DIY Finishing - Finishing Techniques

Paint or varnish? The difference between varnish and paint

Din întrebările voastre am înțeles că există o confuzie în ceea ce privește aceste materiale și rolul lor în acoperirea lemnului. Diferența dintre lac și vopsea înseamnă în primul rând diferența dintre a vedea sau nu desenul natural al lemnului. Uneori, faptul că știi bine unele lucruri nu te face un bun profesor. Fiind termeni cu care sunt foarte obișnuită uit că nu toată lumea știe ce înseamnă și nu explic lucruri elementare. Încerc să remediez greșeala acum, iar pe cei pentru care aceste lucruri sunt deja înțelese îi rog sa fie înțelegători. Ajungem noi și la lucruri mai complicate. 🙂

Vrem să se vedă desenul natural al lemnului sau nu?

La această întrebare se reduce diferența dintre lac și vopsea. Dacă vrem să vedem fibra lemnului, desenul lui natural și vrem să fie protejat împotriva zgârierii, lovirilor, pătărilor, atunci vom folosi lacul. Dacă dimpotrivă, vrem să acoperim lemnul, atunci se folosește vopseaua. Adică, prin lac se vede lemnul, iar prin vopsea, nu.

De ce să acoperi lemnul? Pentru că nu tot lemnul este oak or nuc și unele elemente din lemn au colorații, pătări, knots sau alte defecte pe care vrem să le acoperim. Sau pentru că pur și simplu ne place mobila colorată. Atunci când lemnul se vopsește, efectul nu este același ca la vopsirea unui MDF panel sau a unei bucăți de plastic sau tablă. Lemnul absoarbe vopseaua, iar rezultatul nu este o suprafață total lisă. Desenul lemnul continuă să se ghicească sub stratul de vopsea, iar dacă sunt folosite și materiale care marchează porii sau accentuează desenul – cum sunt skates – atunci efectul este foarte interesant. Așa că, nu trebuie să pornim de la ideea că, dacă iubești lemnul, nu trebuie să-l ascunzi. El este tot acolo și uneori valoarea lui chiar crește prin vopsire.

Deci, lacul se folosește când vrem să lăsăm la vedere fibra lemnului și desenul lui natural, iar vopseaua, când vrem ca suprafața să fie opacă, iar desenul lui să nu mai fie vizibil.

the difference between varnish and paint
photo source: cathypaul.co
Putem colora lemnul fără a coperi fibra

Cineva m-a întrebat cum poate fi lemnul și colorat și transparent. Este posibil dacă colorarea se face cu ajutorul baițurilor care sunt soluții pe bază de coloranți solubili. Aceștia se dizolvă în apă sau în solvenți organici și colorează fibra lemnului în profunzime, fără să acopere desenul, ca în cazul vopselelor. Este la fel cum se colorează firul de bumbac sau de lână.

În urma colorării, desenul lemnului va fi pus și mai mult în evidență prin absorbția diferențiată a baițului. Sunt persoane cărora nu le sunt pe plac diferențele de culoare pe suprafața lemnului și vor o colorare foarte uniformă. Uniformizarea se face, de obicei, cu riscul pierderii transparenței. Prin folosirea materialelor de colorare mai puțin transparente obținem o colorare uniformă, dar fibra lemnului nu mai este la fel de vizibilă. Nu spun că este rău sau este bine. Fiecare vede „frumosul” în felul lui. Vreau să știți doar că un material viu ca lemnul nu poate fi și perfect uniform și expresiv.

După colorarea și uscarea baițului se aplică lacul ,iar finisajul obținut va fi perfect transparent, dar colorat așa cum vă doriți: nuc, stejar, cireș, mahon, palisandru, etc.

Grundul nu are legătură cu transparența. Nu este similar celui aplicat pe tabla de pe casă

The background was also subject of an article în care vă spuneam de ce este el necesar. Faptul că denumirea este similară cu produsul folosit pentru a proteja tabla împotriva ruginirii, înainte de a aplica vopseaua, îi duce pe mulți cu gândul la un produs colorat.

