Staining
Colouring wood while preserving the visible grain.
Staining introduces colour pigments into the upper layers of the wood to change its colour without concealing the natural grain. Unlike lacquering, a stain does not provide surface protection on its own — the wood must subsequently be oiled or lacquered. Stains are well suited to enhancing the appearance of less expensive timber species but require high-quality, uniform wood, as irregularities may become more visible through the stain.