[Woodcarver] Water Based Stains

[Larry Marshall]

> I failed to mention which alcohol to mix to lower the viscosity. 

> (Viscosity is a measurement of resistance to flow.) The alcohol to mix 

> should be wood (methyl) alcohol which is about half the viscosity of 

> water. Grain (Ethyl) alcohol is about the same as water and Isopropyl is 

> about 2 times higher than water (all measurements taken at room 

> temperature).


I'm not sure that viscosity differences between these alcohols is 
relevant, Joe.  The viscosity of any finish will be determined by 
the ratio of finish to solvent.  Adding more alcohol (any alcohol) 
will lower the viscosity of any alcohol-based stain.  Same is true 
for adding water to a water-based stain.

The problem with pigment stains (any type) is that they are...well, 
pigments.  They don't penetrate the wood; they sit on the surface. 
That's their job.  Dyes, on the other hand, do penetrate and...dye 
the wood. Truth is, most mainstream "stains" (eg - Minwax stains) 
are a mixture of pigment and dye and the amounts of each are 
determined by the actual color.


> Steve, I don't know if you sent this, but thank you for this 

> information? " If you want depth, you might want to give dyes a try.  I 

> use TransFast water-soluble dyes and General Finishes pre-mixed 

> water-based dyes.  Both provide clear color changes and I just love 

> them."  I love General Finishes products, which is a small company in 


Don't know Steve but it was me that wrote that.  I've used these 
dyes a lot and I'm somewhat surprised that more people don't know 
about them.  Too much shopping at Home Depot I think :-)  Both 
TransFast dyes and General Finishes dyes are available in the US 
from Woodcraft.  Harder to get in Canada :-(

-- 
Cheers --- Larry Marshall
Quebec City, Quebec
http://www.woodnbits.com
http://www.woodnbits.com/blog