Through Boysen’s high-quality stains and varnishes, you’re sure to get a good finish for the wood surfaces in your home. Though, improper use of the products or missteps in the varnishing process can result in unwanted issues occurring. Here are common problems when using stains and varnishes.
DIY-ing your beloved wood items in your home is practical. But painting wood can be tricky, so arm yourself with this knowledge to ensure your #TeamKahoy home looks good.
Moisture Blushing
Working on wood in a humid country means you have to take steps in keeping your surfaces dry. Otherwise, you might encounter moisture blushing. Appearing as white clouding on a clear finish on wood, it’s actually a condensation of moisture trapped within the lacquer film.
Generally, you want to avoid working in humid conditions. You should also use Boysen Lacquer Flo which is designed to prevent moisture blushing. Use it by mixing it with the lacquer product of your choice. It slows down the drying process of the lacquer, which means moisture won’t get easily trapped. Check out this article on tips and tricks for using Boysen Lacquer Flo.
Try Boysen Lacquer Flo for Moisture Blushing on Wooden Surfaces
Tannin Stains
Brown-colored stains may appear when painting wood. These are tannin stains and are actually a natural defense of the wood (when it was still a tree) against bugs. Some woodmakers appreciate the natural look tannin gives, but others might not find it appealing to look at.
If you still want to use stains and clear coats to bring out the natural look, you can use Boysen Lacquer Sanding Sealer. It’s another product to prevent moisture blushing, as well as the spread of tannin stains.
Deadening
Also called Withering or Saddening, Deadening is the loss of luster or gloss when using a high-sheen varnish. There are many different ways to call this varnish problem, because the end-result really looks like the wood has become sad, withered, or dead. This is clearly not a finish you would want especially when working with Boysen Clear Gloss Lacquer.
There are different reasons why a varnish may not have the right gloss. Sometimes, it has something to do with the material itself. Other times, it has to do with not following the varnishing schedule properly. When undercoats have not dried properly, it might mix with finishing coats. This then affects the final sheen. As such, remember to always work in non-humid weather, and be patient when waiting for stains and varnishes to dry.
Yellowing and Cracking
Colored stains such as Boysen Oil Wood Stain or Boysen Xyladecor are designed to give a beautiful tone to natural wood materials, while still showing the well-loved grainy texture. Don’t get the two products confused, though! Oil Wood Stain can only be used for interior furnishings. Xyladecor is what you’re supposed to use for exterior woodworks.
That goes for varnishes that are also explicitly stated for interior use only. A rule of thumb is that lacquer-based are only for indoors. Use them outdoors and your varnishes would face paninilaw or yellowing, as well as cracking. I know bringing out your wood desk to your porch or backyard is a chic design choice. Just recoat it with varnishes that can be exposed to water and UV, so it can look good and be protected at the same time.
Avoid These Common Problems When Using Stains and Varnishes
It’s always worth mentioning again that a product can only be as good as how it is used. If you have struggles with DIY-ing your own wood projects, you can always leave them to the professionals. Still, at least now you’re more aware of common problems when using stains and varnishes.
If you still have questions about different paint problems, send us an email at [email protected] and our technical team will be happy to help. And subscribe to the blog to get more informative articles to help with your projects. Happy painting!
