Tips for Staining Wood and Achieving the Perfect Finish
Types of Stain:
1. Gel Stain: Gel stain is a thicker stain which has some pretty great features:
Pros of Gel Stain:
Reduces Prep Work: This thick stain can actually penetrate top coats- so if you have a piece of furniture with a protective finish already on top you can use a gel stain to achieve a new color without going through the hassle of stripping or sanding the original finish.
Requires less coats: this thick stain requires less coats to achieve the color
Cons of Gel Stain:
Can accumulate in places: need to make sure you wipe down the surface well after applying the stain so it doesn’t pool and cause uneven coloration.
2. Oil Based Stain: Regular oil based stain is made from oil combined with color solvants.
Pros of Oil Based Stain:
Saturation: Achieves a rich color to the wood with less coats than water based stain.
Doesn’t pool: since it is thinner- oil based stain doesn’t pool like gel stain.
Cons of OIl Based Stain:
Cleanup: Cleanup is a little more challenging with an oil based stain than water based because water doesn’t actually clean it up. WD-40 will get this stain out of carpets and cloth with some success, but not always perfect.
Higher VOC: If you are pregnant or otherwise cautious about the air you breathe oil based stains are higher in VOC.
3. Water Based Stain: Water based stain is made from oil combined with color solvants.
Pros of Water Based Stain:
Doesn’t Pool: Since it is thinner- water based stain doesn’t pool like gel stain.
Cleanup: Water based stain is a lot easier to cleanup because it is made from water-- warm soapy water will usually do the trick.
Low VOC: If you are pregnant or looking for a Low VOC stain-- water based is the way to go.
Cons of Water Based Stain:
Saturation: Since water based stain is extra thin- it does tend to require more coats to achieve a really rich color.
Prep Work
Before you start your staining project make sure the wood is prepped and ready.
Remove any existing finishes: If you are not using gel stain, or seek a really rich color sand or strip the existing finish.
Wash the wood: use a damp microfiber cloth to remove any dust or debri from the surface.
Repair any damage: If the wood has gouges, chips or dings you will want to sand them or fill them in with a stain-able wood filler (go for the thick stuff that really hardens).
Achieving the Perfect Color
Choose a Variety: Purchase a variety of stain samples in different brands and colors that interest you and try them all out on a test piece of wood. You will be shocked by how different the same color in a different brand will be.
Mixing the perfect color: If you can’t find the perfect color try mixing stains. NO don’t mix half of one in with half of another-- put a coat of Stain A on a scrap piece of wood-- let it dry-- then put Stain B over the top.
Protecting Your Finish
Once you have your stain the level you like make sure you protect your finish with a few coats of polyurethane. You have some options with polyurethane as well-- so check out the blog on wax vs polyurethane.
