\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. But before you apply the stain, you have to properly prepare the wood or the color won't absorb properly. Some people believe in conditioning the wood before staining. Wish I was closer to help! Wet the wood with water before staining and let dry, this opens the grain to accept the stain evenly, then sand out with 320 grit going with the grain. Let the stain dry. Apply the wood stain onto the wood surface. Correct? This soaked water will use the wood stain on your wood surface. Keep one 0000-grade steel wool pad in a separate container. The Varathane Wood Stain color portfolio ranges from modern to traditional and is available in 29 different colors. Stir thoroughly. Sand Lightly. ... so it’s important to treat the wood before trying to paint again. Leaving this debris behind will make the wood's surface rough after you stain it. The staining portion of the project begins, not with stain, but with pre-stain wood conditioner (view example on Amazon). Pour this hot water into a heat resistant big mouth-pot. Now, it’s time for a confession. Let the wood dry. 1. Then, use a clean absorbent cloth and wipe off any excess conditioner. Do a match of the wood stain and the finish. I hope this helps. Make sure your work area is out of reach of any children. Minwax ® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner is not a sanding sealer and does not … Let the paint dry and cure, normally a week. The problem is using this stain is that you need to give a longer time to apply this wood stain. So I reported this in the Popular Woodworking article that you cite. Use a paintbrush or clean cloth and apply your first stain coat. Does Minwax ® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner need to be sanded before stain is applied? Checking for climate after cleaning: Depending on the exposure to sunlight, type, and age of wood, it takes about 1-2 days for the deck to completely dry. Next, I applied Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner prior to staining. Therefore, the wood pigments tend to deposit at the bottom of the stain container naturally. A wood conditioning needs to be done in a smooth and clean wood top. The type of polyurethane and the wood stain should match to each other. Follow my article I am explaining all provable processes to make stain darker (darker stain!) I know conditioning is an extra step that may just seem like a hassle, but depending on the longevity of the project, it’s absolutely worth it. Do I need to use the Cutting Board Oil first or can I just use Wax-It-All? I use many kinds of tools almost every day at my workplace. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Anyway, can I still put the Polyulephane on after I have already stained it and will it help dry it faster? Let the conditioner to penetrate inside the stain approximately for five to fifteen minutes. The conditioner takes only about 15 minutes to dry and will make the wood accept the stain more evenly. So, you can follow it. You should use distilled or sterile water for this. For raw wood, yes, you also need to sand before applying gel stain. To do this, use a damp rag to wet the wood. Before staining, you want to make sure the wood's pores are open, which will allow for an even stain. You cannot apply a wood stain onto a sealed top coat. Remember to let the mineral spirits on the wood dry before moving on. Remove dust with a clean cloth. Brush the stain liberally onto the table, following the natural direction of the grain. Etc. Sand the wood in the direction of the grain using fine-grit sandpaper (#150) until smooth. Use a rag or cloth instead of a sponge, which may absorb the stain. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This is the main reason behind a wood getting darker at various spots. Always sand down to clean wood (if you have enough meat left of the wood) before applying any stain. Allow the stain to dry for at least 8 hours before you apply finish. Let dry the stain for one day. If you're using pyramids then you can stain the underside first & flip them in an hour if it's warm & there is a breeze. Love the floors and will be doing this to my home. Read More: How to Get a Glass Like Finish on Wood Furniture. Staining wood is super easy if you take the time to prepare your wood the right way. Does not raise the grain, eliminating the need for additional sanding. I have already, first of all, sanded it by hand really well, then I put a coat of oil base stain on it. Keep two black teabags inside the hot water. Always wondered how to read palms? You can select any one from them to affordably darken your wood stain. Conditioning helps ensure that the stain … Finally, allow two hours for it to dry completely. Wood conditioner is watery, not thick like paint, so let your brush drip over the can for a few seconds before you start brushing. Wipe off the excess after 5 minutes. If you want a more in depth look into this process, check out the video by The Wood Whisperer has on “Aging Wood with Baking Soda”. Thanks, Jim, Your email address will not be published. You can pick one oil-based wood stain to stain your wood surface. Apply the steel wool and vinegar mixer onto the top of the wood stain on the wood surface. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Pre-stain wood conditioner prepares the wood to receive the stain in a uniform way. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. HDF Vs MDF Board: Differences & which one is Best for Cabinets? Last Updated: March 10, 2020 wikiHow's. If you are deciding to paint bare wood, you should seal all knots (spot prime) with a shellac based primer. Apply a multilayer of the stain. What color Restor-A-Finish should I … wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. % of people told us that this article helped them. Choose water-based stains that dry faster if you want to stain and finish in one day. My suggestion if you want to make sure the wood is gray, would be used a gray stain instead. Thank you, I hope you will make dark stain wood easily. We used the darkest POSSIBLE stain we could find so we would have the most contrast.. 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