Want to add a bold pop of color to your wood project? Here’s a full tutorial on how to apply unicorn spit to wood!
I love experimenting with different wood stains and ways to add color to wood.
We recently did a test of the top pink wood stains and one of the types of stain that we tested was Unicorn Spit.
Needless to say, I was obsessed with it. So much so that I had to come in and write a whole blog post about this awesome wood stain and how to use it!
What is Unicorn Spit?
Unicorn Spit is a super concentrated gel stain. It can be used on wood, metal, glass, and more surfaces.
It comes is a variety of bold bright colors and is even Jasmine scented (it smells very good!)
Unicorn Spit can be applied with a brush, foam pad, spray bottle, airbrush, cloth, paper towel or even your hands!
This stain is thick enough that is can go on over most existing paints or stains without them having the be removed first. Just be sure that the surface is clean and dry.
If you want a more “glaze” look, you can dilute the Unicorn Spit following the instructions below.
It dries quickly and washes up with just water.
What type of sealant do you use with Unicorn Spit?
Unicorn Spit can be sealed with any non-water based top coat.
Examples of top coats that work well include:
- Interior Oil-Based Sealants
- Finishing Wax
- Sealing Salves
- Beeswax
- Aerosol Clear Coat and Lacquer
- Epoxy and Resin
- Clear Nail Polish
- Oil-Based Food Safe Sealants
- Butcher Block Oil
- Exterior Oil-Based Sealants
- Marine Varnish
- Hard Finishing Wax
- Wood Penetrating and Treatment Oils
middle: 50/50 water/US
right: 25% US, 75% water
How do you dilute Unicorn Spit?
Unicorn can be used as-is for a super thick, translucent coat, or it can be diluted. You can dilute it with:
- Water
- Dishwasher Safe Decoupage
- Water Based Topcoat
- Fabric Medium
- E-6000 Fabric Fuse
- 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Clear Acrylic Paint
- Epoxy / Resin
- Food Safe Water Based Sealants
- Water-Based Concrete Sealants
- Pouring Medium
I experimented with diluting the stain both 50% and 75% with water. It gives a beautiful, watercolor effect, but beware: the watery-er the stain gets, the drippier and splattery-er. Wow, that’s a lot of made up words, but you get the idea!
Where to buy Unicorn Spit?
You can get Unicorn Spit wood stain many places including:
How to apply unicorn spit to wood
Here’s how easy it is to give wood a bold color using Unicorn Spit!
Supplies needed:
- Gloves
- Unicorn Spit wood stain
- Brush to apply
- Clean disposable cloth
- Optional: container to mix in
- Optional: Something to dilute with
- Non-water based top coat + brush to apply
Steps to apply:
Here’s how easy it is to use Unicorn Spit on a woodworking project!
Step 1: Clean and dry surface
You can apply Unicorn Spit over already stained or painted wood, but you will want it to be clean and dry before applying it.
Take a damp cloth, wipe all the dust away, and let dry completely.
Step 2: Determine if you want to dilute
Do you want full coverage or more of a transparent glaze? If you want full coverage – almost like paint, though a bit of grain shows through – then you can use the stain straight out of the bottle.
If you want more of a transparent glaze look, mix with water (experiment with amounts on scrap wood – you can go as light as a watercolor or just a splash of water to slightly loosen it up.)
Step 3: Apply with a brush
Always wear gloves when working with this stain or it will dye your hands – a lot!
Use a brush or staining cloth to apply the stain to the surface. Remember – a little goes a long way with this stuff. Start with a small amount and gradually add more as you need it.
If you are having trouble working with the thick stain, you can spray with a spray bottle of water. This slightly thins it out and makes it easier to spread around evenly.
With a super pigmented stain, I prefer not to squirt it onto the wood but dip the brush or cloth into the stain and wipe it on that way. I just find that makes it easier to get even coverage and avoid splotchiness.
Step 4: Wipe excess
Use a clean cloth to wipe off any excess. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain and apply even pressure for the best possible results.
WARNING: this is a gel stain. Cloths with wet gel stain have been known to self-combust. Soak your cloth with water when you are done, then lay flat in the sunshine to dry 100% before putting them in the trash!
Step 5: Let Dry
Let the stain dry completely before sealing.
Step 6: Apply Top Coat
Use a brush to apply a water-based top coat. Give it 1-3 coats, depending on the level of use you plan to give the project.
Let dry and cure completely and you are good to go!
I love how unicorn spit looks and think that this is such a fun option if you want super bold color on your wood project!
Video Tutorial – how to apply Unicorn Spit
Prefer to watch? Click here for the YouTube video or click below to watch our full video tutorial!
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!