The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
When wiping oil stains it is best to wipe uniformly each piece and about the same time after staining to insure a uniform shade over all the work. When wiping the last strokes with the pad should be with or parallel to the figure of the wood. Wiping across the grain will leave streaks at times, especially if the stain is too dry. Very little instruction is necessary to get a uniform shade with oil stain, as wiping over twice will often tone up a surface that appears too light.
APPLICATION OF SPIRIT STAINS
While spirit stains are of little use in the factory, except for shading, if quick drying is a factor, and sometimes it is, these stains can be used on any finish over which is applied a heavy coating of paste filler or oil varnish.
The drawback to these stains in the past has been the difficulty in brushing them on without streaks, for they dry faster than one can apply them on large surfaces. This has been overcome by using the spray gun. and a very even surface can be obtained in this way. With the proper adjustment of the nozzle and air pressure, very fine shading can be done over the filler and previous to the finish coats.
There is no way to slow up the drying time of this stain without diluting with water, and this is not satisfactory, as few of the spirit stains are soluble in both water and alcohol. Naphtha could be added to those spirit stains that are soluble in this solvent, but in every case of dilution the shade of the stain will change and sometimes ruin the formula. Brushing on a large scale is therefore out of the question. Dipping of the stains is impossible on account of runs drying at once when removed from the tank. Small surfaces that could be dipped would be better stained in a water or oil solution.
The only place where the brushing of spirit stain is important is in refinishing and information is given in Chapter IX on this point. Spirit stain must be brushed on fast and not touched again. Lay the brush on the surface and pass across quickly and proceed to cover the whole surface as fast as possible. Never cover a surface twice, but use a smaller brush to touch un skips. Do not wipe.
DIPPING STAIN'S
Factories making chairs, smokers, and many small pieces can dip these in tanks containing either water or oil stain solutions. The time they are allowed in the solution should be noted and always wiped when removed.
