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Jimbo Staining
September 3rd, 2004 12:42 AM
I'm in the fianl stages of making a small tile (insert) table. I thought the wood I was using was maple, but i've just learned that it is beech. Does this wood require a filler before staining? Any suggestions are welcome.
Adam Staining Beech
January 23rd, 2005 02:45 AM
Beech is a close grained wood that has been used for years in wood bodied tools.
It has wear resistance qualities of maple. But, is much easier to cut than Maple.
Its tight grain makes filling (with porous Red Oak) unnecessary. I don't believe you're going to need any Shellac surface sealing that a wood like Birch require for even color.
Stain will react with your wood differently depending on the stains chemical characteristics. Is the stain you're using a pigmented or surface penetrating type. Is the stain oil or water based.
If you're using a penetrating oil like Watco, watch your rags! Houses have burned down because of the spontaneous combustion characteristics of Watco oil and improper storage/disposal of soaked rags. If in doubt, look for a big warning label on the can of what ever chemical you're using.
If the stain is water-based/cleanup watch for the inevitable raising the grain of the wood. After application you will need to sand off the "fuzz" with fine sandpaper.
If the species of Beech you're using is already naturally colored away from your desired final color (ie. Red Oak with a white or lime finish) you may want to look into bleaching the color out of your Beech before staining it. You can get some marvelously subtle light colors this way in an otherwise impossible precolored wood.
The time tested "try this on a test piece/place first" is key for your project. Any wood is available in multiple number of species. Each species has a difference working characteristic. Get to know your project's Beech stain handling properties on small test pieces.
I keep 3 x 5 sized pieces of 1/4 inch thick wood colored and finished in different ways for referance. The processes and chemicals used are listed on back of each sample.
I hope you don't have a headache. The test pieces will make the above nice and low pressure.
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