Wood stain options enable you to match your preferences with many variables in wood tone. You can select from ready-made stains or mix your own. The finished look depends on the kind of wood you're staining and how you choose to apply the stain.
Stains are available in a wide variety of wood tones, as well as pastels. Your paint dealer probably has samples so that you can see how the various stains look on real wood. Let your décor and your tastes determine which is stain is best for you. For nicely grained wood such as oak, a good choice is to use a stain that enhances the grain pattern. For furniture made of less attractive wood or mismatched pieces of wood; pastels are a good choice, because they conceal the grain of the wood.
Pine and other softwoods tend to have uneven grains that absorb stain unevenly, creating a blotchy appearance. To prepare softwood for staining, first apply a coat of wood conditioner designed to control stain penetration and help you achieve a uniform stain job.
Making your own
Also, you can mix different wood stains together to make your own unique stain. If you decide to experiment by mixing stains together, mix enough stain to do the entire job. Measure the proportions carefully, because if you run out of custom stain in the middle of a project, it's difficult to match that color or tone exactly. If you accurately measure the proportions, you can remix another batch of the stain without trying to reinvent the recipe.
You can make your own stain by thinning any alkyd paint with mineral spirits. For example, for a deep black stain, thin flat black alkyd paint with mineral spirits. Start with a quart of black paint and a quart of mineral spirits, and then add more mineral spirits, testing often on scrap wood until you get just the result you want.
Applying stain
The way you apply the stain depends on the results you want to achieve. One option is to use a sponge or folded cloth to wipe on a stain product, and then apply a finish or topcoat of sealer, varnish, shellac, or polyurethane. Polyurethane is quick drying and provides a durable finish, so it has become the popular choice, replacing the varnishes and shellacs of yesteryear. Polyurethane is available in both satin and gloss sheens.
 | Another wood-finishing option is to use a product that combines a stain and a durable polyurethane finish in one application. Multiple coats of this product give the wood a deeper color and a more durable finish. Sand lightly between coats. Other options include using polyurethane finish alone, for a natural wood tone on bare wood. Or you can apply a stain, followed by a topcoat of tung oil or paste wax, both of which provide a durable finish that protects the wood and its finish. |
| When finishing furniture or cabinets, coat all wood surfaces including the inside of drawers and doors to prevent the wood from warping. If you have warped cabinet doors, try this painter's trick: Lay the door on a flat surface, with the bowed side up, and stack books or other weights on the door. Leave the weights in place until the door straightens. Then apply an extra coat of finish to the inside of the door to prevent moisture from penetrating into the surface of the wood and causing warpage. |
The process for staining and finishing wood is the same whether the wood is new or stripped:
1. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the stain.
2. Pour a small amount of stain into an open pan or a paint roller tray.
3. Dip a clean sponge, cloth, or paintbrush into the stain and squeeze out the excess.
The pigment in the stain settles to the bottom of the can after several hours. For a more uniform stain job, stir the stain at regular intervals.
4. Using long, continuous strokes, apply the stain to a small area at a time, following the grain pattern of the wood as shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1: Apply stain in the direction of the wood grain. |
5. Wipe the wet stain with a clean, dry cloth to even out the application and to remove excess stain.
Repeat for a darker tone.
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