There are several types of stains and dyes for us woodworkers to use on our projects. The basic difference between stains and dyes dictate how they must be treated when applying a sealer or a top coat over them.

Oil-based stains use pigments as the colorants and they use a "binder" which is usually a very thin varnish that will keep the pigments in place after the varnish has dried completely. Once dry, a sealer or top coat can be applied. The same goes for a latex-based stain if latex is the binder.

Dyes, on the other hand, have no binders in them and are dispersed with a carrier. The recommended carriers are: water for water-based dyes and alcohol for alcohol-based dyes. Acetone-based dyes can be dispersed in water, alcohol, acetone, mineral spirit or lacquer thinner. These dyes can be over-coated within minutes due to the rapid drying times of their individual carriers; however, water-based dyes should be given at least 8 hours of drying time to be sure all is good.

Alan can be reached directly via email c/o Alan Noel Furniture Refinishing at anoelfurniturere@bellsouth.net .

Visiting Atlanta? Attend one of Alan's upcoming highly informative Highland Woodworking wood finishing seminars:

February 8, 2020 Finishing 101
February 19, 2020 French Polish Workshop
March 18, 2020 Finishing the Finish
March 21, 2020 Finishing 101