Wondering what type of stain to use?

Question

I have just recently purchased some unfinished open wooden boxes from the craft store and would like to stain them, particularly with a dark wood stain, almost a black with maybe some very subtle red grain coming through. I think I am looking for a gel stain. Something that has a waxy look. Or maybe need a regular stain and then need to polish it with a clear wax. I think the gel stain or wax tones the black coloring down. I am looking for that asian style. A lot of furniture in Pier 1 has what I am looking for. Before I screw all the blocks together and attach legs to it to transform it into a small kitchen island, I would like to get this done. Does anybody know what I am talking about?

Answer 1

You really need to know what kind of wood you have. Soft woods like pine can have a problem with blushing or spotting if not prepared correctly. A stain pre-conditioner (made by Minwax) can help with this problem

The level of sanding can also be a problem specially on end grain since it tends to take up more stain. It needs a great deal more work to keep the stain looking the same as the rest of the wood.

Normal stains penetrate the wood and soak in to the individual wood cells. Gel stain tends to stay on the surface. Bartley makes a jet mahogany that is fairly dark with a slight red tinge

One way to get a "two tone" stain is to put the lighter (reddish) stain on and let is soak into the wood. Let it dry and put on a very light coat of shellac and sand lightly.

Next put the gel stain on and rub off the amount you need to get the look you want. With a gel stain you can better blend the stain to make it even and darker or lighter. It might take multiple coats to get the look you want. It works kind of like shoe polish.

Let the stain set over night and then apply three coats of a wipe on satin varnish. Using a very light rubbing with 0000 steel wool between the second and third coast of varnish.

This technique needs a little practice so you should practice on the bottoms of the boxes or other areas that won't show.

Answer 2

Using a gel stain versus another type of stain won't effect the final color of your project. They created gels for projects where you want the stain to stay in place and not drip. Check at the local hardware store for the coloring you desire (they should have some examples there. After you stain the piece, you can apply a coat of varnish with the desired shine you want.

Answer 3

Visit your local Home Depot or Lowes. A gel stain will work but they are messy. You may need to stain black twice and then a thin coat of varnish or urethane.

Answer 4

Just go to the store and pick out a stain a couple shade lighter than you want and put two coats go slow and seal with poliurethane go even slower with that to avoid bubbles the shine is great and it makes easyer dusting.

Answer 5

All of them up to a limit. A good project will include the top two, crest and Colgate. Personally between Crest, Colgate and Aquafresh, my choice is Colgate. Test all of them and find out. Scientists are never lazy.

Answer 6

If you pay for my flight, I'll come and do it for you, just after the panelling.

Answer 7

You should be able to find some information here.

http://www.minwax.com

Answer 8

no, you have WAY too much time on your hands!