US3311484A - Method of staining wood and composition therefor - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 3,311,484 METHOD OF STAINING WOOD AND COMPQSETIGN THEREFOR John S. Burwell, 9351 Memorial, Detroit, Mich. 48228 No Drawing. Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 309,863 7 Claims. (Cl. 106146) The invention relates to woo-d staining and more particularly to an improved method for staining and filling wood surfaces and to an improved composition therefor.

The art of wood staining has made use of various dyes, fillers, solvents and other ingredients. Many of the prior art compositions which have been used for wood staining have had the undesirable side effect of raising the grain of the wood. To avoid this disadvantage, hundreds of different compositions have been suggested and used with various degrees of success.

I have no developed a new type of wood stain which not only avoids any raising of the grain but also has excellent staining and filling properties. My new product is based on my discovery of the heretofore unknown and unsuspected properties of milk which make it useful as the principal ingredient .of a wood stain.

In accordance with my invention, a new and useful method of wood staining is achieved by applying to wood surfaces a composition in which the essential ingredient is milk. Milk not only provides the elements necessary for producing the staining effect but it also constitutes a filler for the pores of wood. In addition to natural milk, it is desirable that the staining composition have incorporated therewith a volatile solvent which is not a constituent of natural milk. Such solvent should be one that has a preservative effect on milk and also possesses the property of being able to penetrate the pores of wood so that the milk constituents are also caused to penetrate beneath the outer surface. The solvent selected must be one that does not raise the grain of the wood when such solvent has .milk incorporated therewith.

The preferred solvent of my invention is methanol. A desirable composition is two parts by volume of milk and one part by volume of methanol. Such a mixture is stable and can be packaged in bottles or cans and stored without deterioration for substantial periods of time.

The compounds of my invention can be applied to the surface of wood in the conventional manner for applying stains. When so applied, my new composition produces an excellent stain having a color or shade which is characteristic of the constituents of milk. When other colors or tints are desired, my composition may be mixed with conventional dyestuffs that are commercially available. In this manner, any desirable color can be obtained.

As previously stated, a desired composition is two parts by volume of milk and one part methanol. However, other proportions can be used. I have found it undesirable to increase the ratio of methanol to an amount by volume more than equal to the volume of milk. The amount of methanol can be decreased below fifty percent (50%) by volume of milk but the volume must not be so low as to eliminate the ability of the composition to penetrate beneath the surface. In general, it is best to maintain the amount of methanol between twenty-five percent (25%) and ninety percent of the amount by volume of milk.

The new wood stain of my invention has the following advantages, properties and characteristics:

(1) It is made from cheap and readily available materials thereby insuring low production costs.

(2) It can be made in a very heavy consistency, and can be thinned by the purchaser with water.

(3) It is odorless.

(4) It is fireproof.

(5) It is harmless to almost everyone.

(6) It can be washed from the skin of its user with ordinary soap and water.

(7) The stain can be mixed with any brand of tinting materials to make any conceivable shade of stain.

(8) It not only stains but it fills the pores of the wood.

(9) It is very permanent, attractive, inexpensive and easily applied.

(10) It can be applied to wood paneling, wood trim, wood cabinets and other wood products with the stain and one coat of wax or varnish can be applied as a final finish.

Instead of using methanol, other volatile organic solvents can be used providing that they have the ability to act as a preservative for milk and also for the property of increasing penetration into the Wood without raising the grain.

The term milk as used in this specification means a product which is commercially available under that designation. Normally the term means cows milk but the present invention is not limited to the milk of cows but encompasses any other mammalian milk. I have found skimmed milk to be satisfactory but whole milk may also be used as well as other milk products containing the principal constituents of milk.

It will also be understood that while certain specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it is not intended thereby to have the invention limited to or circumscribed by the details given herein in view of the fact that the invention is susceptible to various modifications and changes which come within the spirit of the disclosure and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A composition for staining and filling wood consisting essentially of milk and from 25% to 90% by volume of alcohol having a preservative eifect on milk, possessing the property of causing penetration into the wood without raising the grain.

2. A composition for staining and filling wood according to claim 1 in which said alcohol is methanol.

3. A composition for staining and filling wood consisting essentially of two parts by volume of milk and one part by volume of methanol having a preservative effect on milk and possessing the property of causing penetration intothe Wood without raising the grain.

4. A composition according to claim 1 having mixed therewith a compatible solution of a staining dye.

5. The method of staining Wood which consists in applying to the surface of wood a composition consisting essentially of milk and from 25% to 90% by volume alcohol to preserve the milk and increase penetration into the wood without raising the grain.

6. The method according to claim 5 in which said alcohol is methanol.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Gousseff 106148 Schmidt 1064 Misaki 106-4 OKelly 106-146 41, page 1355.

Leraas 106146 Price 106147 Selleck 1064 Langworthy 260-120 OTHER REFERENCES Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, July 1949, vol.

ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Primary Examiner.

D. I. ARNOLD, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A COMPOSITION FOR STAINING AND FILLING WOOD CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF MILK AND FROM 25% TO 90% BY VOLUME OF ALCOHOL HAVING A PRESERVATIVE EFFECT ON MILK, POSSESSING THE PROPERTY OF CAUSING PENETRATION INTO THE WOOD WITHOUT RAISING THE GRAIN.