The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Coloring Finishing And Painting Wood
Stain-powder for mixing with water can now be secured in practically any shade of color desired for making water-stains.
Formerly, the colors used in mixing water-stains were fugitive, and the stains faded; but, at present, water-stains made from acid coal-tar dyes are much more permanent than spirit-stains or water-stains made from basic dyes, and also more permanent than oil-soluble dyes. Quite permanent acid coal-tar dyes are at present used almost exclusively in making water-stains. Vegetable extracts4 are still made to some extent from various color-giving woods such as fustic, log-wood, Brazil-wood, and more recently from the osage orange. The ground-up barks from cam-wood and ground red sanders are also quoted on the market, and are usually cheaper than the other dye-woods. Very recently a water-soluble mineral water-stain, that seems to be very permanent to light and does not oxidize on exposure, has appeared on the market. It is called Dakalite, deriving part of its name from North Dakota, where it is found, and the other portion from the word lignite because it is extracted in manufacture from slacked or weathered lignite coal. Several of the colors that are most used for furniture-finishing are now sold commercially, and these stains can be changed in color by mixing with acid coal-tar dyes to secure almost any shade or effect desired.
17. Advantages of Water-Stains.—The principal advantages of water-stains may be enumerated and discussed briefly, as follows:
1. Water-stains penetrate much more deeply into the wood than do either oil- or spirit-stains. The preliminary treatment for water-staining is sponging and resanding. Sponging opens up the fibers of the wood, and sanding removes the broken fragments of cell walls that have become matted into the cell cavities thru scraping and sanding. Water-stains enter very easily into the open pores of wood that has been sponged and resanded. Wood substance also seems to be more permeable to water than to other solvents used in making stains.
2. Water-stain powders are very soluble, especially in hot water. They generally are moderately soluble in cold water, but for deeper colors hot water is preferable. Some water-stains are improved by straining thru filter-paper or cloth having a fine mesh.
3. The dipping process can be used safely with watersi ains, whereas dipping in a spirit- or oil-stain is dangerous, and greatly increases the fire risk of a building. Many furniture factories have large vats filled with water-stains. Chairs, tables, and other articles are completely immersed in the liquid for a short time, and then removed and wiped in order to secure as even a tone as possible.
4. It is very easy to secure darker or lighter shades and tints with water-stains. For a lighter tone all that is necessary is to dilute the stain with water.For darker shades more powder may be added to the stain.