Grundurile pentru lemn pot fi transparente sau colorate și se folosesc ca strat (straturi) intermediar(e) între lemn (colorat sau nu) și stratul final de lac sau vopsea. Este folosit pentru că are unele calități care fac ca mobila sau obiectele finisate să arate mai bine.

În concluzie, un ciclu de finisare transparentă cuprinde baiț (numai dacă vrem ca fibra să fie colorată), grund transparent și lac. Iar unul de finisare opacă, grund colorat și vopsea. Se renunță la grund numai dacă lacul are proprietăți si de lac și de grund. Există astfel de produse, mai ales în cazul celor de bricolaj. În acest caz stratul de grund este înlocuit cu unul de lac (se aplică 2-3 straturi succesive de lac).

În toate aceste cicluri pot interveni și alte materiale (impregnanți, izolatori, patine) care conferă anumite proprietăți sau efecte ale finisajului.

the difference between varnish and paint
photo credit: fromyosunewithlove.com
Când și de ce se poate da lac peste vopsea

Vopseaua, ca și lacul, are proprietăți superficiale: rezistență la zgâriere și la loviri, rezistență la pătări, tușeu plăcut. De aceea este considerată strat final și nu mai este nevoie să fie acoperită cu alt material.

Sunt însă situații când poate fi recomandată aplicarea unui strat de lac peste cel de vopsea. În general, acest lucru se face atunci când există riscuri mari ca vopseaua să fie zgâriată. Aplicând un strat de lac deasupra, chiar dacă se zgârie, este mai puțin vizibil, iar stratul de vopsea rămâne intact.

Un alt motiv pentru care se aplică lac peste vopsea este pentru a da profunzime finisajului. Se folosește în cazul produselor cu luciu înalt (foarte lucioase). Când peste vopsea se aplică 1-2 straturi de lac lucios, luciul peliculei este mai frumos și mai profund.

Sper ca de data aceasta să fi fost mai explicită. Dacă nu am reușit sau credeți că aveți nevoie de informații suplimentare, vă rog să lăsați comentariile și întrebările mai jos, în spațiul dedicat. Dacă îl considerați însă suficient de limpede pentru a le lămuri și altora neclaritățile, îl puteți distribui.

About the author

Mihaela Radu

Mihaela Radu is a chemical engineer but has a great passion for wood. She has been working in the field for more than 20 years, wood finishing being what defined her during this period. She gained experience working in a research institute, in her own company, as well as in a multinational. She wants to continuously share her experience with those who have the same passion - and more.

24 comments

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  • Good evening. After reading the above lines more light came into my head. I understood the role of the bath, I was going to ask you about the role of the varnish after painting, got it. The only nebula remains the primer. I'll take a general example: if I have some planks that I want to make some polishes out of in my pantry, after me, I take a can of paint, paint them and that's it. In which situations do I use primer first? Isn't painting directly on the wood enough? Thank you very much for your articles.

    • Good evening.
      It is also possible without primer. I've also written that, for DIY projects, you don't need to do it the factory way. Factory finishing is much more demanding, with more steps and products that increase the final quality of the film. Primer is a material that has better adhesion to wood, higher body (resin that remains on the wood after solvent evaporation), grinds better. For a film to look very good and be very pleasant to the touch it needs 2-3 intermediate sandings. This is made possible by applying primer. Basically, a coat of primer is applied over the bait, allowed to dry, then sanded, dusted and the next coat applied. If the primer were not thick enough there would be nothing left on the board and if it were not sanded smoothly, it would not give a very pleasant surface. After a smooth and beautiful surface has been achieved, the final coat of varnish is applied, which has superficial properties, does not scratch, is resistant to knocks, does not stain, has a pleasant feel, may or may not have a gloss, etc.
      DIY projects don't need to be factory perfect. Plus, products are made to be easier to use. There is no need for so many intermediate operations and so many products. In your case it is enough to give 2-3 coats of paint without any other materials.
      I hope I didn't get lost in the details again or use terms that are impossible to understand. 🙂
      All the best!

