How to Improve the Color of Water-Based Finishes

Although some water-based products have improved to the point where they appear comparable in color to traditional lacquer or shellac right out of the can, others still have a way to go. Some look a bit bland, and others suffer from a very slight bluish cast. If you happen to like everything about your finish except its color, consider toning the wood or the finish.

Tinting the Wood

Using shellac for a first, or sealer, coat will impart a warm glow to wood. It will also raise and stiffen the grain, making it easy to sand. Use fresh-mixed shellac that is dewaxed. You can also color the wood using dyes. A thin coat of a highly diluted water-soluble dye should give the wood just the right hint of color.

Coloring the Top Coat

In some cases, you may want to color the top coat itself. What you are actually doing is using the finish as a toner, which can be a bit tricky.

Pigments should be used in small amounts. You can use universal tinting colors (UTCs), which are available at paint stores, to alter the appearance of a clear finish. A small drop or two of an earthy tone like burnt umber or raw sienna goes a long way toward giving an otherwise bland finish a sense of color and warmth. However, pigments are opaque and may give the finish a dark, cloudy, or muddy appearance. If you use pigments to color a clear coat, use them sparingly and take great pains to apply the finish as evenly as possible.

Water-soluble dyes are preferred. A better alternative to pigments are water-soluble dyes. Dissolve a small amount of dye in water first and then add a few drops at a time to the finish until the color is right. Remember, water will thin the finish, so use it sparingly. Because dyes are transparent, they won’t give the finish a muddy look. Dyes, however, will not penetrate the resins; they really only color the liquid part of the finish, which will evaporate, leaving the dye in place. This can cause some blotching.

Alcohol dyes are the best way to tint finishes. Dyes that have been dissolved in alcohol will actually penetrate the resins in a finish and change their colors. The resulting finish is even in tone and uniform in color.