Popular Woodworking 2009-08 № 177, страница 58

- Flexner on Finishing -

BY BOB FLEXNER

Wipe, Don't Brush

Wiping is the efficient way to apply stain.

I he purpose of this article is to emphasize what I've said in passing many times in this column: It's much more efficient to wipe stain onto wood with a rag than to brush it.

Wipingisfast,alinostasfasta5spraying (without the downside of having to clean t he spray gun). Wiping is also every bit as effective in all situations except possibly into recessessuch as inside corners, [luting, deep carvings and the like.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against brush i ng sta i ns. 1 just don't see why anyone would do it, especially on large surfaces, and even more especially, when using any slain other than a slow dryingoil-based stain. All other stains, including waler-based, lacquer and all the dye stains, dry too rapidly to allow time lo bolh brush on and get wiped off of large surfaces before the stain begins drying.

The Basics

The basic rule forgeltinggood results with any stain is to applya wet coal and wipe off lhe excess before it dries.

You can use any tool - rag, brush, paint pad, rol I er or spray gu n - to apply t he sta i n. You can even dip the object into stain or pour I he stain on to the wood and spread it around. It'sonly important that you wipe off all the excess before the stain dries.

If you let the stain begin to dry in spots before wiping off, you will get a type of blotching that is different from the blotching caused by uneven densities in woods such as pine, cherry and birch. You'll get a blotching caused by thickdryspotsof stain next lo cleanareas where theslill-welslain wipes off easily.

If you're brushing one ofthe fast drying stains, not only might you cause blotching

66 ■ Popular Woodworking August 2009

Wiping on. The most efficient method of applying stain is to wipe it on using a soaking-wet cloth. Notice on this stereo cabinet, which was made without a back, I'm not having any problem getting the stain into the inside corners.

when you wipe off the excess, you may get lap marks caused by brushing more stain overstain that has dried.

Brushing is t he slowest method o fapply-ingstain. So not only might you get blotching or lap marks, you're also wasting time.

It's more efficient to wipe stain than lo

brush it, and you're less likely to have color problems.

The Exception

There isoneexception, however. Brushing can be more efficient for getting stain into inside corners and other recessed areas.

PHOTOSBtfThlE AUTHOR