How to Stain Wood

"When doing DIY projects it's important to have the right tools. It's also important to know how to use those tools. We teamed up with Jacob from Dunn Lumber Kirkland to bring you a few tutorials to add to your DIY tool belt. In this post we'll cover staining."

Kirsten Dunn

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Step 1: Lay out drop cloth to prep your staining area

Before you start your staining project, it's important to lay down a drop cloth to protect the surface you'll be working on.

Step 2: Choose a wood stain to use

Next, you'll need to grab your stain. Stains vary with the types of projects you're doing; indoor, outdoor, high gloss, or semi-gloss to name a few. Make sure you have the right stain for your project.

Step 3: Select a paint brush

Then, grab your paint brush. Here's a few tips on how to choose the right paint brush for your project.

Step 4: Apply stain along the grain of the wood

As you start staining, paint with the grain. When you look at a piece of wood you'll see that the pattern moves in one direction, that's the grain. Painting with the grain means painting in the direction the wood fibers are going, rather than against them.

Step 5: Complete one section at a time

Do one section at a time. Let each section rest for the same amount of time, because the longer let the stain soaks in, the darker the final color will be. After the stain has sat for a few minutes, wipe off any excess. Different wood accepts stain differently. You'll notice some areas absorb more color than others. Keep that in mind when choosing your wood.