revtothelimit - motorbike forum

All this water-based 'paint' malarkey.

Bought a small tin of wood stain (£12!! ) to do a 'quick little job' of staining a piece of dowel with knobs on the end. (It's for hanging stuff on for display). Well, thinks I, clean, untreated wood this stuff should soak in like a soaky in thing. Instructions say 'lightly sand the piece to be stained and clean with white spirit'. Uggber that for a game of soldiers....stir, paint. You'd think I was trying to paint PTFE! Soak in? Not on your nelly.

So, I've dug out my bottle of surgical spirit (contains ethanol and methanol) for the next attempt. They take the solvents out of the paint - so you need a bottle of solvent to prep the work-piece.

I suppose I'd better ratch out my sandpaper supply as well (it's too fiddly to use my detail sander on) but, tbh it'd probably have been easier and cheaper just to find and buy something that's already the colour I want.

Or just paint it 'brown'?

Horse wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 3:35 pm Or just paint it 'brown'?

Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

(Probably have to sand, clean with white spirit, apply 2 coats of primer etc before applying the top coat ).

Had the same issues with the cabin, after it went up, wiped it down, applied stain - twice. Job jobbed.

This time, the blokes had to sand the whole thing, apply base coat and top coat. 'Because you can't buy stuff like you used when you did it any more'. Nice job but now it looks like a painted building rather than a wooden one of a particular colour. (Obvs you can tell it's made of 'wood shaped' bits).

Wonder if Humbrol (or whatever the equivalent is now) like we used to use on Airfix kits is made with water??? That'll be as much use as a chocolate teapot too.

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Wonder if Humbrol (or whatever the equivalent is now) like we used to use on Airfix kits is made with water??? That'll be as much use as a chocolate teapot too.

Well you asked......
Permitted organic solvents in water based paints*;

Di(2-methylpropyl)ester of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (C20 to C33)a - -
Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol) 64–17–5 200–578–6
Mixture of aliphatic esters and alcohols (C12 to C14)a - -
1-Methoxypropan-2-ol 107–98–2 203–539–1
Propan-1,2-diol (Propylene glycol) 57–55–6 200–338–0
2-Methylpentane-2,4-diol (Hexylene glycol) 107–41–5 203–489–0
Propan-2-ol (Isopropyl alcohol) 67–63–0 200–661–7

Permitted solvents in solvent based paints*';

Glycerol triacetate 102–76–1 203–051–9
2-Methylpropan-1-ol (iso-Butanol) 78–83–1 201–148–0
Butan-2-one (Methyl ethyl ketone) 78–93–3 201–159–0
1-Methoxypropan-2-ol 107–98–2 203–539–1
1-methoxypropan-2-yl acetate 108–65–6 203–603–9
Butan-1-ol (n-Butanol) 71–36–3 200–751–6
3-Methoxybutyl acetate 4435–53–4 224–644–9
Petroleum fraction (35 to 160) °C 64742–89–8 265–192–2
Hydrocarbons, C9 –C16, hydrotreated, dearomatized 93763–35–0 297–854–1

* as specified by EN 71 - 5 when address paints supplied with or recommended for use in model sets

MrLongbeard wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 5:03 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Wonder if Humbrol (or whatever the equivalent is now) like we used to use on Airfix kits is made with water??? That'll be as much use as a chocolate teapot too.

Well you asked......
Permitted organic solvents in water based paints*;

Di(2-methylpropyl)ester of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (C20 to C33)a - -
Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol) 64–17–5 200–578–6
Mixture of aliphatic esters and alcohols (C12 to C14)a - -
1-Methoxypropan-2-ol 107–98–2 203–539–1
Propan-1,2-diol (Propylene glycol) 57–55–6 200–338–0
2-Methylpentane-2,4-diol (Hexylene glycol) 107–41–5 203–489–0
Propan-2-ol (Isopropyl alcohol) 67–63–0 200–661–7

Permitted solvents in solvent based paints*';

Glycerol triacetate 102–76–1 203–051–9
2-Methylpropan-1-ol (iso-Butanol) 78–83–1 201–148–0
Butan-2-one (Methyl ethyl ketone) 78–93–3 201–159–0
1-Methoxypropan-2-ol 107–98–2 203–539–1
1-methoxypropan-2-yl acetate 108–65–6 203–603–9
Butan-1-ol (n-Butanol) 71–36–3 200–751–6
3-Methoxybutyl acetate 4435–53–4 224–644–9
Petroleum fraction (35 to 160) °C 64742–89–8 265–192–2
Hydrocarbons, C9 –C16, hydrotreated, dearomatized 93763–35–0 297–854–1

* as specified by EN 71 - 5 when address paints supplied with or recommended for use in model sets

A wonderful, detailed, response, which reminds me of ...


A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realides that he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below says, "Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees north latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees west longitude.

"You must be an engineer" says the balloonist.

"I am", replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well..." says the balloonist. "Everything you told be was technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information and the fact is I am still lost."

The man below says, "You must be a Manager"

"I am", replies the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well..." says the man. "You don't know where you are, or where you are going. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met but now it is somehow my fault."

