That awesome project you’ve been working on is finally almost done. Maybe you built a table, or have been trying to refinish that old dresser. Now, the last step is to stain the wood and give it that professional, glossy look. If you’re such a pro that you are building your own furniture, you probably have already mastered the basics. But, for those of us attempting our first or second projects, staining wood can be a bit more tricky than we imagined. Luckily for us staining noobs, Cheryl Spangenberg at That’s What Che Said has put together an amazing list of tips:
Calculate Your Square Feet and Figure Out How Much Stain You Need. If you need more than one container, always MIX THE CONTAINERS from the beginning to ensure that you have the same color throughout.
Be Prepared and get your materials ready before you begin.
Work in Small Areas You always want a wet leading edge– you don’t want the edge of your stain to dry and leave a dark mark.
Don’t Stain Wood When It’s Warmer than 90 Degrees F. It will make it dry faster.
Don’t Over Saturate Your Wood. Apply, wipe off any excess, and keep going.