It is a moderately long-lived hardwood with a light-colored wood, yellowish gray to light brown with yellow streaks.. Therefore, you’ll want to go with something that is easier to split. Test on a piece of scrap wood. Whether you need to stain just a few rooms in your house or you need to stain a whole office apartment, we have the capacity and the resources to get the job done in the shortest time possible. But most likely they *are* surface stains because Hackberry must be dried immediately to prevent that staining. Synthetic dye concentrates can be suspended in water or alcohol, and then sprayed onto the wood prior to using a pigmented wiping stain. Apply Sealant as Needed Applying a topcoat sealer is not required, but a finish protects the stained wood from scratches and keeps it from fading over time. Of the different wood and deck stains, oil based wood stain tends to seep into the wood pores without raising the grain. 1. Ultimately, you need to find a wood that won’t be too difficult to split. I presume this is why the original finish is a sprayed on finish. In fact, along the Mississippi River, s… Hackberry's water content begs for proper preparation to deliver the fire you deserve. Stain usually cannot be removed after application, so it’s better to apply thinner coats and add more as needed, rather than apply too much and have a darker color than you want. Many interior wood stains and deck stains are formulated with pigment or dye. Unless you have an electric or gas-powered splitter, you’re going to be using brute force. Apply Conditioner or Filler as Needed Sand Thoroughly Start with 120-grit sandpaper on refinished pieces. The stain is oxidation of starches and sugars (much like an apple turns brown if you take a bite and then set it on the table). Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Work your way to a final sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper (#220). Brush, pour or rub the oil on the wood, according the manufacturer’s directions. Use a rag or cloth instead of a sponge, which may absorb the stain. May contain black or blue mineral stain and/or spalting. To find all the stains you need to complete your project, save time with our The Home Depot Mobile app and shop over one million products online. The heartwood is commonly darker. This yellowish-gray to light-brown wood has grains that can be either straight or interlocked. ", The best way to stain wood is to prepare the wood surface by sanding it with a. Actually, there are four hackberry species in North America, all looking a lot the same. Please give me your thought's on the Hackberry wood? Gel stain is thicker, providing better control of the color. To get a good spalt take the logs and just skin the bark is several places along the log and around it. Forum Responses The stain on the Hackberry stocks is a dip & comes off readily.You'll wind up with a stripped stock that doesn't take walnut stain very well. Our Pearwood Wiping Stain is a thin orange to red color that allows much of the natural color and grain of the wood to show through. I believe this is the main reason that hackberry has no value, because it is pretty difficult to cut the trees down, mill them, and get them into a kiln in the same day. If it dries hard, paint thinner will loosen it. Will not contain soft rot, wane, cracks or pith. It is also known as the nettletree, sugarberry, beaverwood, northern hackberry, and American hackberry. Water-based wood stain tends to stain more evenly and be more environmentally friendly. It sands to a very smooth finish relatively easily and takes stain to adjust the color quite well. Does it help to use 3/4 x 3/4 stickers instead of 3/4 x 1 1/2? What I am looking for is a different type of wood to make the desk out of. (Sawing and Drying Forum) So, the spalting will be dormant. Do not seal the ends! This process is by far the most common finishing method in the wood industry. From contributor J: Apply the wood stain of your choice with a 3-inch nylon brush. Thank you for taking the time and viewing our website. How you apply the stain onto the wood — cross grain or with the grain — is less important than applying plenty of it. Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, Hackberry gets a green chemical stain if not sawn and put in a kiln without delay. I do not have personal experience with hackberry, but I did research it quite a bit. Exert firm pressure on the brush when applying the stain, moving your brush with and against the direction of the grain. With new wood, start with 80-grit and then treat it as if you're refinishing it. If the stain has dried too much, it will be difficult to remove. The hackberry I have air dried has a green stain under the surface when planing, and blotchy grain after you get through the stain. Some woods such as mahogany and oak have an open-grain structure that needs filling to provide a smooth finish. Put down drop cloths and take all other precautions when staining wood. Choose one to match the wood or stain color and apply with. Begin with a medium-grit sandpaper (#120). Find a shady place in the woods and pile them up loosely and on the ground. Whether using interior wood stains or exterior stains and sealers, mastering how to apply stain can give any old wood surface a whole new look. The color you see is called chemical stain and also is called enzymatic stain, oxidation stain, and enzymatic oxidation stain. If applying a polyurethane finish with a brush, apply one to two coats. If you don't raise the grain now, the stain will raise it later, but re-sanding to get the wood smooth again removes much of the stain. It is not fungal or bacterial. 