The other big benefit is that sanding closes up the pores of the plywood, which results in a more even stain application. Always sand before applying stain! Wood conditioner dilutes the stain, helping the plywood absorb it evenly. Pine and birch plywoods are known for absorbing stain unevenly. Wood conditioner might be beneficial in these situations, but there are also other options you could use to control stain absorption. Sanding carefully, as discussed above with grit sandpaper narrows pores in the wood.
Applying stain with a rag instead of with a foam brush allows for less stain to absorb into the wood, reducing blotchiness. And gel stain is a thicker stain that is intended for the exact purpose of staining blotchy woods and plywoods. Regardless of what method or combination of methods you choose, I recommend testing them on some scrap plywood before applying them to your main piece. Test your stain on some scrap wood before you start! That way, you can make adjustments to your process before accidently ruining your project.
Often times, I test multiple shades of stain to make sure I get the exact shade I want. Frequently, my test pieces have different tests on them, purely because I want to see all of my different options. I also usually test the finishes as well, because stain always looks different after finish is applied, and I want to know what the final product would look like. There are three primary types of stain easily accessible to consumers: traditional oil-based wood stain, gel stain, and water-based stain.
Traditional oil-based wood stain penetrates easily, and leaves a deep color on the plywood. However, traditional oil-based wood stain can appear blotchy on plywoods like pine and birch. There are ways to mitigate this, which I discuss later in the article, but one option is to purchase a different type of stain. Birch plywood has the bonus of being widely available both geographically and seasonally. Birchwood will always come with a nice, smooth, and even finish, setting them apart from other types of wood like pine.
Plywood, by definition, is a combination of several layers of birch. This gives added strength and stability, making it perfect for structural applications. It also tends to have a very high impact resistance , great for use in objects which might take the occasional bump. This combination of layers also prevents the formation of knots and jagged edges and is more splinter-resistant. The sandwiching of the birch layers together results in a product with a solid core, not only increasing its durability but also making it more resistant to shrinkage.
On top of all the direct benefits to consumers, birch is also a renewable resource that grows natively in many areas, particularly the Baltic regions. It is abundant and grows rapidly, therefore not having issues with deforestation that other woods suffer from. One of the downsides to doing wood staining with birch plywood is that the wood tends to absorb the staining liquid very deeply and quickly. This will result in blotching, making it seem like birch plywood is impossible to stain evenly.
Birch plywood is also not known for an intricate grain pattern, so compared to other more intricate woods, it may come across as plain or even dull compared to other more intricate woods. Interestingly, birch plywood is not great for exterior uses despite it being classified as hardwood. It tends to do poorly around excessive moisture, even the laminated versions. If you intend to use it outdoors, keep it sheltered from excessive rainfall or snowfall. Some success can be achieved using wood treatment, like marine varnish, but this is not a substitute for choosing a hardy outdoor wood , such as red cedar, redwood, or cypress.
Within birch plywood, there are many different varieties with different properties. There is no major issue with veneer types, but the stronger types of birch plywood will often be referred to as Baltic birch plywood. Of course, this Baltic birch plywood product will be more expensive but brings with it more of the qualities of birch plywood in a higher quality.
Most of us build furniture and structures in and around our homes, offices, or just about anywhere using plywood. We also know how unappealing the unfinished edges of plywood can be.
It is Paint is easy to see how it will look, but wood stain can be a lot more difficult to picture. Wood stains look completely different on different types of wood, and even on different parts of the same sheet of plywood.
But, seeing samples can make it easier to imagine how the color might look on your piece of furniture or other wood project. So, we decided to test ten wood stains on birch plywood so you can see how your project might look with each of these finishes! Check out our favorites and be sure to keep scrolling for my top tips for how to stain plywood perfectly. For a nice light wood finish on plywood, I love Weathered Oak.
It add just a touch of warmth and enough color to make the wood grain pop. For a dark stain, I love Early American on plywood. This is a rich chocolate brown color. Dark colors tend to get more splotchy, so applying a pre stain helps to prevent that. This is a great chocolate brown stain option that instantly makes plywood feel more expensive and finished! If you want a gray look, I love Sun Bleached. This color is a little more opaque, so you see less grain through it, but it has a really nice warm gray tone to it.
Before you get too far into the process of staining Baltic birch plywood, you need to ensure that you will be happy with the end result. Keep those little scrap pieces of wood that you have leftover from your last building project.
You will want some of these pieces to test your stains and finishes on before you start applying the product to your final project. Take your test board and sample the colors you have selected to give you an idea of what they will really look like.
If you think that you may want to do multiple coats, be sure to test that out too. However, you may decide that you need four to five coats to achieve your desired level of darkness.
In this case, you should consider buying a darker can of stain to save yourself some time. Keep in mind that the darker you go, the less you will be able to see the wood grain shine through. This is a bonus for some people who prefer an opaquer stain, but others may be upset that this grain is hidden from view.
What kind of stain do you use to color your birch plywood? There are so many different varieties on the market today that you should educate yourself on the possibilities prior to making a purchase.
While you can ultimately use any type of stain on birch, a water-based stain tends to be the best choice. You have a couple of different options for how to apply a water-based stain. The first is to use a paintbrush to apply the stain in even strokes along the grain of the wood.
Using an old lint-free rag such as a cut-up t-shirt, wipe up stain that may pool in small areas. Try to get the color to coat the wood as evenly as possible by blending difficult areas together. The second option is to rag the stain onto the wood. Using a lint-free rag, dip it into the can of stain and begin applying it to the wood. You must work quickly with this method to avoid having it dry with a blotchy finish. If you want to go with a darker color, gel stain on birch plywood is another option.
These dark stains may come out blotchy without a conditioner applied to the wood beforehand, but many of them do not require this step. Be sure to test your stain on a piece of scrap wood before committing to the entire project with this product. Even though you tried your very best, there is still a possibility that you will encounter splotchy areas on your latest project. You applied the pre-conditioner, brushed on the finish smoothly, and wiped up all the pooling spots.
Sometimes, you simply cannot account for the blotchiness that comes when staining birch plywood.
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