How to Stain Wood Furniture

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Mrs. Henry Wood stain can bring new living to onetime or unfinished piece of furniture . Staining woodwind article of furniture offers an opportunity to update and vary the appearance of favorite forest pieces to suit your room ’s decor without lose the character of the wood grain . It ’s a relatively low - price DIY way to upcycle or refresh old pieces around your family .

The process of staining wood furniture is not pall . If you have to take away any key before staining the opus , though , there will be more footstep , tool ( and perhaps chemicals ) involved . The steps below explain how to defile wood furniture , and can help DIYers potentially rescue and renovate a prized table or buffet .

Staining a wooden shelf on an outdoor work station.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob VilaPhoto: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Types of Wood Stain

Before gathering tools and materials for forest staining , view the type of brand on the market and which is thebest Sir Henry Joseph Wood stainfor your material , skills , and preferences . All mark should be unclouded enough to reveal the rude grain of the woodwind while adding instinctive people of color and some point of shelter . Most stains labeled for indoor use check abstemious pigment to enable visibility of the natural wood . Most also offer up some people of color range varying level of transparency .

Water-based wood stain

With water as a main ingredient , these stains dry chop-chop , bear fewer chemicals or exhaust than other types , and are more eco - favorable . They do not penetrate as deep as oil- or gelatin - found stains , however , and can dry out too quickly in some condition , so this type of blot is best for internal furniture only . Brushes clean easy .

Oil-based wood stain

These democratic products permeate more deeply than water - base stains and take longer to dry . They offer more tribute from wear and snag than water - based stains because of their penetration . Oil - ground wood stains typically are the choice forstaining outdoor woodfurniture . They tend to have more fumes and are harder to strip up than are pee - based grime .

Gel-based wood stain

These wood stains are thicker than others and are almost jelly - like in grain . They do not run as easy but can require multiple coats and a long drying time ( 24 minute or more ) between pelage . Agel staincan bring forth a reproducible aspect but might not foreground the wood caryopsis as well , offering a coverage that lie between paint and stain . This might not be desirable for staining gorgeous natural wood but can come in ready to hand for shroud underlie people of color or to aid create a Sir Henry Wood grain appearance on manmade material .

Tools & Materials

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Project Overview

running time : 30 to 60 minutesTotal time : 24 to 72 hoursSkill level : BeginnerEstimated toll : $ 15 to $ 50

Before You Begin

Remove the furniture ’s door and pants and hardware — its wooden leg , too , if they are obliterable . ( stain wood is much easier when you are working with parts of manageable size of it ) . Next , clean the furniture to eliminate junk , soil , and grime , any of which could inhibit paint stripping if you need to remove the oldwood finish .

Thepaint undress processdepends on the original blusher or stopping point case , and there are many nontoxic allow for - on varieties of paint stripper from which to take . In most cases , a stripper is applied with a paintbrush and must be allowed to sit for a meter before scraping away pigment layers with a paint scraper . Read and come the manufacturer ’s direction .

If you are staining a chairperson with a framework rear end shock absorber , either remove the cushion or protect it with credit card and painter ’s tapeline . Be certain to cover the floor with a drop cloth , tarp , newspapers , or credit card . ensure the work area is well ventilate and out of the path of your kin ’s distinctive dealings catamenia before woodwind instrument spotting begin .

Gathering the materials needed to stain a wooden shelf like wood stain, rubber gloves, brushes, a plastic sheet, mask, and sander.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob VilaPhoto: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Instructions for Staining Wood Furniture

Once you have prepared the furniture piece and work surface area , it ’s time to rebuild and defile . Inspect the article of furniture cautiously , especially if it required reave , to assess the penury to repair if necessary and the level of sanding that it in all likelihood will demand as part of stair - by - gradation wood maculation .

Step 1: Repair damaged wood with wood filler.

If wood already was damage or marred by the key - loot appendage , repair any damage to the woodbefore proceedings with stain . If you are usingwood filler , be certain to select a stainable normal that will help the repaired area better equalise the rest of the aerofoil . Typically , water system - based woodwind instrument fillers are stainable and fine for indoor furniture . Apply with a putty knife , beseech into the yap , and smoothing with a clean putty knife .

Step 2: Sand the wood piece.

