Staining wood is a great way to enhance the look of your furniture and wood pieces. Whether you are restoring an old piece or creating something new, staining can help give your project that extra oomph for a beautiful finished product. In this article, we will be focusing on how to stain wood with a liquid-based grain filler stain.
This method is easy to apply and offers a lot of control over the final color. It works best on bare or stripped pieces of unfinished wood because it lets you see where you have applied the filler. Plus, if any excess drips out the sides, it doesn’t matter as much as when using solid stains since those tend to be darker colors from their start.
How to Pick the Wood Stain?
Using the right stain for your wood is important. You can choose from an array of colors when staining, but the most common are “rosewood” (slightly red tint), “oak” (yellow/brown tint), and “natural” (clear). This article focuses on how to stain wood in the rosewood color with a liquid-based grain filler stain.
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- Includes 12 standard wood finish colors and 80 different color variations duplicated on birch veneer
- This color wheel chart helps save time when matching colors for your DIY projects
- Wood dye from Keda Dyes can make 5 quarts of liquid dye stain, in 5 exotic wood dye colors per kit.
- Wood Dyes are eco-friendly, offer vibrant wood dye colors, and are very powerful.
- Ideal for use on all interior wood projects: furniture, cabinets, doors, trim and paneling
- One-coat coverage, fast-drying oil based formula
- Dries to the touch in just 1 hour and covers up to 275 square feet
- High performance stain system enhanced with nano pigment particles
- Highlights natural wood grain to reveal wood's beauty
- POLYSHADES WOOD STAIN – Minwax PolyShades is an oil-based wood stain and poly in one. It enhances wood grain by combining beautiful, rich color and long-lasting polyurethane protection in one easy step.
- REDUCE FINISHING TIME – This one-step wood finish can be used over polyurethane finishes, so you can change the color of your wood surface without removing the existing finish. Use on bare or already-finished wood.
- BEAUTIFUL RESULTS – This beautiful wood stain provides a rich finish with a satin sheen. It offers a classic, dark brown color that looks great on a variety of projects. Recommended uses: furniture, woodwork, doors, cabinets & accessories.
- EASY TO USE – Simply give the wood a light sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper, remove sanding dust, and brush on a coat of PolyShades. It’s a wood stain and polyurethane wood finish that easily and effectively transforms your wood projects.
- A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST – Minwax is America’s leading brand of wood finishing and wood care products. Since 1904, we have been inspiring consumers to Keep on Finishing. We offer consumers a complete line of products to meet every wood finishing need.
- Superior UV Protection - DEFY Extreme Clear Waterproof Sealant features state-of-the-art nano technology to block damaging UV rays, preventing graying and prolonging the natural beauty of your wood.
- Durable & Long-Lasting Clear Wood Finish - This high-performance formula provides exceptional resistance to weather, moisture, and wear, ensuring your wood projects stay protected.
- Water Repellent - This premium waterproofing spray offers outstanding water repellency, guarding against moisture damage and reducing the risk of staining and discoloration.
- Clear Coat Finish - Achieve a beautiful, natural look with our crystal clear deck stain that enhances the wood's natural grain without adding color, perfect for decks, fences, siding, and more.
- Easy to Apply - This wood sealer outdoor waterproof spray is easy to apply with a pump-up garden sprayer, or airless sprayer. You can also use a brush or roller.
How To Stain Wood: Tools You Will Need For This Project
- -Drill or screwdriver
- -Sandpaper
- -Stain brush or cloth or foam roller
- -Rags or old t-shirts
- -Mineral spirits
How to Stain Wood
Step 1: Sanding
If you are refinishing old furniture, start by sanding down all surfaces until they are smooth to the touch. Larger surfaces can be done with a power sander, but for smaller detailed work or furniture that is less than 2 feet wide, you will want to use a sanding sponge. A sanding sponge works on small spaces more easily and also gives you better control of where your stain will go.
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Step 2: Wipe Down
After sanding, wipe down all of the wood surfaces with a damp rag, then dry it off. You may need to let it sit for a minute before wiping so that sawdust doesn’t fly around as you work. Doing this after each coat of stain will help clean the wood and get rid of any dust or residue from earlier steps of applying the stain.