2. After picking a good wood, the staining method is another vital. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Start with 120-grit sandpaper on refinished pieces. Wiping Stains. Thoroughly stir the wood stain before applying. When using exterior stains and sealers, try to schedule it for a time of mild temperatures and dry weather. Wet the Wood On the other end of the spectrum are the types of finishes I … The best way to stain wood is to prepare the wood surface by sanding it with a sanding block or orbital sander. For the purist, staining cherry is a big “no-no” (understatement!) I use a dark brown leather dye to stain, followed up w/ the stuff (can't remember the name) that gives it that reddish look. Spalting is the natural breakdown of the tree. Sand with 180-grit until you've removed all the marks left by the 120-grit and the surface appears level. As the name suggests, stain can leave permanent discolorations on whatever it touches. This is why you’ll want to choose to hackberry wood. ", Step 3: Hackberry grows best in the thick forests of the bottomlands. Loosen it by applying more stain and rubbing vigorously. Remove excess with a scraper and lightly sand after drying. Wiping stains are applied by spraying the stain onto the product and immediately wiping off the excess material with a rag. Tips for Staining Wood. Solid knots up to 1/4" are allowed. The blue stain you know is a fungal stain -- the fungus is blue in color. The common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) has the greatest range, but a southern hackberry, called sugarberry, produces the most commercial lumber. Cherry is a favored wood among furniture builders for its deep richness and for the color that only seems to improve with age. I’d treat the spalted wood accordingly. The wood planes and turn well and is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws, and stains … This two-step process may be used on all species of hardwoods, and will provide depth and uniformity of color that is unachievable in a one-step pigmented stain process. Sandpaper with a lower grit number will make wood rougher, allowing more stain to absorb and create a darker color. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Step 5 Cover the entire surface area of the wood in a generous coat of stain and then allow it to soak in for 45 minutes, before wiping up the excess. When you have removed imperfections and sanded the entire surface, wipe off the dust and loose sandpaper grit. Wood stains are coatings that protect the surface of furniture while promoting a dramatic look from the natural grain. These finishes are usually rather thick, but heating them makes them less syrupy and easier to apply. Tip: When learning how to stain furniture, remember that a chemical wood stain remover, used to manufacturer's instructions, can extract stain from places the sander can't reach. Contains less than 5% heartwood. Make sure you guys appreciate us and don't forget to Like, Share and Subscribe. and I can respect that point of view completely. Quality Standards for Hackberry. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. The rather unusual grain effect has made it popular for paneling and novelty furniture treatments. Size varies by less than 1%. An the sides and drawers and front will be made from Hackberry wood. Need Help? Follow manufacturer’s directions for the staining application instructions. How to Stain Wood Drying. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. The hackberry tree does not stand a chance with a name like this. It spalts fast and easy but can go south pretty quick. As long as the streaks are not just surface stain they won't disappear when you sand them. WORKING PROPERTIES. Surfaces planed to display wood grain. Be prepared for drying time to take at least a day. I sanded the stock lightly again with 220 grit to get back to a uniform starting point. Wiping stains are applied by spraying the stain onto the product and immediately wiping off the excess material with a rag. This process is by far the most common finishing method in the wood industry. The wood of the Hackberry … Stain a with a dark table with a light stain, it’s also not a smart thing to do. We have skilled professionals who are really good at what they do and they will see to it that your job is done to the highest professional standards. Splitting Hackberry Wood. Follow these steps to learn how to apply wood stain like a pro. It is commonly called enzymatic oxidation stain, or just "gray stain" in the sapwood of southern hardwoods. The Hackberry wood does not absorb or retain stain like any other wood that I have worked with. Give us a call today at 800-551-9450 for quality and reliable … ", Step 5: February 12, 2007, KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: Air Drying Lumber. Some softwoods like pine and some hardwoods, such as cherry, turn blotchy when stained. In this