BioScorpion
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2022
- Messages
- 16
I've been building some enclosures with wood in them. Previously I used a type of "coffee" stain. Does anyone know of any other non toxic stains I could use? Thanks in advance. 
Safe (non toxic) wood stains
- Thread starter BioScorpion
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 11,048
Commonest stain-sealant contains polyurethanes. Start here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079670018302995
Wolf135
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- May 14, 2016
- Messages
- 179
You could probably use food coloring, you might have to dilute it.
HooahArmy
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2022
- Messages
- 242
Hello there! I have been asked this question numerous times by folks within my community. I am a poison and toxin specialist by trade, and I will be more than happy to answer!
Depending on what type of color you are looking for, you can work with a variety of food-based stains, which surprisingly stay just as well as synthetic stains. The downside to natural stains is that they are more apt to change colors due to aging or oxidization, and can be moved with repeated exposure to water. Their tints however can remain for quite a long time and add character with their changes, creating natural patterns on wood furniture, or even as hair color.
If you are looking for deeper dark colors, I highly recommend coffee or tea. Tea tends to be a light muted brown, while coffee can be darkened up to black.
For more airy, lighter colors; leaves from plants such as indigo and henna, barks and woods like logwood and osage, roots like madder and alkanet, flowers like chamomile and marigold or safflower, pr fruits and nuts such as walnut, myrobalan and pomegranate work well.
Exotic colors such as bright reds and greens can be accomplished with spinach, kale, or beets; or even confection food color. If you're looking for extra boldness or even a scented color, Kool-Aid is your friend!
After dying your item the color you'd like, you can also ensure hardiness to fading with a natural oil coating. Coconut oil rocks since it doesn't go rancid and is easy to find and afford. Olive oil however does, so watch out! Other great picks are linseed, hemp, walnut, rosewood, and tung oil. These latter fellows can be found at most hardware stores and are used by many crafters to professionally polish or finish wood. For extra waterproofing, beeswax or carnauba was are a must! These can also be found at hardware stores.
I hope this helps!
Depending on what type of color you are looking for, you can work with a variety of food-based stains, which surprisingly stay just as well as synthetic stains. The downside to natural stains is that they are more apt to change colors due to aging or oxidization, and can be moved with repeated exposure to water. Their tints however can remain for quite a long time and add character with their changes, creating natural patterns on wood furniture, or even as hair color.
If you are looking for deeper dark colors, I highly recommend coffee or tea. Tea tends to be a light muted brown, while coffee can be darkened up to black.
For more airy, lighter colors; leaves from plants such as indigo and henna, barks and woods like logwood and osage, roots like madder and alkanet, flowers like chamomile and marigold or safflower, pr fruits and nuts such as walnut, myrobalan and pomegranate work well.
Exotic colors such as bright reds and greens can be accomplished with spinach, kale, or beets; or even confection food color. If you're looking for extra boldness or even a scented color, Kool-Aid is your friend!
After dying your item the color you'd like, you can also ensure hardiness to fading with a natural oil coating. Coconut oil rocks since it doesn't go rancid and is easy to find and afford. Olive oil however does, so watch out! Other great picks are linseed, hemp, walnut, rosewood, and tung oil. These latter fellows can be found at most hardware stores and are used by many crafters to professionally polish or finish wood. For extra waterproofing, beeswax or carnauba was are a must! These can also be found at hardware stores.
I hope this helps!
Vulash
Arachnosquire
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2022
- Messages
- 76
I'm not a toxin specialist like @HooahArmy , so hopefully he can chime in on my advice as I am a woodworker. I would recommend shellac to seal your wood. You can also get it in a few shades and for many woods it has a beautiful color. Shellac is naturally occurring and food safe. If you go this route I recommend buying dewaxed flakes and making your own by mixing with denatured alcohol (or really good grain alcohol ). You apply it in multiple layers while keeping a wet edge. It dries quickly so you'll want to quickly apply a layer, and then within a few minutes you can do another layer. After 6-8 layers apply a good wax like Hooah mentioned with #000 steel wool and a bit of denatured alcohol.
I'll also add that most linseed oil and tung oil from hardware stores isn't pure and is some type of varnish mix (I believe).
). You apply it in multiple layers while keeping a wet edge. It dries quickly so you'll want to quickly apply a layer, and then within a few minutes you can do another layer. After 6-8 layers apply a good wax like Hooah mentioned with #000 steel wool and a bit of denatured alcohol.I'll also add that most linseed oil and tung oil from hardware stores isn't pure and is some type of varnish mix (I believe).