Fortunately, wood dye protects wood from rotting agents, such as termites, mold, and fungi. Making a small investment in wood dyes right from the start protects the wood from costly repairs in the future. For outdoor projects, wood dye prevents harmful UV rays from damaging the wood. The benefits of wood dyes are numerous and impressive.
Compared to paint, dye can be cheaper, easier to use and more durable, while allowing the natural look of the wood to shine through. With these advantages in mind, consumers should take some time to consider whether staining is the best option after finishing any outdoor wood project. In addition to some dyes that come with a polyurethane blend, or for example, with colored Danish oil, you will need to apply a top coat over the dye to protect the wood from damage caused by UV rays, scratches, spills, etc. It is essential to dye wood projects immediately and apply new layers with regularity to prevent rotting in the first case.
Therefore, it is important to remove, otherwise the stain on the top will look diluted and will be dramatically different from the stain on the bottom. You should sand after the first coat of water-based dye to flatten out any wood grain that raised water, but it's not necessary after that. Of the different dyes for wood and decking, oil-based wood dyes tend to seep into the pores of the wood without raising the grain. Some carpenters claim that brush-tinted conditioners are necessary when using brush dyes or rubbing with certain woods, but that gel stains are much less likely to stain and can be used without pre-stain conditioning.
In fact, I have a complete experiment post in which I compare wood conditioner with other methods for controlling stain absorption. But it's not the only way to dye softwood, and it bothers me that so many people pretend that wood conditioner is a must. Sanding to at least a 180 grit can clog pores in the wood and reduce stain absorption, resulting in a less stained appearance when staining softwoods. The most expensive boards still need to be sanded with 180-grit sandpaper to remove any manufacturing marks, as well as to slightly close the pores of the wood, helping the wood to stain evenly.
The number one disaster in wood finishing (I'm making it up, but it sounds good) comes from people who don't clean up excess stains. As with the dye you'll be applying soon, always work in the same direction as the wood grain when you apply wood conditioner. If this is your first time finishing wood, keep in mind that, without a little extra work, the final grain of the wood stains completely differently from the rest of the piece. On the other hand, the rag has only a little stain, which helps me control the amount of stain that the wood absorbs.
Learning to apply wood dyes offers an alternative to painting furniture and, at the same time, emphasizes its natural color and texture. Wood dye is popular for improving the look of outdoor wood projects, but it also has many other practical advantages.
