The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Coloring Finishing And Painting Wood
Spirit-Stains And Applying Stains
30. Characteristics of Spirit-Stains.—A number of years ago a few firms put lines of spirit-stains on the market, manufactured from various colors that are soluble in alcohol. At the present time the colors or dyes which are used are almost entirely spirit-soluble basic coal-tar dyes.
Spirit-stains dry very, very quickly, and do not penetrate deeply into the wood. It has been found that pure spirit-stains dry with such great rapidity that it is difficult to apply them evenly. Laps, streaks, and brush-marks are likely to disfigure any large surface stained with spiritstain. The trouble is due entirely to the rapid evaporation of the alcohol which is used as the solvent for the colors.
Spirit-stains are more expensive than water-stains, because the solvent, alcohol, costs much more than water.
Spirit-stains are sometimes used for quick work, especially for touching up spots and streaks, and in making repairs or renewing old finishes. The expert can occasionally use them to advantage, but the beginner always has trouble with them.
Another difficulty with spirit-stains is that they may "lift" with the filler-coat, or with the application of shellac which is a spirit-varnish cut with alcohol. Such stains are liable to mix with the shellac under the brush, and produce a muddy effect which spoils the transparency and beauty of the finish.
31. Mixed Spirit-Stains and Volatile Oil-Stains.—Some manufacturers of spirit-stains have changed their formulas, and do not use alcohol exclusively as a solvent. Turpentine and benzol are sometimes used as solvents or thinners in addition to alcohol, and these oils slow down the rapidity of drying of the spirit-stain. Benzol also causes the stainto penetrate more deeply than if alcohol alone is used. These stains can be thinned with either alcohol or turpentine, but turpentine is preferable on account of its slower evaporation.
Some of the best liquid stains on the market today are really a combination of volatile oil- and spirit-stains, and these mixtures are giving very satisfactory results tho they are rather expensive on account of the high cost of the solvents. Water is also sometimes used as a thinner for spiritstains, reducing the rapidity of drying to some extent.
32. Evaporation and Fire-Risk.—Spirit-stains cannot be left in open vats in factories on account of the rapid evaporation of the solvents used, and because this practice would increase the fire-risk. Such stains should be kept in tightly-closed glass bottles, if possible.
32. Method of Application.—More even tones and brilliant effects can usually be obtained from spirit-stains by wiping and spreading any excess of color soon after the dye is applied with a brush. The best results are usually secured (1) by working rapidly with a brush loaded with color, rather than with an almost dry brash; and (2) by evening up, by wiping before the stain has set or dried.