case, consider applying a pre-stain wood conditioner, which seeps into the wood fibers to seal the material and prevent the uneven absorption that causes blotching. In the United States, most cherry woods that are sold at fine wood suppliers are of the species known as American black cherry. The wood is very susceptible to blue staining before and after kiln-drying, and has irregular grain, occasionally straight but sometimes interlocked, with a fine, uniform texture. In fact its wood is not worth much, it makes an annoying mess if it stands over a vehicle or on a pathway. All Rights Reserved. The wood is very prone to staining if not handled and dried promptly, including prompt logging, sawing and stacking. Quote from a famous wood finishing guru, “100% of finishing … Some people have had great success with a steaming before drying treatment, but this may be covered by a patent. With all firewood, drying makes the difference between a sputtering fire and a quality flame. If you are short on time, look for fast-drying wood stain that is dry to the touch within an hour. Let the wood dry, then sand with 180- to 220-grit paper. Hackberry is quite likely to very quickly become discolored by fungal staining which often causes a bluish coloration, although other colors are possible depending on the species of fungi which attack, if the wood is not processed and dried immediately. Your project will require that your wood be dried down to ordinary cabinet lumber moisture content. Remove Excess Stain Some wood is more toxic than others. In fact, they are mixed and sold together. Question Hackberry is one species you don't want to air dry at all unless you like "denim" (blue) or also grey stain. The top will be a counter top. But the characteristics of each hackberry species remain the same. ", Step 4: Is Hackberry wood to soft for the sides and front of the desk? Learning how to apply wood stain provides an alternative to painting a piece of furniture while emphasizing its natural color and texture. Sand bare wood lightly To open the pores in preparation for staining. Stir and mix your stain thoroughly After the first coat is completely dry, smooth the surface with very fine sandpaper or steel wool and apply a second coat. We wish you Good Health. Why finish and stain wood: 1) To protect the wood from dirt . 2) Protect it from gaining moisture. Learning how to apply stain allows you to bring out wood's rich colors and textures. If you use a gel stain, you can apply it without needing a conditioner. Pricing/Availability: Not widely available outside its natural range, Hackberry is regularly harvested and … Like many wood species, cherry is naturally beautiful and it’s easy to make a compelling argument against staining it. Age your hackberry wood one year to get the best it has to give, Dried hackberry logs burn much better than freshly cut or unseasoned wood. ", Step 7: Wipe down the wood to raise the grain. Also having problems with sticker stain on ash. What is the procedure to eliminate this? Unless the natural wood is top-coated in its natural state or is painted, stain-and-varnish is the finish of choice for the vast majority of woodwork and woodworking projects. Indeed, hackberry is best dried if it is put into a kiln ASAP. If using a spray can, hold 8 to 12 inches from the surface and apply two or three light coats. Wipe all excess oil from the surface. Stain the Wood Wiping Stains. The structure of Hackberry resembles Elm. The Lord's Blessed us with a small part of His wonderful creation and has developed our talents and skills to provide quality craftsmanship for others to enjoy the beauty of His nature. Allergies/Toxicity: Hackberry has been reported to cause skin irritation. ", Step 2: Wood trim, wood cabinetry, and other woodworking projects usually receive a finish of wood stain followed by a protective coat of some kind of varnish. The Third time I used Minwax Red Mahogany #225 Stain. But it does have incredible value in the great scheme of things. This stain is controlled with a fungicide. Grain filler is a pigmented paste that comes in a variety of colors. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Best Exterior Wood Stains for Your Project, Types of Wood Stains and Finishes for Interior Use, Step 1: ", Step 6: Do not saw till after August. The fungi require high moisture content in the wood to be able to grow and be active. Celtis occidentalis, commonly known as the common hackberry, is a large deciduous tree native to North America. This guide will teach you the various methods on how to stain wood and wood-staining techniques. Spalted Hackberry. To prevent staining in hackberry, you need to get it into a kiln as soon after sawing as possible, preferably the same day that that the tree was cut down. 3) To enhance the color and grain of the wood and to bring out the natural beauty and enhance it with color. Drying is certainly the one “problem” that we have with hackberry. Other colors are available as well. We do not need to go pro like a real carpenter, but there are a few things that you should pay attention to when staining wood. When applying, the cloth should be wet but not dripping. Our Fruitwood Wiping Stain is a thin to gold color that allows much of the natural color and grain of the wood to show through.