Clear finish can be applied over stain or directly to raw wood. It's an extra step, but it's always worth the time.
Once you have finished your staining you will need to apply a coat of clear, either varnish or polyurethane, without a coat of clear the stain will slowly be worn away with wear and tear.
Excessive working of the varnish on top of the stain will re-hydrate the stain and may result in the dragging of the colour or the colour becoming intermixed with the clear varnish. A way to avoid this is to use solvent-based stains under water-based varnishes or water-based stains under solvent-based varnishes.
Stain & Varnish adds rich colour to timber AND preserves the stain by protecting it with a highly durable clear finish. So you'll be able to place furniture on it etc.
Comments Section Generally speaking, it's always a good idea to seal after staining. The question really is what to seal it with, and that comes down to use. Polyurethane, lacquer, wax, etc. Polyurethane can be a good catch-all type finish. Its durable and fairly water resistant and pretty good for beginners.
Applying polyurethane on stained wood is a common practice to enhance durability, protection, and appearance. It provides a protective topcoat that seals in the stain and adds a glossy or satin finish, depending on preference. For more finishing tips and woodworking insights, explore my Quora Profile!
A Sealer is a mixture of oils and resins as well. However, it produces low viscosity as compared to varnish, which simply means that the sealer practically penetrates in to the wood to nourish and protect not only the outside but more importantly, the inside.
Antique Paste Varnish is oil-based, so 8 hours dry time between the stain and that varnish is the MINIMUM time that you need to allow. If the temperature is low, and you are not providing fresh air, the wait can be longer.
When a clear finish is applied to wood it invariably alters colour, usually becoming darker or perhaps more mellow in tone.
Sealing your wood isn't necessary, per se, but it does protect your investment. It prevents wood from becoming discolored or stained by liquids and from absorbing water. It can also provide a protective barrier against wear and tear. Sealed wood has a more finished and polished look that many property owners prefer.
Polyurethane works better on wooden surfaces that are indoors. While varnish is durable and inexpensive, it's best suited for softer woods. Polyurethane dries quicker and requires fewer coats but won't hold up in the outdoors. You'll need to use personal protective equipment when applying both products.
Polyurethane varnish is a synthetic varnish that offers the best of both worlds in terms of durability and clarity. It dries quickly, resists yellowing, and protects against moisture and wear.
How many coats of varnish should I apply? You can apply as many subsequent coats of wood varnish as you need, but an additional two or three coats is the standard. Remember to tip-off and gently sand between each coat.
Epoxy finishes provide the most protection of all outdoor finishes, creating a thick, plastic-like, water-impermeable barrier on the surface of the wood.
If you are looking for superior stain resistance, durability, and ease of use, then varnish is the right choice. However, if your project requires a higher level of moisture protection, or you simply want to color the wood without losing the natural grain, then stain is a better option.
If you apply a second, unnecessary coat of stain to wood that is already adequately covered, you risk creating a tacky surface that is prone to early peeling because the second coat is not penetrating the wood surface, but simply laying on top of the first coat of stain.
Varnish can prevent scratches and abrasions on table tops. As well as waterproofing the wood, varnish can also prevent wooden surfaces from getting scratched. Finishing wood with a product such as varnish, serves to protect wood from the little knocks and spills that are inevitable in a busy family home.
"As long as they are good quality, both oil and varnish provide reliable protection. Oil looks more natural than varnish, however, while matt varnish can have a very subtle effect and it can actually be hard to tell the difference between it and oil.
Do You Have to Sand Before Staining Wood? Wood needs to be sanded well before it can be stained. The process opens up the wood's pores to better absorb the stain. It also smoothes away scratches in the surface which will only be enhanced by stain.
Apply Sealant as Needed
Applying a topcoat sealer is not required, but a finish protects the stained wood from scratches and keeps it from fading over time. If applying a polyurethane wood finish with a brush, apply one to two coats.
Is a protective sealer/topcoat required after staining? Yes, all interior wood stains require a protective topcoat. How long do I let the stain dry before applying a topcoat? Let the stain dry for at least 12 hours before protecting the surface with a clear topcoat.
While it is similar to varnish in terms of application and appearance, polyurethane is generally harder and more abuse resistant, which means it is commonly used for sealing wood floors. It's less flexible than varnish, so it may not be the best choice to use on wood pieces that move or flex.
Using a spray varnish is just like using a colour primer, where you can line the models up and spray them all at once. The Brush-On varnish is a varnish in a dropper bottle you apply by hand. It obviously takes longer to apply varnish by hand than using a spray, but it gives you a greater degree of control.
If anything you would seal it before the varnish. Sanding sealer specifically is used as a kind of primer. It fills the pores of the wood and prevents the top coat from soaking in unevenly. But it's purely optional.