Abstract: A wood treatment process is provided that allows surface finishing with water-based wood finishing coatings without the characteristic resultant surface roughness normally associated with the use of water-borne wood finishing compositions. The wood surface is wet with an aqueous solution of an aluminum salt and preferably dried prior to application of water-based finish coatings. The process can be carried out using novel wood stain compositions comprising aqueous solutions or suspension of aluminum salts and wood dyes.

Abstract: Environmentally preferred water-based coatings can be substituted for solvent-based coatings in commercial wood finishing processes without sacrifice of coating quality. Art-recognized discoloration of water-based coatings due to uneven leaching of chromophoric substances, such as natural tannins, is eliminated by contacting the surface with a water soluble anti-leachate compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid salts, mono/polyfunctional amines and amine derivatives and their acid addition salts. The process allows for marked reduction of VOC emissions from commerical wood finishing operations.

Abstract: Discoloration of water-based coatings due to uneven leaching of chromophoric substances, such as natural tannins and applied stains, is eliminated by contacting the surface with a water soluble anti-leachate compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid salts, mono/polyfunctional amines and amine derivatives and their acid addition salts.