Tips on How to Stain Wood Furniture

You can revive an old piece of furniture or a family heirloom by refinishing it, and doing it yourself will save money and give you serious bragging rights. But staining can be scary because it is semi-permanent, so you need to do your homework before you begin. Below are pro tips and instructions to get you started.

Safety First

Protect your eyes and skin when working with stain by wearing safety glasses and disposable rubber gloves. Remember, anything that can permanently stain wood will also stain clothes, floors and work surfaces. Always work in a well-ventilated area.

Do a Test First

Always do a test before you begin staining. If you're building a new piece of furniture, save a piece of scrap wood to test different stain colors. If you're refinishing an older piece of furniture, apply a bit of stain on the back, underside or an unseen area to ensure you've got your desired color.

Use a Wood Conditioner

To prevent the stain from blotching on the wood, apply a thin coat of wood conditioner using an inexpensive chip brush. Give the conditioner about 15 minutes to dry before applying the stain, but don't sand it, there’s no need.

Prep Oil-Based Stains

Oil-based stains consist of dyes and pigments mixed in with mineral spirits. Make sure to stir the stain thoroughly before staining so that the dyes and pigments are fully mixed together and you'll get the full intended color of the stain. There will be fumes when working with oil-based stains, so make sure to always work in a well-ventilated area.

Apply Even Coats

Apply stain with a brush or a rag, depending on preference. With a staining brush, work both with the grain and against it. Don't worry about being neat; all that matters is getting a nice, even, liberal coat over the wood. Wipe the stain off immediately if you'd like a lighter tone. But for a deeper tone, leave the stain on the wood for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off.

Wipe Off With the Grain

To highlight the wood grain, be sure to wipe off all the excess stain in the direction of the grain of the wood. That will guarantee that the stain gets into the wood instead of lying on top of it.

Water-Based Stains Have More Color Options

One of the advantages of water-based stains is that they come in a wide variety of colors, even more colors than oil-based ones. Apply the water-based stain in the same way as oil-based. To avoid fumes, go with a water-based stain.

Apply Light Coats

It's best to apply more lighter coats than fewer heavy coats. Because, if, after the stain has dried, you decide that you'd like it darker, simply apply more stain. It's easier to add more than take away what's already been applied.

Always Apply a Top Coat

Stain only provides color, not a finish. Always apply a finish on top of stained wood. Another option is to use a formula that combines both stain and finish with one coat. The product will need to be brushed on more carefully to avoid streaking, so use a high-quality paintbrush and apply the formula with the grain of the wood.

You Can Create Your Own Colors

It is possible to mix stain to make a customized color, provided that both stains are made by the same manufacturer and both are either water-based or oil-based. Do not mix oil- and water-based stains. Measure the amounts of each stain used and write it down, so you can duplicate it if necessary.

• A water-based finish can be put over an oil-based stain, but only after waiting a full 24 hours for all of the mineral spirits to evaporate from the oil-based stain. If the weather is rainy, damp or cold, give it an additional 24 hours of curing time.
  
  
• Keep old cans of stain. Stains can be expensive, and the nice thing about them is that they don’t tend to set up in the can like the finish will. If there is a skin coat on the top when the can is opened, toss it. But otherwise, it’s still good to use.