I'm curious if I should bother raising the grain on a piece of pine before applying wood dye. If I'm just going to apply a flood coat of epoxy afterward, does it really make a difference? Should I sand it afterward or just go for it?
3 Answers
Raising the grain might affect how sharp things look through the epoxy layer. You might want to do a side-by-side test to really notice any differences. Just keep in mind that if your wood has a rough texture, it could show through once you add the epoxy, especially if you're doing a thick layer.
From my experience with a clear epoxy on my garage floor, the rough areas definitely showed through the epoxy, but it didn't ruin anything. If you’re flooding it like a river table, worry more about bubbles since that's where issues can pop up. As for the finish, if you're after a smoother look, sanding will help. But if you want a rugged vibe, maybe skip it!
Honestly, when it comes to feel, it won't matter much if the epoxy layer is thick. But visually, a rough finish can look pretty bad and may trap bubbles. I recommend doing at least a thin clear coat of epoxy first to seal everything. It'll help prevent air bubbles and stop the dye from soaking too much into the grain.
Thanks for the advice! I've been watching a ton of videos about seal coats. I'm excited to try it out, and your insights help a lot!
That's a great tip to keep in mind! I'm planning to do a similar project with some yakisugi'd pine and wondered if raising the grain mattered since I'm going to apply a flood coat. Sounds like I'll just go for a light sand after dyeing.