How to stain and finish wood furniture

What is the best way to stain wood furniture?

The best way to stain wood is to prepare the wood surface by sanding it with a sanding block or orbital sander. Sandpaper with a lower grit number will make wood rougher, allowing more stain to absorb and create a darker color. Start with 120-grit sandpaper on refinished pieces.

Can you stain finished wood without sanding?

Minwax® PolyShades® is an easy way to change the color of your currently stained or polyurethane finished wood . There’s no stripping or heavy sanding necessary to remove the old finish !

How do you stain and finish wood?

Finishing Wood Trim With Stain and Varnish Step 1: Project overview. Sand. Step 2: Begin by sanding. Photo 1: Sand with the grain. Step 3: Clean the room. Step 4: Brush on the stain and wipe it off fast. Step 5: Brush on a sanding sealer. Step 6: Sand the sealer before varnishing. Step 7: Finish up with oil-based wood varnish.

Can you use wood stain on finished wood?

Already Stained and Finished Wood If the object you ‘re hoping to stain has been sealed with a topcoat, you won’t be able to restain it, but you can go over it with a coating or a colored stain blend.

What happens if you stain over stain?

1. Staining over stain is easy and works beautifully if your applying a dark stain over a lighter stain on raw wood. 2. You can mix 2 or more stains together to make DIY custom stains .

Can I paint over stained wood?

You can paint over stained wood trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, or most any other stained wood , however you must prepare the stained wood before painting so the paint will stick.

Does second coat of stain darken wood?

Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried fully. This will usually produce a darker coloring, but it adds a step to the process and slows production. Substitute a glaze or gel stain for the liquid stain . Glazes and gel stains usually contain a higher ratio of pigment.

Can you use gel stain over stained wood?

I ‘m using these french doors as an example but gel stains can be used on ANY existing finish. Kitchen cupboards, cabinets, previously stained furniture , factory finished, wood , veneer or laminate, and even previously painted finishes. This is because unlike traditional stain , gel stains don’t penetrate the surface.

How long after staining can you varnish?

24-48 hours

Do I need to varnish after staining?

Stains . As the name suggests, stains are coloring agents that are used to change the color or shade of the wood. In fact, stains are not technically a finish because a simple stain requires a coat (or coats) of varnish or another finish on top to protect the wood.

What is the best finish for wood?

Of all the evaporative finishes, lacquer (nitrocellulose and acrylic, water- and solvent-based) fare the best in terms of overall durability. Oil-based polyurethane is the most durable finish you can apply by hand, and catalyzed lacquer and varnish are the most durable sprayed finishes.

Do you sand after staining wood?

When using Water Based Pre- Stain Wood Conditioner, allow it to penetrate for 1-5 minutes, then remove any excess. Since Water Based Pre- Stain Wood Conditioner causes the wood fibers to swell, you will need to lightly sand the surface with a fine grade sandpaper 15-30 minutes after application.

What happens if you don’t wipe off wood stain?

Wood stain is designed to penetrate into the grain of the wood , not to remain on the surface. If you happen to spread it too thickly, or you forget to wipe off excess, the material that remains on the surface will become sticky.

What happens if you don’t seal stained wood?

A: If you don’t apply some kind of sealer the wood will be dried-out and lifeless. When you rub stain into wood , it brings out the grain pattern and gives the wood a more dramatic look. The final step in staining wood is to wipe off any excess, so the process leaves nothing behind.