Safety issues

Staining wood has a few hazards that you need to be aware of. Most concerns are from using oil base stains.

• These products are flammable and rags soaked with stain can self combust. To avoid any unfortunate events put all used rags into a bucket filled with water. The rags can be put into the trash can on the scheduled pick-up day and hauled away.

• Another concern is fumes. Always supply good ventilation and never apply oil base products near open flames. This includes pilot lights and smoking.

• Keep these chemicals away from children. Stains are poisonous when in a liquid form.

• Prolonged exposure to the skin should be avoided. Use nitrile gloves and protective clothing.

20 A) Read the instruction how to make a clear finish varnish coat. But the phases are messed up. Arrange them into correct order:

After the stain has dried to the color you want, you are ready for the final step - the clear finish varnish coat. Follow these steps:

a) Test with your finger, to make sure the first coat of varnish is absolutely dry. Normally, drying takes about three days. Even the slightest suggestion of stickiness to the touch means you should let it alone for another day. Once you are positive that the drying out process is complete, rub the surface down lightly with 0000 steel wool and carefully wipe off the dust.

b) Apply the second coat. Again, let the varnish set for at least three days, then repeat the finger test. When you are certain it is absolutely dry, rub down with 0000 steel wool as before, but this time dip the steel wool in paste wax. After the wax has dried 10 or 15 minutes, buff with a soft cloth, and you will be amazed at the beautiful stain that results. If you have previously refinished furniture and did not achieve this professional look, try rubbing it down with steel wool and past wax. You should notice a tremendous improvement.

c) Soak your brush in the varnish for at least 1 hour before using. This is extremely important because most brush strokes that are visible after drying result from using a brush that has not been thoroughly saturated.

d) Do not clean your brush after the first application. Because you will be putting on a second coat in most cases, just dip the brush in the varnish until it is well saturated then wrap it tightly in plastic food wrap. This will keep it moist for several days so that it will be tip-top condition when you are ready for the next step.

e) Stroke varnish on as rapidly as possible. Refrain from going back and forth or brushing over an area after the varnish has started to dry. Use only a moderate amount of varnish, particularly if you live in a humid climate because a heavy coating will take forever to dry. In any event, it makes good sense to avoid undertaking varnishing projects during spells of heavy rain or very humid weather, unless you have air conditioning or a dehumidifier in the work area.

2. Talk about clear finish varnish coat.

21 Read the text. Make up a dialogue based on the text using the expressions from Appendix 1:

WHAT MAKES a WOOD STAIN “GREEN?”

“Waterborne wood stains are safer than oil-based versions,” according to William and Shari Steber, owners of Timber Pro Coatings, Portland, OR.  “Our stains are waterborne or made primarily from bio-preferred, plant-based oils and blended with a small percentage of acrylic to boost durability.”

Ever watched rain drops bead up on a flower petal? That’s the design Timber Pro Coatings tries to mimic. They use natural ingredients because they believe Mother Nature knows the best way to repel water absorption.

Manufacturing environmentally safe wood stains and finishes for 17 years, Timber Pro Coatings was one of the country’s first manufacturers of low toxicity wood stains. The Stebers are fully aware of industry greenwashing, and they make it a point to warn consumers about so-called green terms that are more about marketing than safety.

Shari Steber says, “The term non-toxic does not truly apply to wood stains, because non-toxic would mean you could practically drink or bathe in the product! We consider it dangerous to label a wood stain as non-toxic.”

How can you know you’re getting an eco-friendly stain? The best way is to ask to see the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on the product. Stores are required to keep a sheet on file for every coating product they sell.

The MSDS will also list the percentage of hazardous ingredients, which should be below 10%. Any wood stain or sealer marked flammable is most likely not eco-friendly. Ideally, clean up should involve only soap and water. The mineral spirits needed to clean your tools and equipment after using flammable oil based stains or sealers are certainly toxic.