Staining wood is something many people do as it protects the wood’s grains. If you haven’t dyed it yet, you should do it immediately to give your wood’s surface a natural color. Staining your wood will help it bring out a more appealing color, adding more to the aesthetic.
Also, the more you stain your wood, the more you can protect it from water and other absorbents. Hence, staining your wood will help you have a more durable piece of wood. If your woodblock absorbs too much moisture, it’ll eventually rot away. So, we suggest you start staining your wood if you haven’t already.
Below is a list of all the best wood types perfect for dark staining.
Types of Wood Stain
Wood stains can be beneficial if you use them for the right reasons. Since you’re interested enough to maintain your wood by staining it, you should also know the different types of wood stains that will benefit your piece of wood. Let’s explore each wood stain separately and see what benefits it might bring to your wood.
Oil-Based Wood Stain
Oil-based stains are pretty strong and help protect your wood from any damage. Such stains tend to get deep into the piece of wood and can be used on hardwood and softwood. However, you should know about oil-based wood stains because they’re yellow, so only stain your wood with this stain type if you’re all right with the yellow effect.
Water-Based Wood Stain
These stains are the easiest to clean. All you need is water and soap to clean a water-based paint properly. However, water-based stains may look forgiving, but it can take a few days for the color to disappear completely. So, it’s better not to have any unrealistic expectations when adding water based on your piece of wood.
Gel Stain
If you have a piece of wood such as maple, cherry, or walnut, it’ll be best to use gel stains to stain your wood. Gel stains have a far greater consistency than water-based stains, and they also penetrate deeper into the wood grains. Using gel stains will benefit you plenty as your piece of wood will have a more enhanced color.
Lacquer Wood Stain
Many professional carpenters use lacquer staining for their wood to provide a more refined finish. Lacquer finishing is commonly used in worldwide industries precisely for this reason alone. Also, lacquer stains are durable, lasting on your wood longer than other stains. Using this stain type will help you as it comes in almost all colors.
Water-Soluble Dye Stain
You can use water-soluble dye stains to develop more color if you want your wood. Use a water-soluble dye stain if you don’t want your wood’s primary brown color. Also, such stains are easy to use as you don’t need any heavy equipment to apply them. Water-soluble dye stains easily penetrate the surface of the wood, preventing any blotches.
The 5 Best Woods for Dark Staining
Since you know everything about wood staining and the types of wood stains, you should also know the best wood for dark staining. If you’re beginning to make something from wood, it’s better to know different wood types and their properties. Below is a list of all wood types that allow dark staining ideally.
Chestnut
Chestnut is one of the best pieces of wood for dark staining. It comes in a rich brown color that will automatically darken when placed under UV light. Many people stain their chestnut wood as it looks beautiful after being stained with other darker colors.
You can make it look darker than its initial color by adding the right stain type. Chestnut, generally, is a solid and durable piece of wood. So, if you have something made from chestnut, you’ve invested in a solid wood type.
Hickory
Hickory is considered a woodworker’s favorite wood due to its easy to work with qualities. If you want a sturdy woodblock that lasts longer, then you must get something made from hickory. It’s also known as a timeless wood piece due to the appeal it brings.
If you want to darken it by adding richer colors, you’ll have to stain it thoroughly. Overall, hickory is used to make numerous furniture pieces as it’s one of the most substantial pieces of wood you’ll find. If you bought some hickory, you’ve got a decent chunk of wood.
Ash
Ash is one of the most used wood types people use to build their furniture. It has stunning wood grains that make the finished products look even more attractive. Apart from that, ash is one of those few wood types perfect for staining.
This is because it works well with any stain color, so you aren’t restricted to one specific color, nor do you have to settle for a color you don’t like. However, you must know that when the stain from your ash wood dries out, you might have wood that looks too bright and out of place.
White Oak
White oak isn’t the most used wood type for staining because it takes a long time to stain. White oak has severely tight pores, preventing the stains from penetrating inside. You’ll need plenty of coats to stain this wood type successfully.
If you have the patience to wait for your white oak to stain, by all means, get it. Also, white oak may be challenging to stain, but it gives excellent results when it’s done staining. People mainly invest in white oak, as the staining result is pretty satisfactory.
Red Oak
Red oak is similar to white oak in many aspects, but it’s easier to stain. Red oak doesn’t come with excessively tight pores, allowing the stain to pass through easily.
It’s more absorbent than white oak, so we suggest if you have to get something from the oak family, get red oak. Red oak has a pinkish to dark red color that will make anything you make pop like nothing else. If you have a thing for red and pink tones, red oak is undoubtedly for you.
