How to Stain Unfinished Furniture

Materials and Tools:

unfinished furniture (table #1981, corner bench #4000, bench #4003) (Mastercraft Furniture by S.J. Bailey & Sons)
220-grit sandpaper
tack cloth
rags
foam paintbrushes
sanding sealer
stain (Minwax Mahogany Red #225)
floor varnish or polyurethane

Steps:

1. Lightly sand the entire piece to remove any dirt or pencil marks that occurred during shipping and remove the dust with a tack cloth or damp rag.

2. If staining a soft wood, apply a sanding sealer so it accepts the stain more evenly. Let dry as directed and sand as above.

3. Apply the stain with a foam brush and let as much of it soak into the wood as possible before wiping the excess off. Repeat that process until the desired depth of color is achieved.

4. Once the stain is dry (about 12 hours), apply two coats of floor varnish or polyurethane to give the surface durability. Be sure to allow the finish to dry between layers; sand lightly and remove any dust before brushing on the second coat.