  • I have used on various occasions for wood used outside or inside, a colorless primer from DUFA, many years ago, I do not know if it still exists or what its substitute is, but its properties, apart from the fact that it closed the pores of the wood (so after sanding the wood did not absorb so much colorless varnish, what I used, DYO YAHTMARINE glossy, with 2 coats I had super quality), but the primer also had the treatment of the wood against fungi, woodworm and blue mould .... these have delighted me .... and especially the low consumption of varnish . Did I do the right thing and now when I am going to do some more work I will find the same products or are there similar ones???

    • Good evening!
      Yes, you did well. That's one of the purposes of primer - to close the pores, the varnish consumption is much lower.
      You might find the products, but they may not have exactly the same qualities. In the meantime, the law on biocidal products (against fungi, moulds and insects) in varnishes, paints and impregnants has been tightened and many have chosen not to use them. It's best to ask first. There are companies that have 1-2 products for this purpose that they have registered. They recommend applying a coat of protective product after which the primer and varnish finish is applied. But again, I don't know if the products you mentioned have undergone these changes.
      All the best!

  • Hello,

    The window sills are pine and are painted some color and it's been applied for a long time so it occurred to me to fix this situation this way:
    1. remove the paint with the hot air blower;
    2. I'll grind with 80 then 120 or 150;
    3. apply SAVANA water-based colourless primer
    4. varnish with .... water-based SAVANA
    The order, to me who knows nothing practical about such things, seems good and reasonable. What I don't know is if I should put 220 smilgher or something between primer and varnish and if I should leave the varnish colourless so that the fibre shows or if I should give it coloured?
    The heels have another problem, which I need to solve first, namely some gaps through it and I want to know how and with what to solve the situation? Probably some putty or something.

    Thanks a lot and have a great day!

    • Hello.
      You guessed right, even though you say you have no practical experience at all. That makes me think you will definitely succeed. 🙂
      A recommendation: remove the old lake very well. Any traces of old varnish/paint will cause the new finish to have problems in the future. The old coat will peel off with the new one.
      The paint is more durable than the varnish because it doesn't let the sun's rays through. The varnish must be for outdoors because otherwise it is not resistant. Outdoor varnishes contain a small amount of pigments that sit in the path of sunlight and repel it. That's why outdoor varnishes are not totally colourless, nor perfectly transparent. But they have the advantage that the wood is visible.
      For grouting you can use a putty made of outdoor acrylic glue (D3 or D4) and fine wood powder or you can buy outdoor resistant wood putty. After grouting sand the surface and apply the finish.
      Good luck!

  • Hello,

    AM a concrete staircase and the steps are clad in beech wood. The wood has been varnished ( 2 coats ) . my question is: could I paint over the varnish? Or do I have to sand the existing varnish?

    • Hello!
      Sanding is necessary for adhesion. If it is not done the coat of paint you put on top can peel off, especially if the varnish is a harder, two-component varnish (as I suspect the one applied to the beech steps is). Sanding is even more necessary when using a water-based paint. If for some reason (knocks, scratches) the paint coat comes off in one corner it will peel like a skin if sanding was not done before application.
      The only variants where sanding is not recommended is when the varnish has been nitrocellulose and a nitro paint is applied on top or in the case of chalky paints. Neither situation applies to you. Nitro varnish is a soft varnish and not recommended for traffic, so I don't think your steps are done with such a varnish. Chalky paints are flaky and also not recommended for traffic.
      I recommend sanding the steps before applying the paint. It takes a little more work, but the result will be much better in time. Sanding should not be done with a lot of effort, but a light sanding to create those little curls for the paint to "stick" to. Sand with a fine abrasive sponge or 280 or 320 grit sandpaper.
      All the best!

