Staining furniture is a great way to make an old piece of furniture look new again. Staining can be tricky since the combination of a spreading stain with porous wood can make results that are a little unpredictable. First take your furniture to a well-ventilated area. Then start sanding with light-grit sandpaper. If you like the color of wood when you uncover it, then you will need to use a clear stain to preserve it. If you want the wood to be lighter, try bleaching it before you apply the clear stain. If you want something darker, then you will have to use a different stain. Here are a few different stains and how to use them. Remember to use a clear stain if you already like the color once sanded and cleaned. When you are finished and like what you see, don’t forget to apply a finishing coat, this is known as sealing. Oils provide the most natural looking finishes and are the best for the wood. This will help preserve the new look and the wood.
WATER STAINS: This stain is more of a dye and is considerably less expensive then the oil variety. You have a certain amount of preparation to do as water stains start out as powders to which you have to add boiling water.
Before you apply them, you have to make sure that the grain of the wood is raised to a sufficient level that it can take the stain evenly. You do this by using a sponge dipped in warm water on the whole surface, then letting the wood dry for three more hours. Sand it well with a number 220 paper and your ready. The water stain works well with a spray gun, but a cloth or brush works well also.
OIL STAINS: This the most popular of all stains. It is the easiest to apply and works the best with soft woods,pine or those with more open grains like mahogany. Oil stains are more expensive, they don’t mix with top coats and they dry very slowly. Before you apply the stain, prepare the wood by applying shellac that you have thinned out with alcohol. This will help ensure that the stain doesn’t darken the wood unevenly by seeping into the grain of the cut end of the wood. Next , let the shellac dry for about three hours. Use either a brush or cloth to apply the stain. Apply with even strokes, going along the direction of the grain. Wait another fifteen minutes before taking a clean cloth and wiping off the excess stain. Once you have the look you want let it sit for twenty-four hours before sealing.
ALCOHOL STAINS: This stain may leave a very sharp color like the oil stain, they don’t wear as well as the water stains. Before applying the stain , you will need to coat the surface with a high-gloss varnish to which you have added an equal amount of turpentine. Here you can use a spray gun, brush or cloth. You must work fast fast . Mistakes are harder to control with this type of stain.
GEL STAINS: These are a good idea since you don’t pour them on as you do the other. You can control the degree of penetration better. They are thick and similar to wall paint in texture and will move around the wood only if you push them along with your brush. Gels are great for woods like pine and cherry.
