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Did you know that the British Royal Navy used acacia wood for their ships? This wood type has always been coveted in carpentry for its sturdy, waterproof build and gorgeous appearance.
Applying stain to your acacia furniture is one of the best ways to maintain its stunning look. Not all stains are created equal, though! So, in this post, I’ll shed light on the best stain for acacia wood available today.
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Top 5 Stains for Acacia Wood
Despite their toughness, experts still recommend coating your acacia furniture with a protective finish. With that in mind, here are five of the best wood stains that can help protect, beautify, or refurbish your acacia furniture at home:
Best Overall: Pure Milk Paint – Tung Oil for Wood Finishing
The pure tung oil wood finish of Pure Milk Paint is your best choice for acacia wood staining. It offers excellent protection that enhances the wood color.
Pure Milk Paint’s tung oil features a non-toxic, 100% natural tung oil. So, it’ll provide natural protection for your acacia furniture, free from chemical additives or paint thinners.
Professionals favor this type of coat because it doesn’t produce a glossy finish. It’ll give a cleaner finish than others containing drying agents, like Star Brite’s teak oil.
Product Features
- 100% pure tung oil
- Water-proof protection
- Completely eco-friendly
- Suitable for most types of wood
- Food-grade and non-toxic
In addition, this oil-based wood finish allows a deep penetrating effect despite the dense property of the acacia wood. So, you won’t have to worry about longevity on this one.
Most importantly, this wood finish is labeled food-grade and is safe for food contact. So, it’s a great option if you’re planning to refurbish your kitchen table or countertop.
It means you can put your acacia furniture inside the kitchen, and you won’t have to worry about the food or liquid damaging it.
Pros
- Compared to Star Brite or LinSheen, Pure Milk Paint’s tung oil wood finish creates one of the thickest protective layers against UV rays, water, alcohol, and food acids.
- This tung oil will coat your acacia wood furniture without altering its natural color.
- Completely eco-friendly, so you don’t have to worry about its impact on the environment.
Cons
- The main downside of using natural tung oil for your acacia wood finish is it could take 2-3 days to dry completely.
Best Value: Star Brite – Premium Golden Teak Oil
Star Brite’s golden teak oil closely follows in terms of protection and durability. It’s slightly cheaper than Pure Milk Paint yet still offers solid protection for anything involving acacia wood.
This oil stain finish is excellent in sealing any type of furniture. It works extremely well with sturdy and dense wood like mahogany, teak, rosewood, and acacia.
You can use this wood finish to protect indoor and outdoor wood materials. It protects your furniture against UV-ray, weathering, fading, and moisture.
Product Features
- Provides UV protection
- Easy application
- Fast drying
- Extra-refined formula
Star Brite’s teak oil is an excellent choice if you’re short on time. It dries considerably quickly compared to tung oil products like Pure Milk Paint.
On top of that, the teak oil will protect your acacia wood from blunt forces that can otherwise chip or crack the furniture. This finish will remain intact from the moment you apply it as well.
Pros
- Has a marine-grade rating and can withstand rot, fading, and warping from various external elements.
- It dries faster than tung and pure linseed oil stains.
- Works perfectly with many other varieties of wood.
Cons
- Teak oil can penetrate so deep into the wood grain and can alter the color of the acacia.
Best Budget: LinSheen – Boiled Linseed Oil
If you’re looking for the most affordable variety of oil finish for your acacia wood, LinSheen’s linseed oil is for you. It’s the cheapest compared to Star Brite and Pure Milk Paint.
Linsheen’s boiled linseed oil acts as a clear finish that enhances the natural color of the wood. It’s your best option if you want to bring out the natural color of your acacia furniture.
Product Features
- Clear wood finish
- Enhances natural colors
- Preserve and restores wood
- Safeguards untreated wood
- Straightforward application
Because it’s boiled, Linsheen’s linseed oil dries faster than tung oil finish products like Pure Milk Paint. It dries longer than Star Brite’s teak oil finish, though.
As an oil-based wood coating, this will provide considerable protection for your furniture. It’ll shield the wood against mold, water, and abrasion.
Linseed oil is a flexible coating for wood. It won’t crack or budge even if you’re dealing with soft or light wood that expands and warps.
Pros
- Linseed oil finishes are easy to maintain. You can use a soft, lint-free cloth or a bristle brush for a quick recoat.
- Does an excellent job of enhancing acacia’s natural colors.
- Will shield your furniture against water, abrasion, and mold.
Cons
- Linseed oil coatings can scratch easily from the outside.
- It won’t protect the wood against dirt and harsh sunlight, so it’s best to use for indoor furniture.
Best for DIY Use: DecoArt Americana – Gel Stains Paint
For small DIY projects, DecoArt Americana Gel Stains Paint is your best bet. It gives a unique shine and a consistently crisp finish to the wood’s texture.
DecoArt’s Americana gel stain is an oil-based varnish mixed with coloring agents. Unlike the others, however, it doesn’t seep into the wood but forms a thick color coating on its surface.
