Wood engraving refers to a letterpress printing and printmaking technique that has been used for many years. Today, business enterprises still rely on this method as a way of advertising and making their products known to the world. If you have chosen wood engraving for your firm's signage, it is important to protect it against elements of damage and corrosion. Water-based staining is a reliable and inexpensive way of doing this. If you want to use engraved wood for your business marketing needs, here are the important things you must know about using water-based stains:
The Benefits of Water-Based Stains
Water-based stains have a lot of to offer, and their efficiency depends on previous treatments used on the wood, kind of wood in question and exposure to various elements of weather. However, your engraved signage will benefit from the attributes of water-based stains. It will dry very fast and retain the intensity of the colour shade for a long period. To add on that, water-based stains are also sustainable because they do not exude harmful fumes or odours. They are perfectly breathable. Your signage will also be flame retardant because water-based stains are inflammable. This reduces risk in case of an emergency.
The Preparation of Your Signage
Prior to applying the water-based coating on your signage, you must know the preparation process involved for you to do quality work. Even if you hire someone else, keep an eye on the job to make sure that he or she delivers what you want. The process begins by cleaning the surface of the signage to remove grime, dust and residual oils. Leaving all these things on the signage will create a barrier between the wood and the stain. Degreasing agents, warm water and soap should be used to do the cleaning. After cleaning, sanding should follow so that the stain doesn't make the grain of the wood to swell. This often happens because wood absorbs water.
The Precautions You Should Take
Before you work on the signage, you must make sure that the stain is the precise colour you want. Once you start applying, there is no room for mistakes and going back. Ideally, you should test the colour of the stain on a small piece of wood and then let it dry for a few minutes. This will help you examine the intensity of the stain to avoid any mistakes with your signage. Even during application, keep checking the results to ensure that all parts are equally covered.
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