When planning a staining project, it is always recommended that you trial the colours you plan to use on a similar piece of timber. Bright, light and limed colours are best applied to light timbers such as pine or plywood, although attractive results may be achieved on cedar.

The first task when selecting a wood stain colour is to identify the type of wood you will be staining. The natural colour of the wood will affect the final finish and different varieties and grades of wood will absorb the stain differently, so it is important that you consider this when choosing your colour.

Higher density wood and hardwoods, are very compact and dense and do not absorb liquids as readily as softer woods or less dense woods. As higher density woods and hardwoods will soak up less stain, you may need to select a darker stain or apply two coats to get your desired colour.

Grain orientation is also important when trying to achieve a uniform colour on a surface. Woods with parallel surface orientation are relatively smooth with long runs of grain and tend to be the least absorbent. Cross-grain surfaces are very porous and may turn a dark brown or almost black when stained because they absorb almost all of the stain colour. Some timber pretreatments such as oils and pressure treating may affect the wood's ability to accept the stain.

Basic notes before staining:
Waterborne Colorwood interior wood stain is not a protective coating and needs to be protected with a polyurethane, varnish clear topcoat or wax. Stains left uncoated have no resistance to marks such as watermarks or coffee cup stains.

The stain colour is also affected by the gloss level of the product you choose to topcoat your stain. A clear gloss polyurethane (e.g. Resene Qristal Poly-Gloss) will make the colour appear more vibrant than a clear flat polyurethane (e.g. Resene Qristal Poly-Flat). If a waxy finish is desired then a flat polyurethane is recommended. See the section on topcoats for more information and check out the sample box at your Resene ColorShop.

Waterborne Colorwood standard colours are inter-mixable allowing you to achieve a wide range of colours and effects. Even with 32 unique colours there will come a time when a pre-mixed colour isn't right for your scheme. No problem! Choose a colour that is close to what you wish to end up with. Carefully add the colour that is lacking until you achieve just the right hue. Make sure you intermix enough to complete your project. Or, if the colour you desire is not included in the sample range, you can intermix two or more existing colours at the project site until you achieve the desired colour. Resene can also provide colour matches to most existing samples.

Resene Waterborne Colorwood Reducing Base can be used to soften or stretch a full strength colour. If you like a particular colour but it is just too intense, add Waterborne Colorwood Reducing Base, which will soften the hue without losing the character and body of the undiluted stain. Waterborne Colorwood Reducing Base is also perfect on dark timbers to enhance the grain and appearance of the timber, without making the timber appear even darker.

Test your chosen colours on a representative piece of wood to confirm your colour choices. All Resene Colorwood standard colours are available in testpots to make trialling your chosen colours easy. Always ensure you have enough product to complete the job before commencing as some batch to batch variations may occur.

Before staining, we recommend the following surface preparation:

• Ensure the timber is thoroughly dry.
• If the surface has been previously varnished/painted it is important that this has been thoroughly stripped and any traces of stripper and/or old coating have been removed before staining. Any remaining coating will cause inconsistencies.
• The substrate should be lightly sanded with p240 - p400 wet and dry sandpaper to ensure an even acceptance of the stain. Always sand in the direction of the grain because sanding causes tiny grooves in the wood. The stain will be absorbed into these grooves and will highlight their appearance.
• Remove all sanding dusts with a soft dust brush, tack cloth or lintfree cloth. Check the timber carefully before proceeding because any imperfection in the wood will be highlighted by the stain.
• Stir the contents thoroughly before and during use. If the pigment begins to settle, you will get a lighter colour at the start and a darker colour as you get closer to the bottom of the container.

