Smooth & Simple Wood Stains by Clearwater Color Company are water based, thixotropic, non film-forming penetrating dye stains. They are formulated to provide rich, grain-enhancing color, and superior handling properties. Basically, these products combine the convenience of ready-to-use stains, the effectiveness, clarity and color-fastness of aniline dyes, and the simplicity and ease of use of conventional oil stains.

The thixotropic property of the Clearwater Color Company's stains means that the stain will change its viscosity while energy is applied, but will return to its thick, creamy consistency within seconds after the source of "energy" (such as stirring, applying, etc.) is removed. This property allows the finisher to control the material and apply stain smoothly and evenly without having to worry about drips, runs, or lap marks.

Because Clearwater Color Company's stains contain only dyes, they will color even the deepest of wood pores. However, unlike pigmented and oil-based stains, Smooth & Simple Wood Stains color raw wood evenly, without the splotchy appearance often associated with oil-based stains, or the "muddiness" that often comes from too much pigment concentration. Also, they will not cause excessive darkness on open or end grain as pigment stains do.

Clearwater Color Company's Smooth & Simple Wood Stains are not self-sealing because they contain no oils or resins which form a film when dried. This unique characteristic provides for some interesting and useful advantages over self-sealing stains: they can be reworked indefinitely, wet or dry, before the sealer or top coat finish is applied. It is possible to change the color of stained wood to a darker or lighter color by simply re-staining with a darker or lighter color - no matter how long your unsealed coat of stain has been dry. Once dry, Smooth & Simple Wood Stains will look more opaque. However, they will revert to their "wet", translucent appearance when top-coated with a film of finish.

The possibilities for touch-up, blending, and shading are endless - the user will always get the effect they want. All of the Clearwater Color Company's colors are intermixable. Also unique to this product line is the Clear Extender - the same creamy, thixotropic blend without the added dye color. Blend it with any color to make it a lighter premixed shade, or apply it like stain directly onto Clearwater stained wood to lighten the existing color.

Other special features of Smooth & Simple Wood Stains include:

• Environmentally friendly and safe to the user: Water-based, contains so solvents or VOC's, is biodegradable, non-flammable, and odor-free.
   

• Easy clean-up: Clean applicators with mild soap and water, no matter how long the stain has been left to dry.
   

• Staining the same piece of wood more than once with the same concentration of color will enhance and intensify the shade of color being worked with (one hour between applications).
   

• Causes minimal grain-raising. To prevent grain-raising, apply stain with an abrasive pad.
   

• Oil-free, solvent free, and non-polymeric: They are compatible under a wide variety of clear finishes such as oil, wax, varnish, shellac, vinyl, lacquer, polyurethane, and most water-based finishes.
   

• Coverage: 200-400 square feet per gallon.
   

• Handling: Do not freeze. Store in a cool, dark location.
   

• Precautions: Gloves are recommended. As will all finishing products, the end user is responsible for testing all materials for color and compatibility prior to full scale use.