Stain wicks under sealer

[Mike_B]

I'm having trouble with stain wicking and soaking under the sealer on 3 plates I just chip carved. I have tried an Olympic oil stain, an Olympic gel stain and a Minwax gel stain. The oil stain penetrated clear through the plate. The gel stains were not as bad but they still wicked out. Sanding will not remove the stain because it penetrated the wood through the chipped area and is under the sealer. Does anyone have a solution to my problem. Right now to save the plates I am painting them with acrylic paint.Head Bange

[papasar]

Mike,
I spray 3 coats of POLY and then use Minwax Gel on a small portion at a time. I wipe it off the surface quickly. This leaves slight color on the surface. This works well with antique maple, aged maple and honey oak. The darker stains show the leaching more. To prevent this I use Tung Oil. before I stain. It still allows the stain in the cuts without the leaching. Also seems to harden the wood which prevents breakouts with humidity changes.
Bill K.

[CarverRog]

When I stain my chip carvings I will spray a light coat of Deft lacquer over the entire piece before I even layout the pattern. I chip carve the piece, lightly sand or erase any marks then spray another light coat of Deft over the piece again. The last step is the staining with a gel stain. You will have to watch the gel stains because I have found that some say it is a gel but they will have to much liquid in them, that's what gives us chip carvers the problem. Good Luck!

[Mike_B]

Thanks Rog and Bill,

I am doing anniversery plates out of Bass wood and like the dark lettering that the stain makes, but was unhappy with the leaching.

I like both of these ideas and will try both which works best for me.

Rog I hadn't tried spaying the deft on after carving, becaues I was afraid of sealing the cut, but I can see where a light coat will still allow some penetration.

Bill, do you use Tung Oil or Tung Oil Finish?

[papasar]

Mike,
Tung Oil Finish by Minwax. Sorry bout that.
I also have sprayed Poly after carving and believe it or not, not much ends up in the cuts. This allows the stain to take. I was told it had to do with air pressure. Not quite sure.
Bill K.

[Mike_B]

I wound up spraying many coats of deft lacquer then used a gel stain . I'm finally happy as I had no leaching and the letters are nice and dark. I'll try a picture when it is complete.

Mike

[thompj1]

I am looking for a wood staining kit that has small amounts of various colored stains. I need something that will stain basswood quite pink (like a tongue for a carved bear).