In this post: Here’s a simple and easy tutorial for how to stain wood. You can use it for many projects and it’s super simple to do once you learn how!
There ’ s one DIY proficiency that we use more than any other around here, and that ’ s staining wood. From our DIY Blanket Ladder to our Balustrade Coffee Table and all the little projects in between, learning how to stain wood has been one of the most useful skills we learned to DIY !
Should You Use Water or Oil-Based Stain for Your Project?
It can be baffling to decide which type of mark to use, oil or water based. Below are the advantages to using each one and what I prefer .
The advantages to using water-based stain :
- they are much less smelly and are therefore safer to use in smaller spaces or indoors if necessary
- they’re non-flammable
- they dry much quicker than oil-based stains
- the rags and brushes you use with water-based stain aren’t likely to spontaneously combust, even if you don’t lay the rags flat to dry
The advantages to using oil-based stain :
- the coverage is much nicer
- dry time is longer, so you don’t have to work quite as fast and the finish is more even
- less long term maintenance
I prefer to use oil-based stains for my projects because I find water-based stains tend to look like watered down paint because their tinge is so pigment, which is generally not the look I ’ meter going for !
What Should You Use to Apply the Stain?
There are a few unlike options for what you can use to apply your stain .
If you ’ re using a water based mark, you can use a abound brush that ’ south mean for acrylic or latex paint key. You can besides use a clean, lint loose rag, a foam brush or a forte dirt “ broadcaster ” .
You can use all of the like things for applying oil-based stain, with the exception that if you choose to use a brush, you need to use one mean for oil-based finishes .
If the wood you’re using for your project has a large grain, or very open “pores”, you will want to use an applicator that can take the abuse of pressing hard to get the stain into the grain.
How to Stain Wood Step-by-Step Tutorial with Photos
In ordain to show you how to stain woodwind, I ’ ve take two offcut pieces of pine 2x4s. I ’ m going to prep and stain both of them as I would any other wood project, with one exception : I ’ thousand going to use pre-stain woodwind conditioner on one piece, but not the other. This will allow you to see the remainder the extra humble step makes to your finished project. Let ’ s get started, shall we ?
Materials
Instructions
1. The first base thing you want to do is prep your wood stick out for staining. Starting with a low number/coarse grit emery paper, sand your wood second and forth, with the guidance of the grain to avoid adding scratches. then use a fine higher number/finer grit sandpaper and backbone it again in the same manner .
If you have any confusion about which sandpaper to use, learn more here: Sandpaper Grits and Their Uses – What Do Those Sandpaper Numbers Mean?
2. When your wood is nice and fluent, wipe it down with a sheet fabric. This will help remove all the debris leftover from sanding, and prevent your stain from getting gooped up .
3. Open your pre-stain forest conditioner and give it a good bustle with a stir joint. Using a foam brush, apply pre-stain wood conditioner, in the steering of the woodwind grain. It will look like watered down glue, but it will dry diaphanous. Let model for one to five minutes .
4. Wipe off any excess pre-stain woodwind conditioner with a clean, lint-free towel or call on the carpet .
Pre-stain wood conditioner is an optional step when you’re staining a project. But I highly recommend it because it helps to create a lovely smooth finish. Without it, your stain may appear blotchy or uneven when your project is finished.
5. now open your forest stain of option and give it a estimable stimulate with a stir joint .
You don’t want to shake the can to mix it up as bubbles will form that will transfer to your wood project. And once they pop they will leave weird markings in your stain.
6. Using a new foam brush, apply a liberal sum of wood tarnish to your undertaking. If your project is made from forest with a pronounce granulate, you may need to dab some stain into the deeper grain, grooves and knotholes, or even apply it against the grain to ensure good coverage .
7. then let your stain sit down for one to three minutes. The longer you leave it on the dark it will be .