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Step 3: Prepping the Stain
Once all of the pieces have been sanded and wiped down, it is time to start prepping them for staining. To do this, you will need a rag of cloth and mineral spirits. Dip your rag in the mineral spirits, then wring out the excess. You want your rag damp but not dripping wet. Doing this helps open up the wood pores so that they can absorb more stain later on in the process.
After soaking one rag/cloth in spirits, go ahead and wipe down each piece thoroughly with it, going forward and backward with strokes parallel to the grain of your wood. This helps ensure that there isn’t any dirt or dust left on your pieces before you apply the stain, which will affect how smoothly it goes.
Then, soak another cloth/rag in spirits and go over the pieces again to remove any last bits of dirt. The whole process can take two or three total rags, depending on how much dust is present.
Step 4: Applying
You are now ready to start staining! There are multiple ways you can do this, but the method I used was getting a small amount of stain on my brush/cloth/foam roller then applying it to very small areas at a time.
Start by dipping your stain applicator into the wood filler so that it is evenly coated with the stain. Then lightly blot off any excess liquid before applying it to your project piece (blot off = gently press your applicator against your rag/towel until most of the extra liquid is absorbed). After applying, wipe off any excess stain with a clean, dry rag or paper towel.
There are brushes available for this purpose, but I find that they can leave brush strokes in your final product, so it is best to stick with what you have on hand. Foam rollers also work well if you want even application without too many brush strokes.
When using cloths/rags for stain application, make sure that they do not have lint on them, or they will leave white specs in your finished product! It is best to use old t-shirts for staining since they don’t tend to have any lint when freshly washed and dried. If possible, lay your stained piece outside in a shady spot and let it dry fully before moving on to the next step.
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Step 5: Protecting
After letting your wood dry for a few hours (3-4), you will want to protect it from moisture and dirt until you can put on a clear protective finish. Many products work great for this step, but I am using polyacrylic because I already had some on hand. Polyacrylic is fairly easy to apply with paint or stain brushes if you want to use them.
Still, alternatively, you can get away with using rags/cloths/foam rollers like with the stain application. The key is having an even distribution of the polyacrylic over all surfaces you want to be protected. Ensure that what you are using is “satin” or “matte” polyacrylic rather than the glossy kind, as the matte type won’t look bad on furniture while the other will.
- Protects and adds beauty to interior wood surfaces including woodwork, furniture, doors and cabinets
- Crystal clear finish is ideal for use over light woods like maple, ash and birch as well as over Minwax Water Based Wood Stains
- Dries quickly
- Cleans up easily with warm water
- Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is a crystal clear, ultra fast-drying protective topcoat.Protects and adds beauty to interior wood surfaces including woodwork, furniture, doors and cabinetsCrystal clear finish is ideal for use over light woods like maple, ash and birch as well as over Minwax Water Based Wood StainsDries quicklyCleans up easily with warm waterApplication: Woodwork, Furniture, Doors and Cabinets
Step 6: Enjoy
Your wood pieces are officially stained and ready to use! Most stains come in different colors, so try mixing them together to get multiple shades of color (for example, if you mix red/black, you can get a darker shade of brown). If you’re looking for some additional information, then check out this link. It gives more detailed instructions for wooden staining boxes, which I also tried with my project piece.
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How to Stain wood- Some wood Staining Tips
– For best results, use a rag and make sure it does not have lint on it
– Try using different amounts of mineral spirits/paint thinner/wood stain for different effects (more spirit = lighter color)
– Be patient and let your piece dry completely before moving on to the next step
– Don’t forget to protect your finished product with a clear durable finish
– Polycrylic works great as a protective sealer but can be difficult to remove. Make sure you use the matte kind so it won’t look bad on your furniture
– Stain colors vary depending on the brand, dye, and wood used, so mix them together for different colors!
– For dye stains, try using hot/boiling water instead of mineral spirits/paint thinner
– Use tung oil to lightly seal your stain if you want to protect it from moisture without covering up the color or sheen. Just rub a few drops into the piece with some steel wool, then wipe off any excess with a clean cloth after letting it dry for at least 10 minutes. It will leave your wooden project looking shiny and new with a lot of character. The small amount of tung oil used will not be enough to seal the wood, so you still will need a protective finish.
