How to Acid Stain Statuary
- 1). Clean the statue with a soap and water mixture and use a scrub brush to remove any dirt or debris from its surface. Any dirt will show through the stain, marring its appearance by discoloring the area covered with dirt. Allow the statue to dry for approximately two to three hours.
- 2). Place the statue into a large plastic tub on a concrete block to raise the base of the statue from the tub floor.
- 3). Fill a spray bottle with the acid stain.
- 4). Put on a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself from the stain spray.
- 5). Spray the acid stain onto the statuary. Start from the top of the statue and work your way down to avoid over-saturating the sprayed portions with stain, as it runs down the surface. Use a paintbrush to help spread the stain evenly over the statue, and to apply the stain into hard-to-reach detail areas.
- 6). Allow the stain to dry on the statuary as long as possible, from a minimum of 15 minutes to overnight. The longer you allow the stain to remain, the deeper it penetrates into the stone, adding a deeper color to the statue.
- 7). Rinse the stain off the statue with a 50 percent vinegar and water solution, followed by a water-only rinse. Allow the statue to dry completely for 24 hours. Examine the statue color to determine if it's the depth desired. If it isn't, reapply the stain and repeat the staining process to gain a deeper hue.
- 8). Spray three layers of concrete sealant over the stained statue to lock in the color and to protect the statue from moisture staining. Allow the sealer to dry for two hours between layers, and then allow the final layer 48 hours drying time before placing the statue out for display.
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