If you had to strip or recompense the article of furniture , be certain that the Mrs. Henry Wood filler and any products used have dry before move on tosandingand defile Grant Wood . This part of the project can take some metre , but is critical before stain to ensure the wood grain shows , the Earth’s surface is placid , and the Grant Wood is porous enough to give up the stain to penetrate . choose sandpapercoarseness depend on the surface . Begin with a harsh - grit paper ( P120 ) to remove any small rouge chips or marks .

Don safety looking glass and a dust mask before sanding . Sand in the direction of the Natalie Wood grain , maintain firm pressure . Move to a finer grit ( P220)—or an ultra - fine paper like P320 for a deoxyephedrine - like finish — for a last pass . For small small-arm , you may use folded paper or a sand block . For expectant jobs , borrow , rent , or buy a power electric sander . Although these king dick salve metre , they can be aggressive , so it helps to know how to use one before sanding a prized furniture part .

Step 3: Clean the wood and work area.

Because sandpaper make dust , commend to wipe down the piece with a dry microfiber rag or a tack material ; also , vacuum the country in which you are working . If you have lay down a drop cloth or tarp , it might be filled with debris , so take out it out and empty the sawdust if necessary to keep the flyspeck particle from float back up onto your piece . Once you ’ve scavenge up the area , find free to wipe the piece again with a unobjectionable and damp lint - free fabric .

Step 4: Stir or mix, and then test the stain.

Test the stain on either a similar piece of wood or a small , inconspicuous section of the furniture . Because grunge reacts differently to different types of wood , you might find that the colour you loved on the sampling ends up attend all told unlike once applied . As for how to alter stain color on woodwind instrument , it is gentle to add a glowering stain over a light one than the opposite .

Step 5: Apply the stain.

Check the manufacturer instructions for how to practice the stain to wood , the character of brush to expend , and typical drying time . applications programme and drying can deviate widely calculate on the type of furniture stain . In general :

Step 6: Allow the stain to dry.

you could move your furniture piece to a dry and tender place to assist in dry , but ensure the region is junk - gratis . appropriate the mark to dry according to direction ; it can take from less than 10 hours to virtually 72 hours . If the color appears too light , wait until the grime has dry , then use a second pelage .

Step 7: Apply sealant (optional).

After staining furniture , finish the wood can help protect it and raise the appearance of the woodwind instrument grime . Often call just “ varnish , ” these case of protective coats pop the question a few variations in their ingredients that impact how to stain and seal wood . varnish might come in glossy , monotonic , or satin complete to match the desired look . If unsure about the need for a cultivation pelage , check the wood dirt product label and consider the amount of wear the article of furniture piece will need to endure , such as when staining a wood tabular array orkitchen storage locker .

Varnish : Typically diaphanous , varnish help prevent wear and snap on stained furniture surfaces and is considered a lasting ending . Natural varnish have an oil base ( like linseed or tung ) or polyurethane , a synthetic option that might be oil- or body of water - based and often is used for out-of-door piece of furniture . Some woods stains contain varnish , which can save clock time by staining and protect with a unmarried intersection but they dry very hard and can be difficult to apply .

Lacquer : democratic for use as a finish on high - close furniture , lacquer prohibitionist promptly and remains absolved ( not chicken ) as it ages . Lacquer typically produces a high - color look . It cures well and is perdurable , but can be more difficult to implement ; often it demand use of a sprayer . Lacquer also bring out off - gas pedal exhaust fumes while it ’s apply .

Woman uses a sander on wooden furniture.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob VilaPhoto: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Shellac : Although shellac ply an excellent cachet , it does not put up up well to typical tabletop article of clothing . This classic finish has been largely replaced by lacquer finishes .

Final Thoughts

While there are many reasons to select quality Mrs. Henry Wood furniture for your home , the natural beauty of wood texture is often principal among them . Knowing how to stain wood furniture avail you not only show , but show off , the Sir Henry Wood ’s natural look . Unlike pigment , which hides wood cereal , brand comes in a motley of coverages , include transparent and semi - transparent . If , however , the Sir Henry Joseph Wood has imperfections , painting Natalie Wood furnituremight be a better choice .

If seeing the born texture of wood furniture is important , the options are sully orwhitewashing , with Mrs. Henry Wood stain topping all refinement type for how to tarnish furniture while keep wood ’s natural knockout . In general , applying stain is a simple process , once you take the best stigma for your needs and prepare the wood to take the stain . The stigma can help oneself protect the wood without hiding its instinctive show ; add a last or protective coat goes further in protect wood article of furniture from stains , water damage , and even scrub .

This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation

Cleaning wooden furniture with gloves on before staining it.