Solid color in wood furniture finishing

Solid color, paint color or opaque color finish is the finishing when the color of finishing totally covers the substrate. In the solid color finish we cannot see the wood basic color, the wood grain character and even the pores. The final color is totally determined by the color of the stain applied on. The solid color is lot more used in the finishing in general. If we see the finishing to the walls, houses, cars, or other objects, they are all solid color finish. The solid color finish could be the first finishing used for wood products, but since some people still like to see the appearance of wood, then there was also developed the transparent finish for wood finish. 

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

Fully close solid color. 

It is a finish when the appearance of finishing that totally cover and block the color of substrate underneath. This finish usually made with totally close pores with an even surface. It is also called as the duco finish. In this finish the base color and character of the wood is totally covered by the finishing color. The wood characters such as wood grains and wood pores is completely covered and blocked by the finishing layer applied. On this finishing type then we cannot see the wood, then the selection of wood became less important. We can use the inexpensive wood. There won,t be problem 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 better choice. The wood with less pores and grain will easier to be covered up to get the flat finish. If the flat panel is needed, then the M.D.F. is a good choice because it already has a flat surface.
For the wood with big grain and pores then we need to apply filler or putty to fill up and close the pores and grain. The stain used are to make this finish are the base coat, enamel or paint. The  catalyzed coating such as: UV coating, PU or AC are recommended to make this finish.  
If high gloss finish then the 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 need the wood with deep pores and grain texture. Although the color of the wood surface is fully covered by the finish, but the wood characters of pore and grain pattern still appears in the finishing looked. 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 looked finish. The appearance of finishing depend to 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 of the pores and grains with wire brush to get better looked. The glaze with contras 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 is looked like a solid color but the final color is the combination of wood base color and the color of stain on it. This finish requires very good control to 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 to 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 is a highly recommended. The pattern of grains and pores of wood are the other thing that need to be considered. The variation at the pore and grain pattern will produce a different appearance, especially when we used the glaze to make the finish. 

semi transparent solid color

 
The antic solid color.
 

It is a solid color with antique or old looked. It is a solid color with antiquing process. The antiquing process can be done by the physical distress such as: nailing, chaining, rocking, hammer etc. and the application of stain and glaze such as: dry brush, spatter, highlight, etc This finishing is also can be done with a thin application of solid color stain, so the grains and the pores of the wood is still visible. The crackle, sand trough, highlights, wash off and the "peel off" effects also can be done to create many antique impression.

antique solid color finish