Toners and shading lacquer

Overview

A toner is a clear finish, usually lacquer or shellac, with a little dye or pigment in it, sprayed in thin layers. Fine Woodworking (Colglazier) contrasts toners with glazes: glazes are manipulated like paint, toners are sprayed thin layers that are not manipulated. Professionals use them to even out colour between boards and to give a finish uniform depth. Shading lacquer is the same idea in a ready-to-spray product; this entry does not rely on a specific brand.

Pros

• Evens colour between boards of different tone without hiding grain.
• Lets you adjust colour after staining, when it is too yellow, too red or too light.
• Layers lock between clear coats.

Cons

• Needs spray equipment (or an aerosol). Heavy passes streak.
• Hard to correct: you cannot wipe it back like a glaze.
• Lightfastness depends on the colourant; see Water-soluble dye stain for the fastness figures.

Suitability

Best on furniture sprayed in lacquer or shellac. It suits mixed-colour parts, edge-glued panels and veneered work. It is not a hand-finishing technique.

Coats and application

1. Seal the wood first so the toner builds on a stable base (Sanding sealer (and vinyl sealer)).
2. Fine Woodworking: lock layers with nitrocellulose lacquer or shellac. Aerosol Deft lacquer and Zinsser shellac can substitute for a gun.
3. Tint the finish with dye. General Finishes says its dye stain can be used as a toner, and TransTint is mixed 1 oz per quart as a starting point (maximum 3 oz). Spray tip 1.0 to 1.3 mm.
4. Spray thin, even passes. Dry 20 minutes on a water or alcohol base; 2 hours on a conditioner or reducer base (General Finishes).
5. Build to the colour you want, then clear coat.

Compatibility

Sprayed over a sealer and under clear coats such as Nitrocellulose lacquer or Pre-catalyzed and post-catalyzed lacquer. Dyes lift in their own solvent, so keep the toner's carrier compatible with the topcoat. See Alcohol and oil-soluble dye stain.

Care and repair

Repair by re-spraying toner locally and blending into the clear; this is skilled work. Fade is a risk, so choose lightfast dyes for pieces in sunlight.

Safety and environment

Spraying solvent-based lacquer needs a respirator, ventilation and no ignition sources. Water-based toners still need a respirator when sprayed (General Finishes).

Related

• Glaze and antiquing glaze
• Alcohol and oil-soluble dye stain
• Colour matching and sample boards