New Woodoc gel stain
Now you can have some fun with wood and Woodoc Gel Stain. Available in six bright colours and six traditional wood tints, Woodoc Gel Stain is so easy to use, and there are so many ways to use it.
In this project we transformed a very old pine table and chairs using Woodoc Gel Stain - African Mahogany - for a rich, warm colour.
HERE'S HOW:
1. The chairs had a padded vinyl cover stapled to the top of the seat, which was badly cracked. We removed this by gently prising the staples out of the wood with a small flat-head screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the wood too much.
2. Both the table and chairs were sanded with 80-grit sandpaper to remove all the old varnish. 80-grit sandpaper will also take away most of the scratches and dents that had accumulated over the years. It is best to use a random orbit sander for this process to avoid creating an uneven surface, especially for the table top. However, on the detailed areas on the chairs we used a multi-sander with a finger attachment.
3. This project is an ideal example of how varnish does little to protect wood. Once the layers of varnish were removed, the wood underneath was dry and brittle and covered with small cracks caused by the wood expanding and contracting, which ultimately cracked the varnish and allowed moisture into the wood, causing damage. The easiest way to fix up these cracks is to use Alcolin Wood Filler in a pre-mixed colour - Imbuia - to that of the final stain you will be applying.
DIY Tip:
Before applying wood filler, wipe the surface clean with mineral turpentine. This helps to 'moisturise' the wood and prevents the wood filler from drying out too fast and cracking.
4. Once the wood filler has dried, sand the surfaces again with 180-grit sandpaper to remove all traces of wood filler on the surface as this will spoil the finish. Re apply wood filler if there are still any visible dents or cracks and repeat this process.
5. Woodoc Gel Stain is extremely easy to apply. Squeeze a small amount of gel onto a clean, lint-free cloth and apply evenly to the surface - going with the grain. Any lap marks can be removed by applying more gel stain and lightly rubbing over the area. Leave this to dry and re-apply should you require a deeper or more intense colour.
6. Woodoc Gel Stain does not protect wood and you will now need to apply a clear Woodoc sealer. We used Woodoc 10 for this project.
7. Apply enough sealer with a brush to cover the surface of the wood. On any areas immediately absorb the sealer you can re-apply, especially end pieces. Once the sealer is dry to the touch, sand lightly with Woodoc steelwool. Apply two more coats, sanding after the second coat but not the third coat and leave to dry overnight.
visit www.Woodoc.com to see the full range of Woodoc products.