Solid color for wood furniture

Solid color, paint color, or opaque color finish is the finishing when the color of the finishing totally covers the substrate. In the solid color finish, we cannot see the wood's basic color, the wood grain character, or even the pores. The final color is totally determined by the color of the stain applied. The solid color is a lot more used in the finishing in general. If we see the finishing on the walls, houses, cars, or other objects, they are all solid color finishes. The solid color finish could be the first finish used for wood products, but according to the culture development, many people also like to see the wood character but with some specific color. Then the transparent wood finish is developing until today.

With the finishing technology now, we can make any color we want. But usually there is not much variation for the solid color used in the wood furniture finishing. White or black color are the most widely used for furniture There is some variegation that could be added to the finish, but usually there is not much. The variation of the solid color of the wood product can also be done by combining the paint application with the character of the wood. If we apply thick paint, then we can only get the fully painted finish, but with thin paint application, then we still can see the wood grain and pore character. 

Fully close solid color. 

It is a finish when the appearance of finishing completely covers and blocks the color of the substrate underneath. This finish is usually made with totally closed pores and an even surface. It is also called the duco finish. In this finish, the base color and character of the wood are totally covered by the finishing color. The wood characteristics, such as wood grains and wood pores, are completely covered and blocked by the finishing layer applied. With this finishing type, we cannot see the wood, so the selection of wood becomes less important. We can use the inexpensive wood. There won't be problems caused by the wood base color, such as blue stain or uneven color. Even the beautiful grains and pores are no longer required.

For this, finishing the hardwood and wood with little pore and grain is a better choice. The wood with fewer pores and less grain will be easier to be covered up to get the flat finish. If the flat panel is needed, then the MDF is a good choice because it already has a flat surface.
For the wood with big grain and pores, we need to apply filler or putty to fill up and close the pores and grain. The stains used to make this finish are the base coat, enamel, or paint. The catalyzed coatings, such as UV coating, PU, or AC, are recommended to make this finish. 
If a high-gloss finish is desired, then a level and even surface is needed. The preparation at the unfinished is very important to get the god finish result. 

the high gloss duco finish

The solid color, which is still displaying characters of the wood pores and grain
 

In this finishing type, the pore and grain character of the wood is still visible. This finish needs wood with deep pores and grain texture. Although the color of the wood surface is fully covered by the finish, the wood characteristics of pore and grain pattern still appear in the finished look. Glaze application is often used to show and strengthen the wood pores and grains. In this finishing, the selection of wood species is very important to get the nice-looking finish. The appearance of the finish depends on the character of the wood. Wood with big and deep pores and strong character grain can produce a very attractive appearance. In some cases we may need to open up the pores and grains with a wire brush to get a better look. The glaze with contrasting color could be used to enhance and highlight the pores and grain patterns of the wood.

 The solid color with the grain character of the wood

Semi transparent solid color finish

On this finishing, the basic color of the wood underneath is still slightly visible. Even though the finish color looks like a solid color, the final color is the combination of the wood base color and the color of the stain on it. This finish requires very good control of the stain and the wood base color. The stain could be the base coat or toner but must be applied lightly. The thick base coat or toner will close and cover the substrate underneath and kill the wood base color.
The proper step panel is very important to make this color. The base color of the substrate must be controlled since it will affect the final color. To get the even and right color, then the sap stain and stain equalizer are highly recommended. The pattern of grains and pores of wood is the other thing that needs to be considered. The variation at the pore and grain pattern will produce a different appearance, especially when we use the glaze to make the finish. 

transparent solid color

 
The antic solid color.
 

It is a solid color with an antique or old look. It is a solid color with an antiquing process. The antiquing process can be done by the physical distress, such as: nailing, chaining, rocking, hammering, etc.and the application of stain and glaze, such as: dry brushing, spattering, highlighting, etc. This finishing can also be done with a thin application of solid color stain, so the grains and the pores of the wood are still visible. The crackle, sand trough, highlights, wash-off, and "peel-off" effects also can be done to create many antique impressions.

antique solid color finish