0.25L
Covers
15–20 sq ft
2 coats, absorbent wood
Best For
Test patch, shade approval, or a single small item — a window sash or a stool.
WATER-BASED WOOD STAIN · INTERIOR & EXTERIOR · ART. 266
Water-based wood varnish that soaks in and breathes — near-zero VOC.
LEINOS 266 is an open-pore wood stain carried in water, not solvent. A plant-oil emulsion soaks into the grain, colours the wood, and keeps the surface vapour-permeable. Two self-priming coats — thinned and cleaned with water. 30 g/l VOC. Made in Germany by Reincke Naturfarben.
Water-based · VOC 30 g/lOpen-pore · vapour-permeableCleans up with waterMade in Germany
Ready-Mix Shades
Available Shades
13 ready-mix shades — from Colourless to Anthracite — carried in a low-VOC water base. Test-patch first: because 266 is translucent, the dried shade differs from the fresh colour in the can.
002
Colourless
022
Pine
041
Teak
057
Swedish Red
062
Walnut
063
Mahogany
072
Oak
082
Rosewood
102
Ebony
202
White
212
Light Grey
403
Pigeon Blue
731
Anthracite
Wood is a living material — actual colour depends on species, grain density, and substrate age. Each shade you see here is a reference. Our specialists confirm the final match with you before specification.
Beyond the Standard Range
Custom NCS or RAL tinting at our Delhi lab — any architectural reference matched across the full colour palette. Bring the spec, take the shade home.
Two notes from the manufacturer: 002 Colourless carries no UV-protective pigment — use it to preserve the natural tone, not for weathering protection on sun-exposed surfaces; and because this is a translucent stain, the grain and any old coating show through, so strip previous finishes completely and always apply a test patch. All pigmented shades carry UV-screening mineral pigment.
Mechanism & Use
How LEINOS 266 water-based wood varnish works.
A plant-oil binder emulsified in water + carnauba wax + mineral pigments — open-pore protection that colours the grain, repels rain, and stays low-emission indoors and out.
01
Penetration
A water-borne plant-oil emulsion soaks into the grain and colours the wood — no surface film to crack or peel.
02
Breath
Open-pore and vapour-permeable: interior moisture escapes outward instead of being trapped under a film.
03
Water-repellent
Carnauba wax and the cured oil emulsion bead off rain and dirt while the surface stays breathable.
04
Near-zero VOC
Carried in water at 30 g/l VOC — low odour, water cleanup, suited to occupied interiors as well as facades.
Where It Lives
Where 266 lives
Interior panelling, trim & furniture
Low VOC and low odour make 266 comfortable to use in occupied rooms — the water-based advantage indoors.
Timber windows & doors
Open-pore stain refreshes coat-on-coat without peeling; the grain stays visible.
Vertical cladding & facade timber
Breathable, water-repellent protection for softwood and hardwood siding.
Fences, pergolas & garden woodwork
Weather-facing timber that needs water-repellency without a brittle film.
Softwood joinery
Especially suited to pine, spruce, and cedar — the woods 266 was formulated around.
Heritage shutters & jali screens
Translucent colouring keeps the grain and profile detail legible.
Compliance · VOC · InVeNa · Made in Germany
Low-emission. Honestly declared.
Three anchors for a water-based natural finish: near-zero VOC, full-ingredient disclosure, and German manufacture. No borrowed claims — 266 carries no toy-safe or institutional-lab certification, and we say so.
Low Emission
VOC 30 g/l
Near-zero VOC for a water-based woodstain — well under the 130 g/l EU limit (Cat f minimal-build, Directive 2004/42/EC). Water-thinnable · GISCODE BSW20.
Ingredient Disclosure
InVeNa Member
Reincke Naturfarben — full-ingredient-disclosure pledge for natural building products.
Open-pore stains weather predictably. Refresh is a single brush coat over a swept-clean surface — no sanding back to bare wood, no peel-strip step. Because 266 is water-based, that refresh is low-odour and cleans up with water. A film coating fails differently: it cracks, lifts, and locks moisture beneath the failure line. We choose the failure mode that is recoverable.
