Can I Stain & Paint Wood Crafts?

Staining

• Wood stains are a way to let the beautiful grains of wood reveal themselves, but allow for coloring options, too. Some stains give the look of other types of wood than the type used for the craft item. Colors range from dark to light. Stains come in clear, gel coats, oak, maple, chestnut, mahogany, walnut and many other finishes. Like paint, you can find swatches to show the various options in wood stains.

Painting

• Visit a paint store and you'll soon see how many choices you have for finishing your wooden items. The pluses of using paint include the obvious one: You have every color of the rainbow available. Laying on a primer before the actual base and second coats will give your objects a smooth appearance and help them last longer. Avoid using toxic paints, especially on items made for or with children.

Other Options

• One of the most beautiful finishes for wood, especially the now-rare hardwoods, is oil. Oil finishes enhance the grain superbly. You can wipe or brush these on and periodically re-oil for a glistening finish. Varnishing is another finishing method for adding a shiny luster to woodwork. Several coats of varnish can appear as though the wood is encased in resin. An alternative to painting, staining, varnishing or oiling is to leave the wood completely raw looking. Sand out the roughness, but don't add anything else.

Tips

• When working with wood finishes, you'll be wise to follow a few precautions. Wear a mask and avoid inhaling fumes or fine sawdust. Provide plenty of ventilation and use tarps to prevent unwanted spills and messes. Gloves can prevent your hands from turning color or being exposed to anything harmful. You can find small brushes specifically for finishing small crafts, and small canisters or containers of the various types of finishes. Some modeling paints and finishes work very well.