If you leave the stain sit for too long, it will become tacky and hard to wipe off. Don’t leave it any longer than the longest recommended time on the stain packaging. If you want a darker look, try a second coat after the recommended drying time, or a darker stain.
8. Wipe off the excess blot with a clean lint free fabric, going with the grain to avoid twirl or fabric marks in your finish. Let dry for one hour before applying a second coat or a finish lead coat like polycrylic or wax .
And that ’ s how you stain woodwind in just a few childlike steps !
Make sure you lay your rags and brushes out flat to dry, especially if you used oil-based stain!
How to Stain Wood Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
If you ’ re a ocular apprentice, I ’ ve got capital news for you ! I ’ ve put in concert a how to video for staining forest. It ’ s reasonably brusque and sugared – and is arrant if you ’ re a ocular or auditory learner .
Be certain to subscribe to our Youtube duct indeed you don ’ t miss any of our video !
Printable How to Stain Wood Tutorial
If you ’ d like to be able to take this tutorial with you out to the garage or your workshop, here ’ s a printable version. Just print and go !
Continue to Content
How to Stain Wood – Step-by-Step Tutorial
homework time :
5 minutes
active prison term :
30 minutes
extra time :
1 hour
total time :
1 hour
35 minutes
trouble :
Easy
Estimated cost :
Cost Depends on Project
here ’ s a simple and easy tutorial for how to stain wood. You can use it for many projects and it ’ s superintendent elementary to do once you learn how !
Materials
- 80 grit sandpaper
- 120 grit sandpaper
- Pre-stain wood conditioner – local hardware store
- Stain – local hardware store
Tools
- Tack cloth
- Stir sticks
- 2 Foam brushes
- Lint free rags
Instructions
- The first thing you want to do is prep your wood project for staining. Starting with a low number/coarse grit sandpaper, sand your wood back and forth, with the direction of the grain. Then use a finer higher number/finer grit sandpaper and sand it again in the same manner.
- When your wood is nice and smooth, wipe it down with a tack cloth. This will help remove all the debris leftover from sanding, and prevent your stain from getting gooped up.
- Open your pre-stain wood conditioner and give it a good stir with a stir stick. Using a foam brush, apply pre-stain wood conditioner, in the direction of the wood grain. It will look like watered down glue, but it will dry transparent. Let sit for one to five minutes.
- Wipe off any excess pre-stain wood conditioner with a clean, lint-free towel or rag.
- Now open your wood stain of choice and give it a good stir with a stir stick.
- Using a new foam brush, apply the wood stain to your project going with the grain. If your project is made from wood with a pronounced grain, you may need to dab some stain into the deeper grain, grooves and knotholes, or even apply it against the grain to ensure good coverage.
- Then let your stain sit for one to three minutes. The longer you leave it on the darker it will be.
- Wipe off the excess stain with a clean lint free cloth. Let dry for one hour before applying a second coat or a finishing top coat like polycrylic or wax.
Notes
- If you have any confusion about which sandpaper to use, learn more in my blog post titled Sandpaper Grits and Their Uses – What Do Those Sandpaper Numbers Mean?
- Pre-stain wood conditioner is an optional step when you’re staining a project. But I highly recommend it because it helps to create a lovely smooth finish. Without it, your stain may appear blotchy or uneven when your project is finished.
You don’t want to shake the can to mix it up as bubbles will form that will transfer to your wood project. And once they pop they will leave weird markings in your stain. - If you leave the stain sit for too long, it will become tacky and hard to wipe off. Don’t leave it any longer than the longest recommended time on the stain packaging. If you want a darker look, try a second coat after the recommended drying time, or a darker stain.
Did you make this project?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photograph on Pinterest
Wood Stain Projects to Get You Started
nowadays that you know how to stain wood, you can use this technique on SO many projects. Signs, frame, tables, ladders and more. hera ’ s a number of some of our projects to get you started :
Read more: Microwave Scrambled Eggs
Have you learned how to stain wood for your own home DIY projects?