Read The Full TDSStep by Step
How to Apply
Prepare the substrate — clean, grease-free, and absorbent. Remove old coatings completely; because 266 is translucent, anything left behind shows through. Sand along the grain with 150-grit and wipe off the dust. Room and surface temperature not below 16 °C.
Stir thoroughly before you start — lift off any skin, then mix well so the pigments and oils are evenly dispersed. 266 is ready to use; if needed it can be thinned up to 2–5% with water.
Apply the first coat thinly and evenly along the grain with a glaze brush or roller. Work sparingly — how much the first coat takes depends on how absorbent the wood is. One even pass; no puddles.
Recoat after approx. 4–6 hours. The second coat builds the protection and deepens the shade to the finished colour. Keep to the grain direction; no sanding needed between coats.
Keep coverage even and thin — thick coats do not dry well. 266 can also be sprayed (airless or HVLP) for cladding and larger runs. Always brush out a test patch first: the dried shade differs from the fresh colour in the can.
Clean up and cure — thin and wash tools with water (a mild soap solution lifts oily brush residue). Let the surface cure for about 2 days before it takes wear; a fan speeds drying and cuts odour. Store product-soaked cloths airtight in metal or under water — the drying plant oil can self-ignite.
Application Conditions
- Substrate must be clean, grease-free, and absorbent; remove old coatings completely (they show through a translucent stain).
- Room and surface temperature not below 16 °C.
Coats & Recoating
- Two coats. Work sparingly — the first-coat amount depends on the wood's absorbency.
- Recoat after approx. 4–6 hours of drying.
Cleaning & Storage
- Thin and clean tools with water (2–5%). For oily residue on brushes, use a mild soap solution.
- Shelf life: at least 12 months in the original sealed container. Store cool and dry.
First time with Wood Varnish, Water-Based? Our technical team runs complimentary on-site walkthroughs for contractors — full application protocol, start to finish.
System & Substrates
Two self-priming coats of 266. No primer.
266 is a self-contained system: two thin coats on clean, absorbent timber. The first coat seals and colours; the second builds protection and shade depth. No separate primer is specified.
The Coating System
Primer plus topcoat — the full chain.
First Coat266Wood Varnish
Second Coat266Wood Varnish
Substrate Fit
266 works on — and what it doesn’t.
Suitable
Recommended substrates
- Softwoods (pine, spruce, cedar, larch) — especially suited
- Hardwoods (teak, sal, sheesham)
- Interior panelling, trim, and furniture
- Timber windows, doors, cladding, fences, and pergolas
- Heritage shutters and jali screens
Honest Limits
Where to use a different product
- Interior wood floors — use LEINOS 290 Interior Hardwax Oil
- Decking and horizontal traffic surfaces — use LEINOS 236 Terrace Wood Oil
- Stairs and other heavily-worn surfaces — 266 is not a wear finish.
- Painted, lacquered, or sealed surfaces — the substrate must be absorbent. Strip any existing film first, or the translucent stain will not take.
Use With Care
Working safely with 266
- Contains 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one and a CMIT/MIT reaction mass — may cause allergic reactions in sensitised individuals.
- Cloths soaked with the product may spontaneously ignite as the plant oil dries — keep them airtight in metal or under water until disposal.
- Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, call a poison centre; do not induce vomiting.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear approved respiratory protection when spraying; wear a dust mask when sanding.
- Ensure adequate ventilation during drying.
Full safety data sheet, in PDF.Open SDS
Coverage & Pack Sizes
Pick the right pack for the project.
Coverage assumes two thin coats on absorbent timber. Actual spread depends on whether the wood is sawn, planed, or sanded, and on its absorbency.
0.75L
Covers
50–55 sq ft
2 coats, absorbent wood
Best For
A window, a door, or a small furniture piece.
