How to Stain Wood Like a PRO – 4 Simple Steps!
How to Stain Wood Like a PRO – 4 Simple Steps!
Get a professional wood finish on your next woodworking project using simple staining techniques! I not only show you what to use and how to apply the products, buy why it’s important and what results you can expect if you don’t.
Below are my Amazon Affiliate links to the products I use. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing extra, but helps me keep the lights on!
Products I use:
Minwax Wood Stain: https://amzn.to/3DwmxPj
Minwax Pre-Stain Conditioner: https://amzn.to/3BmZEev
General Finishes Arm-R-Seal: https://amzn.to/3BLv2op
High Quality Foam Brushes: https://amzn.to/3RSBoYT
Lint Free Rags for Stain: https://amzn.to/3qHxRAH
3M Half Face Respirator: https://amzn.to/3RJmNih
Particulate Filters: https://amzn.to/3QPD97M
Dewalt Random Orbital Sander: https://amzn.to/3LmkejF
Soft Block Flexible Sanding Block: https://amzn.to/3eTyCE0
I think I’m going to show this video to my Construction Tech classes. Thanks!
Great Info. Thanks.
I like #2
Do you recommend staining both sides so the wood doesn’t cup as I’m building a desk from two 2x10s and a 2×8 sandwiched in the middle and I’m not sure if its easier to stain the boards all separately or stain them once they are on the desk legs
Question: After applying the final coat of Polycrylic do you sand again with 320 grit sandpaper or leave as is?
Thanks and great video!
I liked the contrasting look of the sanded board better than the stain conditioner prepared one.
Fantastic video, and keep up the great work!
Past Life, I worked in my Dad’s Custom Countertop and Cabinet shop for 14 years.
This is the same way we prepped the wood before staining.
Sanding, cloth/sponge for staining in circular motions.
Absolutely true on the laying out the stain rags to dry out, or in a flame retardant bin.
Trained a couple guys who learned the hard way on the spontaneous combustion of rags they crumpled up.
Stay safe!
Looks anemic though
If you don’t want the wood character to come through with the stain, just paint it.
Thank you for the informative video! Subscribed!
10:26
WARNING:
Please do NOT use a sponge brush… they will NOT last…
I learned quite a lot from this. Definitely did not properly sand and prep my basic pieces I’ve done.
Thanks. Really helpful and informative. The pencil tip between sanding levels was good. Straightforward and calm.
Any idea what to do with stained timber table top with oil wax and issue is it has excess feeling of wax and stickiness which I would remove and smooth it out. This happened due to not removing excess after I stained.
Black tea is also a great way to condition your wood, and its free.
Would you recommend a pre conditioner or a water pop method for red oak?
In my experience, the water based Polycrylic is not as protective as the the oil based Polyurethane.
I have 2 desk I’ve made in my house. I made one with a polyurethane finish and one I used polycrylic. 3 layers each and got excellent finishes.
both desk have been used the same way. Both used for kid’s homework/coloring and computing. The Polyurethane has had zero water marks from drinks without coaster, the Polycrylic one has (luckily the top was Aspen so it’s a super white colored top anyways so it’s not super noticeable).
Lastly the marker test. The kids have done coloring on paper on both desks and either marker bleed through or sliding off the paper has happened on both surfaces. It has stained the polycyclic and will not come out with any cleaning agent. The marker cleaned right off the polyurethane.
Just food for thought while trying to pick a finish. 😊
Excellent video sir. Do you have any recommendations for protecting an exterior door that has zero protection from the element?
A few sharp eared viewers have pointed out my error at the 2:00 mark. The sanding progression should be 100-120-150-180. Sorry for any confusion! 😅
I think i stain it too thick on the first coat, how can i fix it? Sand it down n redo it? Thanks
Thank you for the info about disposal of rags. These mundane tips are so important.
Would have liked to have seen the same sheen used on the oil based and polycrylic comparison. Your oil was gloss and the poly was Semi-gloss.
I keep them in a closet jar, so they still wet and no oxygen, and I can always reuse them for the same product later…
have you tried water popping?
⛑️🧰🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱
Need help. I have a brair wood pipe that I want to embed a small EGA in clear epoxy. The pipe does experience some heat. Any tips to get great finish.
I tried using the conditioner on a project. Neither my wife or I were impressed with the change in appearance versus without it. It gave the piece a watered down/washed out appearance. I may try it again on a different wood species one day.
I am a beginner and I Love this simple, straight forward, how to video. thank you! Also, appreciated instruction of the safe handling of the stain rags. My neighbor had a garage fire last year from exactly what you described. She tossed wet stain rags in a trash can and awakened in the middle of the night to her house on fire. It was terrifying, dangerous, costly and they were displaced for close to a year while the house was repaired and rebuilt. What wasn’t burned was damaged by smoke and water. PSA…insurance doesn’t come close to covering the totality of the loss.
I grew up in the 80’s as well that picture you showed
Was very reminiscent of the 80’s minimal lighting over over wood finishes well it looked atrocious
Granted i like nice finished real wood furniture but there is such a thing as to much
As for my projects most are finished real wood and never shades of brown (the 80’s soured me on that)
If you have time check out my antique dresser restoration playlist
I revived an old (or so i think) depression era dresser that survived a house and was shoved in a barn for 30 years it looks outstanding and the polyurethane is flawless
And shows reflections nearly in mirror quality
Excellent video !.
Would I be able to use an Epoxy Resin over the Oil based stain ?
Thank you so much !
👍👍👍..
I sand up to 2000 grit and get a glass finish
I got something to add about sanding when doing using polyurethane there is absolutely no reason to
Sand with anything finer than 120 grit the the polyurethane wil look absolutely the same as it is a thick liquid and will fill any sanding marks left by 120
Lastly 120 sanding marks on wood arent visible
Granted in my last project
I sanded with 150 because its all i had but never the less 120 is perfectly fine and wont leave sanding marks in the final project
Great video! Very informative. I really love the look of the American flags in the background. Very nice!
What color stain is that
What am I doing wrong? The second my stain touches the wood it turns into a sticky mess that ruins my brushes and hardly spreads out on the wood.
What’s the name of the stain color you used??
good info man.
shit… thanks much for the info about the oily rags, honestly never heard that part about the giving off heat and possibly combusting
You get my like for mentioning that the rags can catch fire.
And thanks for the rest of the video, well explained.
Thank you, I have a boat load of door trim and baseboard to do.
Excellent video
Thank you for sharing…
Step1 Don’t use minwax garbage.
Step2 Get a quality NGR stain. You can spray as many coats on you like until you get the color you desire. It will even out the differences in appearance between to 2 kinds of grain.
4:56
EXACTLY… I remember those day…
Always better to spray the finish imo
This is a great video. Learned a lot!! Thank you for sharing!
Earned INSTANT LIKE on "not that 80s but THAT 80s" – Amen. THanks for the tips!!
Good video. Oil based is also much tougher than water-based.
One of my favorite top coats is lacquer. I know it’s not all that durable so I wouldn’t use it on a table top, but its smoothness appeals to me. It’s good for trim and doors.
any comments on water based stain vs oil based stain and mixing oil and water based top coats?