  • Hello,

    I have read with interest your articles, the readers' questions and the answers given but I have not found the answer to one question. I would like to know what is the best, more precisely the most resistant, exterior coating for wood. I don't necessarily care if the wood grain is showing or sanding. More specifically, I am interested in coating a wooden railing on a balcony in a mountain area where the weather is not very friendly. Thank you!

  • Hello,
    Please guide me on how to proceed with the refurbishment of an oak veneered bookcase whose varnish has deteriorated in some areas.
    What are the steps to follow and what products do you recommend.
    Thank you for your kindness.

  • Hello,
    I would like to ask you to advise me with what product I can increase the gloss of a wooden table, which has already been painted white?
    The table is very massive, it's inside the house, it has recently been repainted semi-matt, and I would like to lacquer it in position.
    Thanks in advance

    • Hello!
      To keep the same degree of whiteness you should use a very glossy white paint, of the same nature as the semi-matt one. You must use the same type of paint to avoid incompatibilities between the two materials. Apply with a brush, carefully and let it dry for a longer period (min 24 hours) trying to protect it from dust. Dust is the enemy of gloss.
      Another solution would be to polish the existing tabletop. You will need a rotary grinder or a boring machine, grinding discs and a 2000 or 3000 grit abrasive solution. You can go from 35 to 45 degrees of gloss, which is the same as a semi-finished surface, to 70 or even 80.
      More information about polishing can be found in the link below.
      All the best!
      https://revistadinlemn.ro/2017/07/26/ce-este-polisarea-de-ce-este-nevoie/

  • Hello, I have some solid wood doors that have been varnished approx. 16 years, is there any chance I can paint them?

    • Hello!
      You can dye them. I understand you want to apply the paint over the old varnish. You must first wash them to degrease them (with water and detergent), wipe them off and let them rinse. To avoid compatibility problems I recommend using water-based paints (they are compatible with most types of varnishes and paints). The surface must be sanded beforehand (fine abrasive sponge) for the paint to adhere. It is also possible without sanding if you use Annie Sloan type chalky paints. The paint must be fixed with wax or varnish at the end because otherwise it will not hold.
      All the best!

  • Hello.
    First of all very good job with the explanation, it is very easy to understand which was exactly what I needed.
    But now my question is, if I want to stain a wood, but on the transparent pattern.
    How to choose the right colour?
    Case 1: coloured bath > clear varnish
    Case 2: clear varnish > coloured varnish
    Case 3: coloured bath > coloured varnish
    Thank you.

    • Good evening!
      There are 2 variants:
      - if the wood is dense and evenly stained (oak, cherry, ash), use a soluble stain-based stain that will stain the transparent wood, bringing out its natural pattern very well. After drying, apply clear varnish.
      - if the wood is softer and the absorption inside is differentiated (poplar, lime, spruce), use a stain based on pigments that are semi-transparent and even out the differences that occur because the wood absorbs differently. After drying, apply clear varnish.
      Coloured varnish is used to repair some staining defects. Applying it evens out the final appearance, but the risk is that the natural beauty of the wood is lost and it takes on a more plastic-like appearance. Wood is special precisely because it has personality, and staining makes this personality visible.
      All the best!

  • Hello, I have a question for you, I would like to know what kind of water-based varnish, primer, varnish you recommend for some beech wood steps? I would like something semi-professional or professional that can be applied both with a brush/sponge and with a paint gun. Or, can the quality and appearance of the steps be affected by using these products instead of DYI ones assuming all other processes have been followed (i.e. wetting, sanding and raw and after bathing) thank you in advance for your reply.

    • Hello!
      You can use water-based floor varnishes. You have the link below to one such product. It can be applied with a trowel or spray gun. Being stairs, you need a smaller, narrower trowel. Find something like this in DIY stores.
      Professional products have superior qualities to DIY products. If applied according to instructions, they have better strengths and last longer. However, correct application plays a very important role.
      All the best!
      https://iscusit.market/product-category/finisare-lemn/lac-lemn-interior/

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