stains to use water based vs oil vs gel

[sawmiller]

which kind of stain is best to use for the wood vgrooving technique of photo carve ?
i assume a dark stain such as walnut or cherry, but is there a advantage to water based stains other than cleanup ?
i am using red oak with a coat of poly over it before i cut, but i am seeing some bleeding along the grain.
dan

[Burchtree]

Hi Dan
You need to seal the cuts before you stain.
Dan

[sawmiller]

if i seal the cut, then what am i staining ? i'm obviously confused here.
dan

[RoutnAbout]

I think you'll be sealing the cuts so that when you stain it won't bleed through.

[Burchtree]

Hi Dan
You apply the stain and wipe off the face so that the stain is still in the grooves. Let that dry well and sand the face. Then apply a clear finish over the whole piece. Clear shellac works well because of its fast drying time.
Dan

[sawmiller]

so.. 2 coats of poly over the wood.
then cut and apply poly to prevent bleed ( thin coat so you dont lose resolution ? )
once thats dry , apply stain and wipe off.
once thats dry poly/shellac
ok, ill try it when i get time to do such
thanks
dan

[Burchtree]

Hi Dan
I would use clear shellac right from the start.
Dan

[Audiomanics]

In general, even with soft, open kinds of wood, i have pretty good experience with colored (transparent) laquers in spraycans. This dries so fast it doesn,t (almost not..) bleeds into the woodveines. After an hour or so, it's hardened enough to finish it off with sandpaper.. edges are always crisp and clean and the surface free of laquer.. After that you can finish it with everything you like (i use the kind that's normaly applied to floors: Glitsa red)

Kees

[CRFultz]

You can always try the "wax before shoe polish after" technique. Make sure your wood is super flat (surface it before you wax it). Apply the shoe polish with a fine brush and stroke with the veins, then wipe it down with a soft cloth. let it set for a spell then lightly sand and then clean and then clear coat.

[sawmiller]

hmm, 2 more techniqes to play with...
thanks
dan

[BobF]

grain filler. comes in neutral. fill the grain so you don't have the bleed.

[JIMM]

Dan... heres another technique you might want to try... stain the wood... I like water based Jell... then spay a couple of coats of laqure... when dry steel wool the high spots to remove the finish and then use either a darker or lighter stain to highlight the project. when done use a finish again... I like to use 0000 steel wool for the finial buffing.... it takes down the shine and adds to the overall look,

JIMM