Product Features
- Non-toxic stain
- Creamy and thick texture
- Removes smell from oil-based stains
- Easy clean-up
This gel stain requires less preparation than other oil-based wood coatings products, like Star Brite’s teak oil or Pure Milk Paint’s tung oil.
It’s a quick-apply wood finish that delivers an antiqued, pickled, or stained color to your acacia furniture. You simply need to open, squeeze, and then apply it with a lint-free cloth or a bristle brush on the wood’s surface.
The thick, creamy texture of this coating will also stick even on vertical surfaces. It’s perfect for compact furniture or other acacia wood DIY crafts you have at home.
Pros
- You can paint it over your acacia furniture and it’ll dry in about 6-12 hours.
- It’s easier to apply than most water or oil-based finishes.
- Gives your furniture an antiqued look that’s quite appealing.
Cons
- Gel stains are only for indoor use; they don’t hold up well against the outside elements.
- Doesn’t offer the same protection as Star Brite’s teak oil or Pure Milk Paint’s tung oil.
Best Around Food and Kids: Tried & True – Danish Oil
If you don’t want the hassle of waiting countless hours for your acacia stain to dry, then I recommend Tried & True danish Oil. It’s 100% natural and is safe to use around food or kids.
The oil used in this product is non-toxic, all-natural linseed oil. It doesn’t contain VOCs like LinSheen or Star Brite, which are harmful to the body if breathed in or consumed.
Product Feature
- All-purpose wood finish
- 100% natural linseed oil
- Safe for skin and food contact
- Zero toxic drying agents
Although it dries fast, this danish oil offers decent wood protection than Americana’s gel paint. It can protect your acacia furniture against wear and tear with its tough polymer bond.
You can use this danish oil for any soft or hardwood. It gives a smooth, exquisite finish that enhances the wood’s ability to resist dirt and unwanted stains.
Pros
- Tried & True’s danish oil can dry in only 4-6 hours without drying chemicals.
- It’s safe to use for wooden cooking utensils and furniture.
- Doesn’t contain VOCs, so you don’t have to worry about breathing it in.
Cons
- Danish oil isn’t as durable as teak or tung oil.
- It requires a fair amount of maintenance if you want this wood finish to last.
Why Use Acacia for Woodworking Projects
Acacia is a popular choice for woodworking projects due to its unique properties and characteristics. Some of the reasons why Acacia is a great choice for woodworking projects include:
- Strength: Acacia is naturally dense and strong, making it ideal for heavy-duty furniture and flooring.
- Unique appearance: Its attractive grain patterns and warm, golden-brown color give projects a distinctive and elegant look.
- Stability: Its dimensional stability makes it less likely to warp or crack over time.
- Versatility: It can be used for a wide range of woodworking projects including furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and exterior siding.
- Renewable resource: Many species of Acacia are fast-growing and renewable, making it an environmentally responsible choice.
Our favorite project with acacia wood was making a wooden cutting board for the kitchen, but you can use it on a variety of different projects.
Acacia Wood Stain Factors to Consider
When choosing wood stains for acacia, there are two qualities that you need to look out for. These are its ability to protect the wood and the color and appearance of the wood stain.
- Protection and Durability
Protection and durability are the most vital aspects of wooden furniture coatings. After all, the main reason why I use wood stains is to make my furniture last longer.
Oil-based finishes seep deep into the grains of hardwood like acacia. They provide better protection against elements than water and gel-based coatings.
- Color and Appearance
Another reason I use stains is to improve the appearance of the wood. It’s an excellent way of refurbishing any faded or worn-out acacia furniture in my home.
Tung and Linseed oils are best if you want to enhance the appearance but maintain the color of acacia. Danish and teak will entirely darken and change the tint of the wood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know the best stain products for acacia, let’s look at frequently asked questions about the subject.
How Often Should You Apply Wood Stains on Acacia?
While it varies quite a bit, you should plan on reapplying wood stain on acacia every 1-2 years. It largely depends on several factors including the type of wood finish used, exposure to the elements, and personal preference.
For indoor applications, the frequency can be less, with some finishes lasting up to 5 years or longer. Inspect the finish regularly and reapply when the sheen starts to fade or the wood begins to look dry.
What Is the Natural Color of Acacia Wood?
Acacia wood has a natural golden brown color that ranges from light to dark depending on the species. Some species of acacia have a more uniform color, while others have variations and patterns.
Over time, exposure to light can cause the natural color to darken, deepening the golden hues. Regardless of species, the wood has a warm and inviting look that makes it a popular choice for furniture and other woodworking projects.
Final Thoughts
Acacia wood is one of the sturdiest pieces of furniture you can get. They’re not easily scratched and are highly water resistant, which makes them repel fungus better than other types of wood.
To maintain their gorgeous look, the best stain for acacia wood you can use are oil-based wood finish products like Pure Milk Paint, Star Brite, LinSheen, DecoArt Americana, and Tried & True. They offer the best quality and value for reasonable prices!
