What Is the Difference Between Wood Stain, Varnish and Lacquer?

Wood furnishings need a good finish

Protecting wood with a finish is important in presenting a lasting beauty to your furnishings, floor or outdoor items. Understanding the specific roles that wood stain, varnish and lacquer play before embarking on a project can aid in achieving a quality look.

Wood Stain

Wood stain can create different looks

Wood stain is a solvent made up of two basic ingredients. The pigment, or dye, is made up of fine particles of synthetic or natural compounds, very much like paint. These particles are suspended in thinned down varnish that allows the stain to bind to the wood's surface. Because pigments are not designed to penetrate wood cells, very little stain soaks beyond the surface. Wood stain requires a further coat of varnish or lacquer to seal.

Oil or Water-Based Stain

Wood stain is easily brushed over wood

There is a difference between oil and water-based stains, although both adhere to the surface. The depth of color differs in oil and water-based stains, as does the wood's grain pattern. Anytime water meets wood, there will be a slight rise of the grain. Water-based stains are easier to clean, and more environmentally friendly, because the solvent produces less fumes.

Varnish

Varnish protects a wood surface

Varnish is a common finish that makes wood moisture-, heat- and solvent-resistant. Made with resin, usually alkyd or polyurethane, varnish creates a hard surface. Specific oil types are added in order for the resin to cure when exposed to air. This oil is usually made up of linseed oil, soybean oil or tung oil. Varnish will protect bare wood or wood that has been stained.

Lacquer

Lacquer is normally sprayed on

Lacquer is different from varnish, both in its components and also in the way that it lies on wood. Lacquer mostly consists of a quick-drying resin that is created out of cotton and other celluloid materials, known as nitrocellulose. Unlike varnish, lacquer will melt into the previous layer, providing a very hard yet flexible finish. It is often sprayed on wood because of the fast drying quality, but not all wood is easily treatable with this type of method. Lacquer is manufactured in a few colors, such as bright white, beige, black and blue, and creates a thickly painted surface.

Selecting wood stain, varnish or lacquer

Different wood uses different methods

Wood stain is appropriate for creating the look of various shades and types of wood, but the varnish in wood stain will not hold up to much wear without a further coat of water- or oil-based varnish. Lacquer provides a nice sheen that can be buffed to a glorious shine on wood and metal, but spraying is the preferred application. Even spraying is much more difficult to apply than brushing.

References

• Wood Stain in a Nutshell
• What is Varnish
• Lacquer Cabinets