Interior wood stain can be used on exterior wood projects, but it is not suitable for indoor use due to its low VOC (0.30 to 7.99) and potential harmful chemicals. To extend the life of the stain, apply a clear sealer over top with a brush or rag. For outdoor furniture, use a UV-resistant and waterproof finish to protect it from the sun, rain, and snow.
Using indoor wood outside can cause warping, disintegration, or moisture damage from inclement weather. Standard furniture uses interior glues and finishes suitable for climate, but transforming an indoor furniture piece into an outdoor one requires careful planning to prevent damage from temperature changes or moisture. There are three ways to waterproof your wood: use linseed or Tung oil to create a protective hand-rubbed finish, seal the wood with a coating of oil, and use an exterior finish indoors.
Exterior wood stain is designed for outdoor use, but it is still perfectly fine to use on indoor wood. Outdoor topcoats are formulated to add UV inhibitors and are more flexible. One solution is to let the manufacturer sand down top panels and use the new outdoor stain, but only use oil or sealer on the sides/back panels. However, some manufacturers may contain chemicals that are not safe to breathe indoors, even after it dries.
It is important to note that exterior wood stain may have chemicals that are not safe to be breathed indoors, even after it dries. It is recommended to use exterior wood stain inside your home with Olympic’s expert advice to understand the considerations and benefits of this approach.
📹 The only finish woodworkers need
Ever wonder if one finish is truly the best? The wrong finish can ruin any woodworking project you’ve spent hours on.
📹 Wood Finishes – A Quick Guide – Varnish / Stain / Oil / Wax / Lacquer / Polyurethane / Shellac
A quick guide to wood finishes – what to use, and when to use them. In this video I cover stain / dye, oil, varnish, shellac, …
Good info. I’ve used all of these and a few more except for the hard wax oils. Time and expense were the immediate deterrents on those. I even tried a brush on lacquer that specifically said “do not spray”, best results were from thinning and spraying. Water based varnish is indeed just fine for light colored wood, on the darker woods it looks like a plastic wrap. The search for a “one size fits all” finish continues, it’s more likely to end with two or three does almost all.
I tend to heavily favor Arm R Seal for furniture projects. Love how easy it is to apply and it can get a smoother than glass feel if you use 600 grit between coats and 1500 or higher grit on the final coat (very light rubbing). The Osmo is very intriguing, though. Never used it or even heard of it before. Will have to check it out.