Application (one colour):

• On flat areas, Resene Waterborne Colorwood is best applied in smooth, long, thin even coats with a speedbrush, keeping a wet edge to prevent lap marks
• Rinse the speedbrush in water prior to use to remove any loose fibres
• Dry the speedbrush thoroughly before applying the stain
• Do not allow puddles or runs to form as they will dry darker. Wipe off the excess and allow it to thoroughly dry before application of subsequent coats
• If you need to apply additional coats of stain, be sure to do so before sealing the wood
• If you do not have a speedbrush, Waterborne Colorwood can be successfully applied by brush
• The stain may also be applied with a soft and clean lint-free cloth in a thin and even coat
• Wipe off the excess and allow it to thoroughly dry before application of subsequent coats
• If you need to apply additional coats of stain, be sure to do so before sealing the wood
• The stain should be applied along the grain of the timber, or if applying to MDF it should be applied in one direction as evenly as possible. This direction could be altered in subsequent coats on random pattern timbers
• Ensure particle board is sealed prior to the application of polyurethane topcoats to avoid damage to the particle board surface
• Any areas of thick or patchy stain should be wiped off before the product dries with a soft lint-free cloth.
  The colour will get stronger with each subsequent coat or the longer you leave the stain before wiping off the excess
• Application of too many coats will lessen the transparency of the stain. If a darker colour is required, get a darker colour tinted, rather than trying to apply too many coats of a lighter colour
• Cleanup after using Waterborne Colorwood is as easy as its application. Most colours will wash off using just soap and water, providing the stain has not cured

Application (two tone effects):

• Waterborne Colorwood stains can be layered to produce exciting and unique effects
• First apply a base colour of Waterborne Colorwood stain and wipe off any excess. Immediately feather on a second colour and wipe down carefully
• Allow the stain to dry completely and then apply your protective topcoat
• You can achieve subtle yet exciting colours using this technique
• If you're looking for a more dramatic multi-tone effect, let each colour dry before applying the second or third colour
• Remember to try it on an offcut of timber first
• Here's a few ideas to help you create your own two tone effects
• Apply the first coat as per one colour instructions. Usually only one coat is necessary, two if desired
• Allow to thoroughly dry before the application of the second coat

Depending on the desired finish the second coat can be applied in a number of ways.

Suggestion 1:

• Apply the second colour in a light patchy manner with the edge of the speedbrush along the grain for a patchy aged look
• Allow to thoroughly dry and lightly sand in a random manner along the grain using p400 wet and dry sandpaper (dry)

Suggestion 2:

• Apply the second colour in the manner of the first coat, thinly and evenly
• This will allow the base colour to show through and the two colours will combine to create a unique, complex colour
• This works well with two colours close to each other - e.g. Red with orange topcoat, pink with orange topcoat, red with pink topcoat, blue with green topcoat, purple with aubergine topcoat
• The effect can also be enhanced by slightly thinning the topcoat by wetting the speedbrush first (shake off excess water)

Suggestion 3:

• Apply the second colour in the manner of the first coat. Allow to dry
• Very lightly sand through the top layer to reveal the colour of the base layer in a random manner along the grain with p400 wet and dry sandpaper (dry)
• This will give a distressed look, and in some places you may like to sand right back to reveal some unstained timber

Suggestion 4:

• Apply second colour in a thick coat
• While still wet, drag off some of the topcoat with the plastic edge of the speedbrush, or a blunt instrument
• Drag the top layer off in a random grain effect and allow to dry
• This process may require a second application of the topcoat in a similar manner. Again, drag off some of the top layer in a random grain like manner
• This method works particularly well with a black base and coloured topcoat, such as red or any two contrasting colours.

Many effects can be produced using Resene Waterborne Colorwood.

Some additional ideas for two tone effects you may like to experiment with are:

• Limed white over any limed colour
• Limed white over any bright colour
• Light wood colour over darker wood colour

The options are endless so try out our suggestions or invent your own using Resene Waterborne Colorwood testpots.

Two popular traditional stained effects you may wish to try are Distressing and Pickling.

Distressing
Create vintage, timeworn looks on new furniture using the Distressing technique. Apply Waterborne Colorwood and allow to completely dry. Remove the stain from selected areas, usually edges and corners, using p180 to p220 grit sandpaper. This allows the wood to show through the stain to simulate the wear and tear that normally happens from knocks and bumps and excess handling. Then seal the entire surface with three coats of polyurethane.

