Finishing Techniques

We understand the important role that kitchen and bath cabinetry play in defining a home's personality. Research has shown that over 80% of purchases are made based on the color of these two important rooms. Having a large selection of colors and wood species available is essential in today's rapidly changing market. With the consumer's ability to experience different colors, wood species and textures through mediums such as the internet and magazines, the market place goes through “the in-thing” at an alarming rate. These trends naturally create an appetite for new colors very quickly. These rapid changes in style have forced all cabinet manufacturers to increase their selection of stain, paint and glaze colors and techniques on a larger selection of wood species than ever. Our collaboration with world-renowned color experts, including those with the Akzo Nobel Valspar group, give us a distinct advantage in this area. This knowledge, in turn, enables our customers to offer the most desirable products to the marketplace. Elias Woodwork's selection of products is constantly evolving and our design team is working hard at keeping up with the fast pace of change in today’s kitchen and bath industry. 

The following section is devoted to explaining the products, equipment and procedures used to achieve the top quality coatings that we are proud to offer. Elias Woodwork works hard to maintain the best quality and step-by-step procedures for all stains, paints, glazes and top coats and our goal is that you will notice the difference.

We are constantly driven to making our industry more sustainable. Our products are formulated to have a reduced impact on the environment without sacrificing performance and durability. Over-spray that occurs on the flat line spray machines is captured and remixed back into the system keeping waste to a minimum. 

COLOR SAMPLE BEST PRACTICES

Elias Woodwork & Manufacturing solid color samples serve as a good representation of color and tone which our consumers can expect in a painted finish. Minor variations in tone and texture may be noticeable across different species or substrates. The color of a Solid Color Lacquer Paint Finish, particularly light colors, may shift slightly over time with exposure to direct sunlight.

If you plan to complement the renovation with additional material by matching the finish locally, we highly recommend waiting until the live order has arrived and using finished product for the match requirements instead of using the color swatch. This will ensure that you’re getting a unique match to the current material.

To continue providing your customers with good representation of Solid Color Lacquers, we suggest ordering replacement samples every 1-2 years. Please contact your Customer Service Specialist as these are required.

 

          

Clear Coats

Elias Woodwork uses a low gloss post catalyzed laquer (conversion varnish) as the standard sheen for clear finishes. Clear coats are applied onto the product by machine while lying horizontally to achieve a high solids, no sag, no run finish. It is then transferred directly into a flashoff oven. This oven has a controlled environment and temperature. The oven is key to preventing airborne particle contamination of the top coat. The result of this process is a clear coat that measures approximately 3.2 mils thick with very little to no airborne particle contamination.

Stains

Elias Woodwork offers a large range of standard stain colors on a large variety of wood species. Each of the stain colors has been chosen by industry experts and represents the latest trends in color and fashion. These finishes are applied in a variety of different ways. From traditional wipe-on stains and no-touch spray stains to multi-step combination stains. Each stain color and application technique is carefully developed in collaboration with the experts at Akzo Nobel Coatings. The chemists from Akzo Nobel are at the Elias Woodwork facility during stain development and testing. Together, we work to develop colors and techniques that your company will benefit from. Stains are carefully developed with the following principles: pleasing to the consumer, repeatable by our production department and economical for you. Elias Woodwork uses machines when applying stains wherever possible which helps maintain consistency and reduce application cost. To maintain consistency we keep two complete sets of color samples on file for reference. One of these sets of samples is safely stored outside of our spray facility and protected from the degrading effects of light. The other set is kept in the spray booth and is compared to all finished product, to help maintain color consistency. Elias Woodwork has dedicated full-time personnel whose job it is to study and maintain stain and color. These people understand things that impact the final color and things like lighting and wood species are carefully considered in the development stages. We carefully consider the different lighting sources in the development process so our stain colors will look correct in all lighting sources. We understand the importance of color and it will show. A low gloss top coat is standard on all stained products.

NOTE: The final colour of any wood stain is always a combination of the stain itself, and the colour of the underlying raw wood.  No two trees are the same, and some range in finish colour should be expected due to variations in raw wood colour, grain, texture, density, and age. Darker stains will more readily hide the colour variations within a given wood species.  The lighter the stain finish, the more the natural woodgrain and colour variations will show through.

SPRAY STAIN: Our spray stains are applied by spraying the stain onto the product and allowing it to dry.  Spray equipment and spraying technique are major factors that influence the colour and look of a spray stain.  We apply our spray stains using machines whenever possible, in order to ensure more colour and finish consistency.  As with any stain finish, solid lumber and veneer of the same species may not match exactly, due to the fact that veneer tends to absorb stain more readily than solid wood.  Only experienced finishers should attempt to apply spray-stain finishes.

WIPE STAIN: Our wipe stains are applied by spraying the stain onto the product, and then immediately wiping it off with a rag.  It’s important to note that a wipe stain can result in a somewhat blotchy “rustic” look, depending on the wood grade and species. Maple is a common species that is particularly prone to this blotchy “rustic” wipe stain effect. The colour and darkness of a given wipe stain can also appear significantly different on solid wood versus veneer, which is particularly noticeable on plywood panel shaker doors with solid wood frames. Wipe stains can result in a very pleasant look, depending on taste, and are best suited to individuals who are comfortable with more colour variation across their product.

