How To Stain or Tint PC-Woody® Epoxy Paste

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Question: How can I make PC Woody® match the surrounding wood?

Answer: If you are not sure if staining is the best way to match the surrounding wood, then you should try pre-tinting the PC Woody®. 

HOW TO TINT PC Woody®; Critical Applications, TEST FIRST!

Tinting PC Woody® with pigments is the preferred way to reach a desired color.

Pigments come in three forms: powder, paste, and liquid.

• Powder pigments are by far the pigment type of choice. Powder pigment will not affect the chemical integrity of PC Woody® because little is needed to reach desired color.
• Paste pigments are an option if powders are not available. With paste pigments bold colors can not be achieved. DO NOT exceed more than 5% volume of combined A(white) and B(peanut butter). More than 5% will affect the integrity of the chemical properties of PC Woody® and is not recommended.
• Liquid pigments are not recommended (example - food dye).

1. Measure equal amounts of part A (white) and part B (light brown).
2. Mix the pigment of your choice into part A (white) until preferred color is achieved. Exact color matching is difficult and may require assorted pigment colors.
3. Combine part A with part B when the desired color is reached.

Question: How easy is it to stain PC Woody®?   What is the best stain?

Answer: PC Woody® can be stained. But the type of stain will affect the color of the PC Woody®.  The best stains contain pigments.  The stain contains pigments if the can has sediment at the bottom of the can. This sediment must be stirred before using the stain.  Pigmented stains have more hiding power than other stains.  Other stains sometimes contain only dyes.

NOTE: PC Woody® cures to an off-white, light tan color.  It does not have the various shades found in real wood.  Also, PC Woody® is capable of absorbing some stain but it is not as porous as real wood. By staining PC Woody®, the result is usually a light shade of that stain.

Before using PC Woody®, it is very important to test the final color against the item you're repairing by preparing a small sample and letting it cure.  Then, stain the sample.   If the stained PC Woody®  does not produce the desired result, then consider pre-tinting the PC Woody with pigment tinting pastes or raw pigment powders.   SEE HOW TO TINT above.

Or try some of these steps as follows:
Helpful hints-

1. After PC Woody® has cured, sand by hand with coarse sandpaper (100 -120 grit)
2. Sand with the grain of the wood.
3. Add grain to the repair with staining markers or artists paint brush.
4. Stains such as ZAR®, Barkley® and McCloskey® contain greater quantities of pigment and seem to work well with PC Woody®.

Question: How can I make PC Woody® match the surrounding wood?

Answer: If you are not sure if staining is the best way to match the surrounding wood, then you should try pre-tinting the PC Woody®. See: HOW TO TINT PC Woody® above.