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm

Horse wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 3:35 pm Or just paint it 'brown'?

Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

(Probably have to sand, clean with white spirit, apply 2 coats of primer etc before applying the top coat ).

Had the same issues with the cabin, after it went up, wiped it down, applied stain - twice. Job jobbed.

This time, the blokes had to sand the whole thing, apply base coat and top coat. 'Because you can't buy stuff like you used when you did it any more'. Nice job but now it looks like a painted building rather than a wooden one of a particular colour. (Obvs you can tell it's made of 'wood shaped' bits).

Wonder if Humbrol (or whatever the equivalent is now) like we used to use on Airfix kits is made with water??? That'll be as much use as a chocolate teapot too.

You can still get oil based paints from a good decorators merchant. The colours may be a bit limited, and the finish probably won't be high gloss. Bit expensive too IIRC.

Tikkurila make old fashion chemical nasty paint still.

I've got a can of primer and a can of top gloss in my garage waiting to do my front door. I had to buy it online and I had to give them a RAL code for the colour (they don't have swtach books) but it's the real deal.

The base coat is matched to the top colour too. Really should get around to slapping it on the door.

https://www.tikkurila.co.uk/miranol?gad ... ALw_wcB#16

G500 Bungalow.

What a name for a shade of paint!

I have Traffic Orange for my front door.

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm

Horse wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 3:35 pm Or just paint it 'brown'?

Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

(Probably have to sand, clean with white spirit, apply 2 coats of primer etc before applying the top coat ).

Had the same issues with the cabin, after it went up, wiped it down, applied stain - twice. Job jobbed.

This time, the blokes had to sand the whole thing, apply base coat and top coat. 'Because you can't buy stuff like you used when you did it any more'. Nice job but now it looks like a painted building rather than a wooden one of a particular colour. (Obvs you can tell it's made of 'wood shaped' bits).

Wonder if Humbrol (or whatever the equivalent is now) like we used to use on Airfix kits is made with water??? That'll be as much use as a chocolate teapot too.

Sir needs to either use shou sugi ban method or ebonise* the wood…

* much easier, you can buy a kit online or make your own solution up.

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

Silly Car wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:26 pm Sir needs to either use shou sugi ban method or ebonise* the wood…

* much easier, you can buy a kit online or make your own solution up.

It would be remiss of me not to casually suggest www.staffordshireblack.co.uk at this point...

Sunny wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:34 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

Silly Car wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:26 pm Sir needs to either use shou sugi ban method or ebonise* the wood…

* much easier, you can buy a kit online or make your own solution up.

It would be remiss of me not to casually suggest www.staffordshireblack.co.uk at this point...

I was relying on www.staffordshireblack.co.uk being the highest result on Google

Silly Car wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:54 pm

Sunny wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:34 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

Silly Car wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:26 pm Sir needs to either use shou sugi ban method or ebonise* the wood…

* much easier, you can buy a kit online or make your own solution up.

It would be remiss of me not to casually suggest www.staffordshireblack.co.uk at this point...

I was relying on www.staffordshireblack.co.uk being the highest result on Google

I should of course declare my bias, in case the was too subtle.

And mods, ditch the link, of course, if it's not allowed (it's been some time since I read the Ts & Cs )

Have you had a look at the Osmo range? Excellent stuff, available in a range of colours and sizes.

Sunny wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:34 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

Silly Car wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:26 pm Sir needs to either use shou sugi ban method or ebonise* the wood…

* much easier, you can buy a kit online or make your own solution up.

It would be remiss of me not to casually suggest www.staffordshireblack.co.uk at this point...

First video on that page is 'private'.

Horse wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 8:18 pm

Sunny wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:34 pm

Count Steer wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 4:39 pm Err...it's going to be black ('ebony'), but it would be nice to see the wood grain so black paint wasn't quite the finish I was going for.

Silly Car wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 7:26 pm Sir needs to either use shou sugi ban method or ebonise* the wood…

* much easier, you can buy a kit online or make your own solution up.

It would be remiss of me not to casually suggest www.staffordshireblack.co.uk at this point...

First video on that page is 'private'.

The 'Tiny Turner' one? I suspect she's changed her subscription shit. I'll pass it on, cheers

Looks very interesting. Probably OTT for the little job I have on hand (it's a low tannin wood too so there'd be umpteen alternate coats) but I'm now looking around for other projects.

That bloke in the 'about' section looks vaguely familiar.

KungFooBob wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 6:05 pm G500 Bungalow.

What a name for a shade of paint!

I seem to remember a trick about soaking wire wool in vinegar overnight and then using that solution to darken up wood

MrLongbeard wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 9:09 am I seem to remember a trick about soaking wire wool in vinegar overnight and then using that solution to darken up wood

Yup. My research found that.

Forms iron acetate that reacts with the tannins in the wood. Some woods are low in tannins so they can be soaked in strong tea first. (I guess you could use a brew from acorns too). The treatment is supposed to be more durable than paint.

Definitely going to have a go...but might just buy the fluids.