Finishing, Stain Systems Wood Coloring Systems Comparisons

Details the characteristics of the different types of stain systems

Stain System

Characteristics

Dye

  • Excellent
  • Colors the wood fibers.
  • Color is iridescent; it “flips from light to dark” as you move around.
  • Color saturation varies by the density of the wood. Lighter grain lines on maple.
  • Limited darkness due to semi-transparent nature of colorant.
  • Does not darken the pores of open-grained woods.
  • Reduced blotchiness on woods like maple and cherry.
  • The least lightfast of all the staining processes.

Spay Only Stain

  • Can use dyes and/or pigments as color base.
  • Even color saturation across the board.
  • Color sits a little more on the surface of the wood.
  • Clarity depends on the type of colorant and the amount of stain applied to the wood.
  • Can produce dark colors, but usually at the expense of clarity.
  • Does not darken the pores of open-grained woods.
  • Reduced blotchiness on woods like maple and cherry.
  • If dye is used as a colorant, light fastness is decreased.

Wiping Stain

  • Used primarily as pigments with some added dyes as color base.
  • Color saturation depends on wood’s density, sanding schedule, and wiping time.
  • Color can vary across the board.
  • Lower level of clarity due to the use of mostly pigments.
  • Color is not usually very vibrant; looks a little flat.
  • Can produce darker colors due to opaque nature of pigments.
  • Darkens the pores on open grained woods.
  • Produces blotches on woods like maple and cherry.
  • Generally more lightfast than dyes alone.

Glaze

  • Heavily pigmented.
  • Usually applied over another stain or sealed wood.
  • Color uniformity depends on how much glaze is left on the surface.
  • Low level of clarity.
  • Color is usually opaque.
  • Darkens the pores of open-grained woods.
  • Since it is usually applied over a washcoat, it does not normally produce blotches on maple and cherry.
  • Color sits on the wood’s surface.