Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site clyde.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!saf
From: saf@clyde.UUCP (Steve Falco)
Newsgroups: net.rec.wood
Subject: Re: glue and stain
Message-ID: <771@clyde.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Jan-85 08:31:24 EST
Article-I.D.: clyde.771
Posted: Thu Jan 24 08:31:24 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 25-Jan-85 05:22:05 EST
References: <112@rruxu.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany NJ
Lines: 43

> I have a construction question. After all components of a 
> piece of work have been cut out and fitted, is it better to
> stain each component before final assembly, or stain the whole
> thing at once?

An interesting question.  I much prefer to stain after assembly.  In the
first place, I generally need/want to do some final sanding to get the
joints perfect (I build guitars as well as furnature).  Staining first
wouldn't work.

I don't know that stained wood takes glue poorly but I expect it would
especially with an oily stain.  In any case, I don't know of any
factories which stain first.

A trick I have used successfully when I want to use a lot of glue (to be
sure I've got 100% coverage) yet can't afford "squeeze-out" is to apply
masking tape so that the wood surrounding the joint is protected.  Once
the items are clamped, the excess glue just peels off with the tape.

By the way, the thick, yellow carpenters glue tends to wash off "close
grain" woods like maple very well with warm water if you get to it
quickly.  Mahogany and other "deep grain" woods require a lot of water to
flush the glue out.  Better not to get it on the wood in the first
place.

There is one more factor.  You don't always need a penetrating stain.
If you are trying to enhance the grain, then a penetrating stain is
needed.  If, however, you just want a darker tone, you may be better off
sealing the wood first with a sanding sealer then staining over the
sealer.  This will prevent soaking in, which masks the sealing effect of
the "glue smears", and also causes end-grain to remain light (normally it
soaks up a bunch of stain and looks way too dark).

Two caveats:  1) if the stray glue is heavy, it will still show because it
wil be yellower than the sealer (and it may look like a "run"), and 2) the
stain must be "thicker" because there will be no penetration, hence you
need a darker, thicker stain coat to get the same color.

Bottom line: don't let the glue get on, wash off what does, sand off any
residue when dry.  You may still want to seal just the end grain for
more uniform color.

	Steve Falco