B) Talk about clear finish varnish coat

WHAT MAKES a WOOD STAIN “GREEN?”

“Waterborne wood stains are safer than oil-based versions,” according to William and Shari Steber, owners of Timber Pro Coatings, Portland, OR. “Our stains are waterborne or made primarily from bio-preferred, plant-based oils and blended with a small percentage of acrylic to boost durability.”

Ever watched rain drops bead up on a flower petal? That’s the design Timber Pro Coatings tries to mimic. They use natural ingredients because they believe Mother Nature knows the best way to repel water absorption.

Manufacturing environmentally safe wood stains and finishes for 17 years, Timber Pro Coatings was one of the country’s first manufacturers of low toxicity wood stains. The Stebers are fully aware of industry greenwashing, and they make it a point to warn consumers about so-called green terms that are more about marketing than safety.

Shari Steber says, “The term non-toxic does not truly apply to wood stains, because non-toxic would mean you could practically drink or bathe in the product! We consider it dangerous to label a wood stain as non-toxic.”

How can you know you’re getting an eco-friendly stain? The best way is to ask to see the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on the product. Stores are required to keep a sheet on file for every coating product they sell.

The MSDS will also list the percentage of hazardous ingredients, which should be below 10%. Any wood stain or sealer marked flammable is most likely not eco-friendly. Ideally, clean up should involve only soap and water. The mineral spirits needed to clean your tools and equipment after using flammable oil based stains or sealers are certainly toxic.

22 Topics for projects and presentations: