Staining wood is a tricky process. Stain can easily absorb into wood in an undesirable, uneven way. Oil stain applied too thickly will dry incorrectly and become tacky. Fine dust leftover from the sanding process can create a bumpy stain finish. Fortunately, by following just three easy steps, anyone can achieve success with their wood staining project whether it be staining floors, staining furniture, or even staining cabinets.
Step 1—Prepare the Wood for Staining
Sanding and then cleaning the wood to be stained are important first steps. Sanding removes the previous coating if there is one, and it opens up the wood's grain so the wood stain can better penetrate the wood's surface.
If the wood to be stained is already painted, stained, or sealed with a varnish-type sealer:
Start by choosing a high-quality sandpaper with a moderately coarse grit (such as 120 grit). Sand the wood to remove the current paint, stain or varnish. Using progressively finer grits and moving toward the finest grit (such as 220) sand the wood in the direction of the grain, wiping away the dust between sanding.
If the wood to be stained is new wood:
Simply use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth the wood and open up the grain.
When sanding is complete, remove all of the dust created by sanding. It's best to do this with something called a tack cloth—a pad made from treated loose weave fabric. Tack cloth catches almost every molecule of wood dust.
Step 2—Apply the Wood Stain
- Stir the stain thoroughly before use, and remember to stir it occasionally during use as the heavier pigment particles tend to sink to the bottom of the can.
- Apply the wood stain liberally with a high-quality brush or a soft cloth. Staining pads, sold wherever stain is sold, work well for wood staining and make it easy to control the amount of stain applied.
- Remove excess stain. Wipe away stain which is sitting on the wood surface. Then rub the pigment into the wood with a soft cloth using a circular motion.
- Wipe one last time in the direction of the wood grain; this helps promote uniformity. To deepen the stain color, repeat the process until desired results are achieved.
Step 3—Protect the Newly Stained Wood
To protect the stained wood from scratches, ultraviolet light damage and spills be sure to protect the wood with a clear topcoat.
- Choose a polyurethane topcoat with the desired sheen (usually either satin, semi-gloss or high gloss) and stir the product before use. Do not shake polyurethane; shaking creates air bubbles which will ruin the finish.
- Use a high-quality brush to apply polyurethane in the direction of the wood grain.
- If multiple coats are desired, be sure to allow the finish to dry between applications.
Wood Staining Tips From the Pros
When staining soft and porous woods such as pine, fir or birch, it's best to use a pre-stain wood conditioner. Wood conditioner is designed to stabilize naturally occurring unevenness in the wood grain and promote smoother stain penetration without blotchy dark spots.
To use pre-stain wood conditioner, simply saturate the wood with the conditioner and allow it to soak in for about 5 minutes. Then remove the excess conditioner with a dry lint-free cloth. Apply stain immediately (before the wood can dry).
Applying a polyurethane topcoat often causes the wood grain to raise, creating a rough finish. To insure a smooth finish, use a sanding sealer as a pre-treatment (much like the wood conditioner above) under oil-based polyurethanes to insure a smoother topcoat.
Do-it-yourself enthusiasts are sure to see great results and a successful wood stain project when they follow these three easy steps for wood staining success.
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