All of Elias Woodwork's standard stain colors can be purchased separately in one litre or four litre quantities. Touch up stain pens and fill sticks are also available in select colors.

Please ask your Customer Service Specialist for a complete stain sample set.

See available stain colors in our Inspiration Gallery here. 

Solid Color Lacquer (Paint)

Elias Woodwork offers a full solid color lacquer (i.e. paint) selection. The standard sheen of solid color finishes is 10°. The solid colors are machine sprayed and oven dried. The product is machine sprayed horizontally to achieve high solids, with a no-sag, no-run finish. It is then machine transferred directly into flash off ovens. These ovens are environment and heat controlled. The ovens are key to preventing airborne particle contamination from getting trapped in the top coats. The result of this process is a coat that measures approximately 3.2 mils thick with very little to no airborne particle contamination. Our glazes and different glaze techniques can be added to the solid colors, creating many different eye pleasing combinations. We have a standard solid color selection, please ask for a full sample color chain. Custom color formulations or matches are possible, please ask a Customer Service Specialist for more information. 

See our Solid Color Collection in the Inspiration Gallery.

Touch Up Kits

Elias Woodwork stocks touch up kits to match many of our most popular stain, paint, RTF and DLV colors. These kits are user friendly and can be very useful for quick repairs to put the finishing touch on your job. Both pens and putty sticks are available.

Touch Up Kit

Priming Only

When “prime only” is required the following should be expected:

Molding – Our standard procedure is to use a white primer and spray the face and edges of the molding only. The molding will not be scuff sanded after the primer has been applied. Please inquire if different specifications are required.

Raised panel cabinet doors – The MDF raised panel will be primed with white primer prior to assemble. The flat surface of the panel and the profiled edge of the panel will be scuff sanded prior to assembly of the door. Then the entire door will be primed with white primer. After this coat of primer has been applied the door is not scuff sanded. Please inquire if different specifications are required.

Recessed panel cabinet doors – MDF flat insert panels will be primed with white primer prior to assembly. Then the entire door will be primed with white primer. After this coat of primer has been applied the door is not scuff sanded. Please inquire if different specifications are required.

Miscellaneous Accessories – Most accessories can be primed. Our standard default primer color is white. After the primer has been applied the accessories are not scuff sanded. Please inquire if different specifications are required.

Sheen

Low gloss sheen is the default standard for stained or clear coated products.
Flat Sheen is optional for stained or clear coated products.
Low 10° sheen is the default for solid color lacquers.

Glazes

Elias Woodwork offers glaze finishes that can be used together with any of our clear, stained or painted finishes. Our standard glaze is a dry type and is applied using the old world techniques. We also work with wet glazes, and when used together with solid color paints, this creates a look from a different time (brushstroke glaze technique uses a wet glaze). Elias Woodwork personnel apply glazes by hand, let them dry and finish the technique by hand, leaving a glazed finish that give our new product an old look. We find there is no substitute to this age old hand process and no machine can duplicate a natural looking glaze finish. Every piece that you see is a piece of art; it is done by hand, adding to its unique look. Elias offers three different glazing techniques. Adding glaze to a beautifully finished cabinet door produces abundant opportunities. Glazes can be added to any type of finish: clear coat, stain or solid color. Please ask your Customer Service Specialist for more details.

See Samples of Glaze Colors and Techniques in the Inspiration Gallery.

Glaze Techniques Defined

Artisan Glaze
This technique produces straight, clean glaze lines. The glaze is sprayed onto the cabinet door, and then hand-rubbed off, remaining in the grooves and corners of the cabinet door. The part of the product that does not have glaze on it will be cleaned off entirely, giving a crisp and clean contrast between the glazed and non-glazed areas. (Elias code = “A”)

Image showing Artisan Licorice Glaze on Satin White
Artisan Licorice on Satin White
 
Feathered Glaze
This technique has a heavier build of glaze in the deeper grooves and fades off into the smooth flat areas. The Feathered technique allows for some  glaze to appear on the smooth surfaces but will be most concentrated in the grooves and corners of the doors. Most would agree that this look gives you a more “old” or “antiqued” look. (Elias code = “F”)

Image shows Feathered Mocha Glaze on Sandstone
Feathered Mocha on Sandstone
 
Brushstroke Glaze
This wet glaze does not dry instantly and can be “worked with” while wet for a short period of time. We manipulate the wet glaze with a brush, creating a “grain” direction on the surface of the door. This technique reproduces a look similar to a antique cabinet door, recreating the feeling of a home from another time. (Elias code = “B”)

Image shows Brushstroke Portabello Glaze on Cinder Grey
Brushstroke Portabello on Cinder Gray
 

Stain & Clear Coat Finishing

Solid Color Lacquor Finishing Video