Interior Water Based Poly Crystal Clear. For the best water-based interior wood stain sealer, there is ZAR® Interior Water Base Poly Crystal Clear. This non-yellowing and environmentally safe formula provides essential wood protection, whether it is stained or left natural.
What do I seal stained wood with? We recommend Polycrylic. Used water based with a water based stain underneath and oil based with an oil based stain.
After the stain has dried, it's time for the first finishing coat. Remember, you put the stain on unfinished wood, so you need to seal the stain to protect it.
Best for Indoor Furniture: Minwax Polycrylic
If you need to seal indoor wood furniture, go with Minwax Polycrylic. It's easy to apply, is low odor, and thanks to its water-based formula, dries clear. Polycrylic comes in five finishes, including gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte, and ultra-flat.
While staining creates a rich, deep color that highlights natural wood grain, it does not provide long-term protection. Without a protective top coat, wood can be damaged easily due to contact with water, food, or sharp objects. A polyurethane top coat protects the wood from scratches, stains and water damage.
Most stains should be sealed to prevent bleeding. After smoothing the stained wood, apply a sealer coat of thinned shellac, sanding sealer, or other appropriate sealer. Do not use shellac with NGR or water-base stains. If you plan to finish the piece with polyurethane, make sure the sealer is compatible.
So, it is highly recommended to seal right after staining. Adding a few sealer coats over the wood stain will close its pores, reducing the wood's ability to absorb moisture, protecting it from some ultraviolet light, and extending its lifespan.
Wait 24 hours before applying sealant. Oil-based wood stains have some advantages over water-based stains. If chemical fumes are not a concern, an oil base may be the right wood stain choice. They dry much more slowly, and slower dry rates allow a more even application.
Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane: Delivers clear protection to stained wood without altering the color. This is a good choice for surfaces treated with very light or white wood stain.
Which is better: polyurethane or polycrylic? Polyurethane is better for durability, but polycrylic is better for interior surfaces like cabinets, furniture, and trim. However, for light painted furniture and cabinets, polycyrlic is preferred because it doesn't yellow on the surface.
Best top coat for stained wood furniture
One of the most affordable and decent clear coat products is the Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish. This clear coat is a water-based formula that dries quickly and is fairly durable. The best top coat for stained wood furniture is General Finishes High Performance Top coat.
Polyurethane and shellac are clear coatings that are sometimes used to seal wood pores prior to coating. Sanding sealer is similar to polyurethane and shellac, with one major difference: zinc stearate additive. Zinc stearate is added to the sanding sealer to help it produce a higher, fuller build.
The sealant will (very, very slightly) darken the wood, but if you whitewash your piece it will help maintain the natural and original color. 4. Use a sponge brush to eliminate brush strokes, and apply the General Finishes Flat Out Flat topcoat.
Sanding sealer should be applied after the wood has been sanded down to a bare finish, but before the topcoat (such as paint). Sanding sealer is not recommended on stained surfaces because the sanding process will scuff away the stain.
You should sand after the first coat of water-based stain to flatten any wood grain the water raised, but it's unnecessary after that.
Two coats are generally better than one
If the deck has been properly cleaned, it should absorb the first of stain well in to the wood. By applying a second, light coat of material, you will fill up the cell structure of the wood (kind of like topping off the tank) and the project will last longer.
Sealant will sometimes have pigment that will color the wood when applied, but stain will always have pigment. Additionally, the levels of protection vary between the two products. Stain offers little to no moisture protection, while sealant offers tremendous moisture protection.
Add a Protective Coat
After the stain has dried and you like the result, apply a protective coat. Remember, the top coat should be the same as your pre-stain and stain – oil-based to oil-based, water-based to water-based. This example uses a clear coat polyurethane for the finishing coat.
Whether you're using water-based or oil-based stain, you need to allow sufficient time for drying before applying polyurethane, otherwise the stain and the poly will suffer. Wait at least 1-2 hours for water-based and at least 6-24 hours for oil-based.
As a general rule of thumb, you should apply at least two coats of polyurethane. If you are working on furniture or floors, you should apply at least three coats. You may even use spray paint for the wooden flooring. A water-based polyurethane could be applied for up four or five coats.
DURABILITY: If each product is applied properly using quality products, the difference in durability is indiscernible. A lot of clients think that water-based poly is not as durable as an oil-based poly, but a quality water-based poly will last just as long if it is well taken care of!
To properly answer your question of “Do you have to seal stained wood?”, the answer is no. However, if you want to protect your wood and give it a polished finish, it's smart to do so. It's worth taking the extra steps and applying a wood stain sealer.
Polycrylic is a water-based product that is far less smelly and toxic than either type of polyurethane, which makes it easier to work with. Though it dries very quickly, the downside is that it can take a long time to fully cure.
And polyurethane imparts an amber cast to any surface, whether it's raw wood or paint. On the other hand, if you have a project inside such as light-colored furniture or interior trim, polycrylic should be your pick. It doesn't smell as much as polyurethane, and best of all, it cleans up with soap and water.