Tips For Water-Based Stains and Finishes

If you haven’t noticed, there's a new kid shouldering his way amid the cans of stains and varnishes in home improvement centers today -- water-based.

Before you roll your eyes and swear you'll never give up your oil-based stains and polyurethane varnishes for your doors, floors, woodwork and cabinets (we'll leave our Arts & Crafts antiques out of this discussion), keep in mind people said the same thing sixty years ago -- about oil-based versus latex paint.

And when was the last time you bought a can of oil-based paint?

Keeping an open mind, then, lets consider for a moment the real possibility that water-based stains and finishes are the wave of the future, so we just might want to take advantage of the opportunity to try them.

Why use a water-based stain or finish?

They have no fumes, so you do not need special ventilation or to work outdoors. They dry in minutes rather than hours. Clean-up only requires soap and water. They have colors (blue, green, black, etc.) other than wood tone colors. Plus, they are better for the environment.

Here, then, are a few tips I would like to share with you.

1.) Always use a synthetic bristle brush (the darker brush in photo). The water will cause natural animal bristles to swell out of shape, ruining the brush.

2.) Water will cause natural wood to get slightly fuzzy, as the loose surface fibers absorb water in the stain or finish. Before either staining or finishing, first wet the wood with clear water. Let it dry, then sand a final time with #180-grit or #220-grit sandpaper to remove the fuzz once and for all.

3.) When staining, work on small sections to avoid lap marks. Water-based stains dry quickly and if you apply stain over a section that has already dried, you will get a darker color lap mark.

4.) Never use steel wool around water-based products. A strand of steel snagged on an edge will result in a rust stain under your water-based finish. Instead, use a synthetic sanding pad or sandpaper.

5.) Whereas oil-based finishes are slightly amber in color, water-based finishes are crystal clear. That's great, but it can make it difficult to see where you have applied your second coat of finish while you are working. The solution: always work facing a bright source of light.

I hope this helps!

Good Luck!

Bruce