Staining Burnable Art

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:01 am

As we all know, burning the Wrong Stuff can create noxious fumes and is not fun for the atmosphere. It doth anger Crom greatly.

Our desert hosts suggest that the following is No Good:

The Oracle of Faq wrote:paint, especially lead based and oil based paints -- use water based whenever possible.

Now, in staining wood, does the same principium pertain? To wit, is urethane too plasticky? After which product should we quest?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:05 am

I'd start by reading the cautions on the outside of the can or on the manufacturer's website.

Or look up the ingredients. But the basic rule of thumb is that no matter what the original materials were, anything when burned becomes small particulate matter that we cannot filter out of our air.

Maybe you could use linseed oil or something like that?

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:13 am

blood....duh.

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:21 am

I think any stain would be OK, really. By the time the stuff is dry all the noxious stuff has evaped off (into the air) anyway. Stick with water based. Your base for the stain will likely generate more particulates than the stain will.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:30 am

I've seen this issue posted before.
There should be a list fixed on the bman site somewhere.

There are many traditional stains that should be a small issue.
Minerals such as iron oxide and so on.

Osha and the cdc have lots of info on some.
Most chemicals have never been tested.
Guess who lobbies for that?

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:53 am

They all have MSDS; I just there might have been some previous ground plowed on this.

Thanks for volunteering your blood, Simon. We'll need several pints.

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:27 pm

There is a variety of plant stuffs that can be used for staining.

Linseed or Flax oil was mentioned for traditional wood stain.

Beets are great for flaming red.

Walnut husks produces a rich brown.

Tobacco can be soaked and squeezed for a nice staain that weathers and darkens in the sun.

You didn't really provide details so it's hard to recommend the viable options.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:37 pm

Something quick and easy.
That cuts out crushing walnut hulls by hand.

littleflower · Post by **littleflower** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:25 pm

linseed & flax oils would probably get pretty smokey, so i wouldn't used them.

i do like the idea of tobacco tea, though ... i use it as a bug spray ... get the kind that is not yet made into cigarettes, add to hot water, let it steep awhile, filter out the solids. put on with a sponge. should be pretty easy.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:52 pm

littleflower wrote:linseed & flax oils would probably get pretty smokey, so i wouldn't used them.

i do like the idea of tobacco tea, though ... i use it as a bug spray ... get the kind that is not yet made into cigarettes, add to hot water, let it steep awhile, filter out the solids. put on with a sponge. should be pretty easy.

I thought I should point out that the smoke from tobacoo is supposed to be bad for people to breath. I hear it can cause cancer.

Now a pot tea would smell so much better.

littleflower · Post by **littleflower** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:00 pm

pot tea would certainly smell better, but i'm not sure of the staining properties. you'd get something out it, though. tobacco tea is pretty nasty, bugs hate it, too ... but the tobacco is not really there anymore, and i'm not sure how much would be left after being made into tea, staining wood, and being left in the sun for a month. not much ...

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:09 pm

Thanks for the information thus far.

I am thinking that if you're also burning softwood, as long as the stain isn't worse than the wood, then it should be OK.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:12 pm

Check out Native Am. art. A quick read should give you some ideas.

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:51 pm

I had'nt thought of beet juice. A couple of big cans should only cost a couple-o-bucks. Blend 'em up and schmear 'em on. Organic red...brilliant!

Horses sometimes chew their stalls, barn paint is supposed to be safe. I suppose the pigment is some sort of iron oxide, I don't know what the binder is, old folks used to use soured milk. Ancients used red ochre, an earth pigment, ground up and mixed with fat. Art supply stores might carry mineral pigments for folks who mix their own paints...try the youtube, the bing, the google or the yahoo,or?

Wasn't whitewash just white clay and water? I forget, but I'm old...

AKAparttime · Post by **AKAparttime** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:14 pm

Milk paint can be thinned and used as an stain on raw wood.
google it.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:19 pm

Toilet blue. What ever that stuff is?