Staining -
wood, furniture
and objects
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Rating 1.5 -Beginner
Choose your furniture style
based on proportions,
design style and/or type
of wood.
Be sure to measure and make sure it
fits through the door!
 The
following demonstration is for staining
unfinished furniture. To stain furniture that
has been previously sealed, stained or painted
refer to the artSparx
furniture preparation resource to properly
strip the existing finish. Then follow these
simple steps below.
Step 1:
Using 180 grit sandpaper, or
sanding block, lightly sand in the direction of
the wood grain on your furniture. This will
remove any dirt or blemishes and provide a nice,
fresh surface to stain.
Step 2:
Be sure to sand all surfaces,
including any interior areas. After sanding, remove all
sanding dust with
a Tack cloth.
Sandpaper is readily found in various grits at Hardware store
or your local hardware store. To learn more
about sanding, different sandpaper roughness and
sanding techniques visit artSparx
sanding resource.
Step 3:
Using protective gloves, dip
your staining pad or rag in your stain and apply
to the furniture surface, again in the direction
of the wood grain. You can loosely apply the
stain over your surface. Allow to sit for a
brief moment, then use a clean rag and wipe over the
surface (always in the direction of the grain) to remove
any excess stain.
On
large surface areas, work in small areas, or
zones, but move from one area to another in a
regular fashion. In this manner the stain will
blend easily into the previous edge without
additional build up of color.
Step 4:
Stain the legs, or side panel.
Apply stain to entire area, then wipe excess
with a clean rag. When working with legs, stain
all sides evenly before moving onto the next
area. Use a clean brush when necessary to get
into corners or crevices.
Step 5:
Pay attention to detail; edging,
drawers and edges under table top surfaces. If
necessary, tape exposed areas to prevent your
staining pad hitting unintended stain areas. Be
aware that unfinished wood acts like a sponge to
your fluid stain and therefore stain may seep
under your taped areas and cause an unsightly
effect known as 'bleeding'.
Step 6:
Keep an eye out for those hard to get spots -
Once you have finished staining your piece go
around and around looking at the furniture
from all angles, insuring that you haven't
missed any areas with your stain.
Step
7:
Apply a clear water based
sealer, such as latex varnish
Latex Varnish. A Low-luster or semi gloss
sheen is recommended. Apply varnish with a
clean brush, applying in the direction of the
wood grain.
Step
8:
Allow to dry full. Lightly sand surface, in
the direction of the grain. Use a tack cloth
again to remove any dust (very important!),
the apply a second varnish coat in the same
fashion as before. Allow to dry fully, 6 hours
or over night.
Step
9: Clean
brushes up with warm, soapy water (latex
paints).
Dispose of rags and gloves properly by
allowing rags to air dry over night. Never
clump together or toss in waste while still
wet. Most commercial stains are spirit based
and can combust if not properly disposed of.
Always read label. Latex stains are also
available.
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