How To Stain Carved Wood: A Step-By-Step Process
The final step of the manufacturing process of wood is wood finishing. It enhances the appearance of the wood, giving you the finish you desire. In this article, you’ll learn how to stain carved wood as well as the techniques to help you add life to your carving.
Adding Life to Carvings
Before discussing how to stain carved wood, one should know the benefits of doing so. The following are common benefits of staining wood:
- Protects the wood from dirt
- Protects it from gaining moisture
- Enhances the color and grain of the wood
- Brings out the natural beauty of the wood
Preparation
If you don’t want to waste time, you have to be prepared. Here are some tips to remember before learning how to stain carved wood:
- Use good quality sandpaper to get rid of blemishes.
- The normal high enough grit is 180.
- Round all edges, stains finishes.
- Do not bind to a square edge.
- Make sure sanding is uniform – no over or under sanding.
Staining Carved Wood
To demonstrate how to stain carved wood, let us imagine that we are using basswood in staining. After carving, remove any remaining chips, fibers, or dust with a stiff brush and lint-free clothing.
- Applying Base Coat – Using acrylic paint, create a colorful base coating on the wood. The mixture should be close to the original basswood color. Add drops of water to thin the mixture so it easily fills deep grooves and tight joint lines. Scrub one coat of the mixture onto the entire work using a large ox-hair brush. Please leave it to dry for half an hour. Apply a second coating when the first is dry. Allow the second coat to dry as well. Leave the streak coating to dry well.
- Applying Oil Stain – Mix one part burnt umber oil paint with half-part linseed oil in a small pan to create a stain. It should be thin but not too runny. Apply one coat of the mixture using a large soft staining brush then wipe it using a lint-free cloth. Moisten a clean cloth with turpentine. Wrap the cloth around one finger and rub it over the high areas of the carving. Leave to dry overnight.
- Roughing & Dry Brushing – Roughing is rubbing a thin layer of oil paint over a stained work. It is a great technique for color build up. Pick a few sections of your carved wood that you want brighter than the rest. Dry brush a coat of white just to these areas. Add the third coat after.
Investment You Can Make
Now that you already know how to stain carved wood, you also ought to know that an excellent quality woodcarving is an investment you certainly want to make. If this is something you plan to keep for a lifetime, you’ll want to have a decent budget to have that high-quality woodcarving.