– For unfinished wood, try using a clear or light-colored stain for best results, as darker colors tend to leave blotchy patches on unfinished pieces
– Try using steel wool instead of sandpaper to distress your piece if you want it to look old and worn but don’t want to lose too much of the original paint/stain color. Just use medium grit (grey) and rub closely against any raised parts of the wooden surface you are distressing. Rub gently with circular motions until the desired effect is achieved!
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Frequently Asked Questions on How to Stain Wood
What type of paint/stain should I use?
Use any finish that is intended for wood. Powder coat, outdoor paint, porch & floor paint, exterior latex paints are just some examples. Stain works well on unfinished or finished surfaces as well. Try mixing colors to achieve different shades!
Can I use a roller rather than a rag to apply the stain?
Yes, but your coverage may not be as even, so you will have to work quickly if using this method because the stain dries very fast. Also, remember that by using a roller, you are leaving behind fiber strands which can create an unwanted texture after it has dried, so do not roll up and down with too much pressure unless you prefer that look.
How long does it take for the stain to dry?
As soon as you apply it to your surface, it’s already starting to dry, so be very quick with your work time. I would recommend using a cheap brush/rag because they usually have throwaway prices and are meant for one use. If you really want to work slowly, then try using water instead of mineral spirits/paint thinner.
Water takes longer to dry, so you will have more working time, but this method does not always give great results, at least in my experience. What is cool about paint thinner is that depending on the concentration of the solution, it can help speed up or slow down the drying time, which allows you more freedom during application.
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How do I remove the excess stain from the side of the can?
There is a little indent on the inside rim of the lid. It makes it so you don’t have to use your finger to scrape off any excess, and you can just pinch and pull up for less mess!
What should I do if my stain dries too dark?
Mix in mineral spirits/paint thinner until the desired color is achieved. You may need to apply another coat, especially if your surface has deep grooves that tend to hold more of the solution. If you used water, then try adding some turpentine/white spirit, which will help thin out the existing color without diluting it too much.
Can I just use turpentine instead of paint thinner?
Yes, but sure it’s high-quality turpentine. You can use it but be prepared to take a bath after you’re done because the fumes from this solution are very strong. If you want to avoid the toxic smell and potential stains, then just use mineral spirits/paint thinner instead.
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How long will this stain last?
I usually only do small DIY projects, so I don’t have much experience with this product in regards to how long it lasts, but I know that if you apply three coats over time, then your project should last for awhile
Are there any other ways to distress furniture besides using steel wool?
Yes! Give sandpaper a try by using different grits. This method takes longer than using steel wool but gives identical results minus the rustic feeling, of course. Sandpaper can be found at your local hardware store. Also, you could go the extra mile by using sand to get a more rustic look if desired.
What is the best way to remove paint from wood?
For most painting projects, you will want to remove all traces of original paint, especially when distressing with steel wool techniques because it tends to create dark spots and uneven surfaces otherwise.
Softer finishes such as interior/exterior latex-based paints generally do not require prep work before applying new coats or distressing with steel wool. However, oil-based paints tend to require a much more laborious process because this type of paint does not adhere well to previously painted surfaces.
So how do you remove oil-based paint?
Try using paint thinner, lacquer thinner, mineral spirits/paint thinner. There are many different types, so make sure you get one that is safe for use with latex-based paints ( interior). Be prepared to follow the label on your specific brand because some require dilution with water.
In contrast, others can be used straight up without any need for water. If it says anything about adding water, I recommend you dilute first before applying. Otherwise, it could end up causing damage to your surface by leaving behind residue and etching into the wood ( possibly even discoloring it ).
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What should I do if I spilled stain/paint thinner on the carpet?
Blot up excess with paper towels or clean rags and then dilute with water. The longer you let it sit, the harder it will be to remove, so act fast! Once you have blotted up all of the solutions, use pre-spotter over areas in need, especially when dealing with paint.
Oil stains, in particular, can leave behind residue that sets into carpet fibers. If stain is too set into the fibers, then call your local carpet cleaning company because this type of problem requires professional equipment to pull out. Also, take preventative measures by putting down plastic sheeting underneath your project area if you are using these products often, just like what you would do for any type of renovation.
Conclusion
Staining wood is a wonderful way to update any surface, whether it’s your front door, garden bench, or metal patio furniture. The best part is that this technique requires very little money and time, so give it a try and see for yourself!
Now go get dirty. Oh, wait, maybe you should grab a mask or some gloves first.
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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