2.5L
Covers
165–190 sq ft
2 coats, absorbent wood
Best For
Cladding runs, fences, and multi-window or multi-door jobs.
sq ft
Enter your area to see how much material — and the most efficient pack mix — you’ll need for 2 coats.
Related Work
Exterior wood projects from our portfolio
Documented exterior wood projects. Captions show which LEINOS finish was used.
Full Declaration
Composition
Every ingredient declared on the label. The Trust Hub explains what each one does and the standards behind it.
Water-Based Natural-Oil Emulsion
A plant-oil binder emulsified in water (Bindemittelemulsion auf Naturölbasis). It soaks into the grain and cures by oxidation as the water leaves — the reason 266 works as an open-pore stain and cleans up with water instead of solvent.
Carnauba Wax
A hard natural wax from the carnauba palm. It gives the cured surface its water-repellency and a soft satin sheen without closing the pores, so the wood stays breathable.
Talc (Mineral Filler)
A fine mineral filler (Talkum) that adds body and an even, matte lay-down, helping the stain sit uniformly while keeping the finish vapour-permeable.
Zirconium Drier
A cobalt-free siccative (zirconium neodecanoate) that cures the oil emulsion. We use the milder zirconium chemistry rather than cobalt.
Mineral Pigments
Iron oxides, titanium dioxide, and carbon for UV screening and colour stability across the twelve tinted shades. The Colourless variant (002) omits pigment.
In-Can Preservatives
A small BIT + CMIT/MIT system keeps the water-based product stable in the can. We disclose it honestly: it can cause allergic reactions in sensitised individuals. It is an in-can preservative, not an active film biocide.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked
Quick answers on formulation, application and Indian-climate suitability. Pulled from our full FAQ and TDS library.
- Maintenance intervals depend on exposure. Vertical surfaces typically need recoating every 3-5 years, horizontal surfaces every 1-2 years.
- Avoid application when relative humidity exceeds 80% or when rain is expected within 24 hours. Wood moisture content should be below 18%.
- Natural oils allow wood to develop a silver-grey patina over time if left untreated. Regular maintenance preserves the original tone.
- Yes. Exterior wood must be clean, dry, and free of grey weathering. Power washing followed by drying is recommended for weathered surfaces.
- No. Despite the name, 266 is an open-pore wood stain (Holzlasur), not a film-forming PU varnish. A PU varnish sits on top of the wood as a film; when that film eventually cracks under UV and monsoon movement, water gets underneath and is trapped, and the wood can rot while the surface still looks intact. 266 does the opposite — it penetrates the grain, colours it, and leaves the surface breathable. Refreshing 266 is one more brush coat over a clean surface; refreshing a PU film means sanding back to bare wood.
- They are siblings with different carriers. 266 is water-based: near-zero VOC (30 g/l versus 260's 480), thins and cleans up with water, is low-odour, and is comfortable to use in an occupied interior. 260 is solvent-based and adds two things 266 does not have — an active IPBC sapstain fungicide and ihd Dresden / ift Rosenheim institutional testing — which make it the choice for heavy-exposure, lab-specified facades. Choose 266 for low-emission interior work and general exterior timber; choose 260 where you need sapstain protection or a specified facade system.
- Yes to interior — the low VOC and low odour are an advantage indoors, on panelling, trim, and furniture. The 13 ready-mix shades run from Colourless through Pine, Teak, Walnut, Oak, and Rosewood to White, Light Grey, Pigeon Blue, and Anthracite. Always brush a test patch first: because it is translucent, the dried shade differs from the wet colour in the can and depends on the wood underneath. For a match outside the range, ask through the Expert Advice channel and we will advise.
For Architects & Specifiers
Downloads
Technical and safety documents — citable in project specifications.
Need a Recommendation?
Talk to LEINOS
Four ways to reach our India team — pick the one that fits how you work.
Written by the LEINOS India technical team, in collaboration with
Reincke Naturfarben R&D, Lower Saxony.
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