Pickling
To pickle a surface, simply apply one of the limed Waterborne Colorwood stains. If desired, apply a second coat of Waterborne Colorwood Rock Salt or Egg White and wipe off the excess leaving touches of white or cream limed stain behind to softer the base colour. The look you want to achieve is a soft subtle colour. Let the wood dry and then seal the entire surface with three coats of polyurethane.

Application of clear topcoats:
Leave the Waterborne Colorwood to dry for at least 24 hours before overcoating with Resene Qristal Polyurethanes and 48 hours if overcoating with Resene Aquaclear or Resene Polythane. Resene Polythane is the recommended topcoat for floors for maximum durability.

Please note that once a polyurethane sealer has dried the wood surface is sealed and will not absorb any more stain.

Products to try and the effects they give...

Resene Qristal Clear:
Resene Qristal Polyurethanes are ideal oil-based clears, however they may yellow over time. Where a harder wearing surface is required, use HD Polysatin, Polythane or a product from the Uracryl 400 Series. Resene Qristal Poly-Gloss: A high gloss (wet look) finish that will give vibrancy to the colour.

Resene Qristal Poly-Satin:
A semi-gloss/satin finish that will give a medium vibrancy to the colour. Poly-Satin will give a more natural appearance to the timber than Poly-Gloss, and will have less effect on the colour.

Resene Qristal Poly-Flat:
A natural flat finish that mimics a waxed surface. Poly-Flat has the least effect on colour and is the ideal finish for recycled, aged or imperfect timbers. Also ideal for topcoating limed colours or Waterborne Colorwood Effects for an aged look.

Resene Aquaclear:
A waterborne varnish ideal for use when a fast drying low odour finish is required. Easy to apply and clean up. Where a more abrasion resistant finish is required, use Resene Polythane or a product from the Resene Uracryl range. Resene Aquaclear is an Environmental Choice approved product available in satin, semi-gloss and gloss finishes.

Resene Uracryl 402 (semi-gloss), 403 (high gloss):
Resene Uracryl is a unique high performance two component finish coat with excellent resistance to abrasion, moisture, petroleum solvents, mineral and vegetable oil. Uracryl is a system unsurpassed for durability and colour retention. It will not yellow over time like oil-based polyurethanes will tend to do. For this reason Uracryl is recommended where a durable topcoat is required over light, bright or limed Waterborne Colorwood stains (e.g. floors).

Resene Polythane:
Resene Polythane is a single pack moisture cured polyurethane that is the optimum clear gloss finish for floors and hardwearing surfaces. It is recommended as a topcoat on dark or timber coloured stains as it may yellow over time. This yellowing can enhance timber coloured stains however for bright and light coloured stains use Uracryl 402 or 403 Clear.

Waxes:
A waxed topcoat is ideal for an aged or recycled timber look. Use Resene Qristal Poly-Flat to achieve a similar look with improved durability. It is recommended that the stain is sealed with one coat of Resene Qristal Poly-Flat prior to application of wax. Please note it is very difficult to later apply a polyurethane or varnish once any waxes have been applied - even after a long period of time.

Oils - Danska Teak Oil or Linseed Oil:
Oils are not recommended over Waterborne Colorwood because they will not penetrate the surface of the stain.

Remember...
As with any finishing project - regardless of the products you're using - always go through the entire finishing process using scraps from your project before you commit to a colour and final topcoat finish. This is particularly important when you experiment with tinting topcoats and mixing Waterborne Colorwood colours. Take a scrap piece from your project, sand it completely, apply Waterborne Colorwood, allow to dry thoroughly, and apply the topcoat of your choice. Once dry, inspect the final result, which will be a good representation of what your finished project will look like. Remember that both sanding and your choice of topcoat will affect the finished look of your project.