Staining Toerail

   
     Back on the 7th of May, I applied a trial run on the staining, thinking that some of the smaller voids would be filled with this product - Interlux Interstain.  However, after application and wait time, it was clear that what I was dealing with was a staining product only meant to fill the grain - making subsequent varnish work that much easier.  The product is not meant to be a void filler, however small the void.  So, I removed the trial application of Interstain, and proceeded to fill the smaller voids with an appropriate filler agent that accepts staining.

Bow rail post-stain.

     After I removed the trial application of Interstain, I sanded down to wood, wiped the surfaces with solvent to remove any trace contaminants, and generally prepared for filling the voids.   After applying the void filler, on the 10th of May, I came back the following day to fair the surface and prepare for staining - sorry, no picture of prepared surfaces.  The staining process involved preparing the Interlux Interstain by reducing with Interlux reducing Solvent 2333N until you get a paint consistency that is closer to water in viscosity.

Again, bow rail post-stain.

The Interstain was then brushed on the prepared toerail surface, and then immediately wiped off.  As I worked the toerail surfaces, I rubbed the stain into the wood with adequate pressure so as to "drive" the stain into the wood grain.  The process went well, with a good color blending of the undamaged toerail with that of the damaged portions of the toerail - bow, and trailing  six to seven feet both port and starboard.  The picture below shows the forward portion of the port toerail after application of Interlux Interstain.

The picture below shows the aft portion of the damaged port toerail after application of Interlux Interstain.  Just beyond the handrail stanchion, you can see the stained portioned blending into the still varnished portion of the port toerail.  The color blend is very good, and will be seamless once varnished. 

The picture below shows the forward portion of the starboard toerail after application of Interlux Interstain.

The picture below shows the aft portion of the damaged starboard toerail after application of Interlux Interstain.  Just this side of the handrail stanchion in the right of the photo, you can see the stained portioned blending into the still varnished portion of the starboard toerail.  Again, the color blend is very good, and will be seamless once varnished. 

To cap the work session off....a nice sunset on the Ortega River.

May 7th, 10th, and 11th - Total Time 4.5 hrs