against heat, water, and chemical substances. When compared to other interior finishes, this kind of stain is excellent. However, varnish does contain petroleum and artificial chemicals that produce significant amounts of VOC.
When used on floors, this stain will be able to produce a durable finish. However, once you start cleaning up, they do need solvents. If you’re working on indoor projects, you should probably stay away from this one.
Lacquer
The water acrylic base lacquer might not be as protective as any varnish or water-based sealers. This kind has a high VOC content and almost certainly contains toluene and xylene solvent. Is food safe for polyurethane?
Shellac
This wood stain is formed of a natural resin derived from an insect. Compared to lacquer and varnish, this one has a lower environmental impact. This kind is likewise regarded as a renewable resource. This wood stain uses ethanol as its solvent. Some people also employ methanol. This kind of stain has a passable level of durability but dries quickly.
Conclusion
Any wooden things you have in your house or business can be made more attractive by applying wood stains to them. It’s crucial to use a wood stain that has minimal negative effects on the environment and the people nearby. This is one technique to guarantee that the wood you use is both aesthetically pleasing and secure.
