A nice saying by Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect: “Wood is universally beautiful to man. It is the most humanly intimate of all materials."
Why is wood finishing necessary? Wood is a porous material, capable of soaking in anything that gets on it, such as dirt, oils, and chemicals. A finish provides protection to the wood by sealing it.
Polyacrylic is a water-based polyurethane finish which dries up quickly. It comes in a variety of finishes including high gloss and satin finishes. Polyacrylic protects the wood from water damage and also adds some beauty to it.
One of the reasons to choose stain over paint when it comes to finishing wood, is the ease of refinishing. Unlike badly chipped paint that will have to be completely scraped away, stain can be reapplied after nothing more than a good cleaning.
If you're installing a wooden fixture and would like it to match the rest of your decor, you can either paint it or stain it to match. Paint of course, will cover the wood's surface so that it doesn't show through. Stain on the other hand, seeps deep into the wood and accentuates its natural details.
If you want to accentuate the natural beauty of a piece of wooden furniture, one thing you can do is to stain it. Unlike paint, stain doesn't cover up the surface of wooden piece so its natural beauty is retained. What's more is, stain provides improved water resistance as well as UV protection.
Polyurethane finish is basically a liquid plastic that protects wooden surfaces from scratches and helps to resist water damage. Available in gloss to matte finishes, polyurethane can be applied by brushing, wiping, or spraying.
Appearance is one of the reasons why wood finishing is important. Finishes like stain, for example, highlight and add some color to the wood grain. Even clear coats add a beautiful luster and warmth to the wood.
It’s a myth among people that shellac finish turns dark as it ages. In reality, shellac is naturally UV-resistant and does not yellow or darken with age. The shellac seen in older homes is a less-refined version that was naturally dark.
Varnish enhances the natural tones and grains of wood. It is usually applied over wood stains as a final step to achieve a film for protection and gloss. Since varnish can resist moisture, it is also used in wooden boats.
Shellac is a versatile, non-toxic wood finish that highlights the natural grain of the wood while adding smoothness. This type of finish is especially attractive on mahogany, walnut, and fine veneer woods.
Water-based finishes provide a clean and clear finish to wooden materials. They have little more odor than oil finishes, and they also dry easily. Water-based finishes give a natural appearance to a wooden surface.
Water-based finishes give no color to the wood, nor do they darken with age. These finishes work well on lighter woods, such as birch, maple, or pine.
Oil finishes can be drying or non-drying. Drying oils change from liquid to a solid film when exposed to oxygen in the air. Examples include linseed and tung. Examples of non-drying oils include peanut, olive, and mineral oils.
Wax finishes work best on fine-grained woods that have been sanded to a smooth surface. They protect the wooden objects from moisture and also hold the color for a long time. Wood wax gives a deep sheen to wooden materials.
What is the best finish to apply on hardwood floors? Polyurethane provides the kind of durable finish that hardwood floors require. For adequate protection, most floors require 2 to 3 coats of polyurethane.
What happens if wood is not finished? Without a finish, wood can dry, crack, and deteriorate over time. If exposed to moisture, it can swell, causing doors or drawers to no longer function.
What are the different types of wood finish? They include oil finishes, dye, wax finishes, shellac, varnish, lacquers, polyurethane, stain, water-based finishes, polyacrylic and French polish.
Surface finishing, as the name suggests, is applied on the surface of wood material. This type of finishing is easier to apply and leaves a natural look to the wood.
Solid or opaque stains completely cover the underlying grain of the wood. These stains are ideal for old and worn surfaces or those surfaces previously stained with semi-transparent stains.
Semitransparent stain, which enables the texture and grain of the underlying wood to show through, makes an appealing finish for new wood fences. However, they don’t provide as much UV protection as a solid or opaque stain.
Why is sanding done? Sanding is mainly done to create a smooth surface finish and to shape edges or corners. Basically, it prepares the area for painting application or varnishing by removing imperfections.
Which grit of sandpaper gives the smoothest finish? Well, 180-220 Grit sandpaper is ideal to achieve the smoothest finish. It is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits and preparing bare surfaces for finishes.
Lacquer is still regarded as the best all-around finish for wood because it dries fast and imparts an incredible depth and richness. Depending on the type used, it also exhibits moderate to excellent durability.
