Penetrating finishes natural wood

Penetrating. The penetrating finishes are the second broad classification of natural wood finishes. These finishes do not form a film on the wood surface. 

Opaque Stains. Solid color or opaque stains are another classification of finishes sometimes inaccurately described as natural wood finishes. These finishes are high in pigment content and completely mask the color and figure of the wood. Surface texture is retained and these finishes yield a flat appearance. They do protect wood against UV degradation, but tend to perform more like paints in that they do not penetrate the wood surface to any degree. 

Solid-Color Stains, Solid-color stains are opaque finishes (also called hiding, heavy-bodied, and opaque stains) that come in a wide range of colors and are made with a much higher concentration of pigment than the semitransparent penetrating stains. As a result, solid-color stains totally obscure the natural wood color and grain. Oil-based or alkyd solid-color stains form a film much like paint, and consequently they can peel from the substrate. Latex-based solid-color stains are also available and likewise form a film. Both oil-based and latex-based solid-color stains are similar to thinned paints and can usually be applied over old paint or semitransparent stains. 

Waterproofs treated or untreated wood while penetrating oils bring out the natural wood grain finish. Prevents swelling, cracking and warping. 

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