I have passed up so many awesome treasures, because I didn't want to take on the process of refinishing wood. I have found the perfect solution WITHOUT sanding or stripping!! General Finishes carries a line of gel stains that can be applied over finished wood.
Apply the gel stain over the existing stained wood using a chip or sponge brush. Work in small areas as you do not want the stain to start to dry. Wipe away a small area with a clean cloth to test if the stain is dark enough.
Make sure you sand the wood well before applying stain. Any scratches will be enhanced by stain. Sanding will also help open up the pores of the wood so that they can absorb stain better. Start with 80 grit to remove big scratches and imperfections, then move up to 120 and finally 220 grit.
For pieces where you have a dark finish and want to go lighter, you will need to remove the existing finish first. Then, determine what undertone your wood has and counteract it with an appropriate stain color. For pieces that are a light finish, and you want to go darker, you can simply apply a darker stain!
How does vinegar darken wood? Vinegar causes steel wool to oxidize, or basically rust. That rust “dyes” the vinegar. Then, that vinegar reacts with the color of the wood that you apply it to, giving it a new, deeper color.
Staining wood is perhaps the best way to change its existing color. Traditional water-based wood stain penetrates the surface of the wood. This allows the natural grain and patterns of the wood to show through,while still changing it's color. Water-based wood stain actually penetrates better then oil-based wood stain.
You do not need to sand off the previous stain and finish. The purpose of the light sanding is to give a little tooth to the surface to help your new stain colour stick.
Removal is Not Always Necessary
In some cases, you can get away with leaving the previous coat as it is, as long as you perform the other necessary preparation steps, such as sanding and power washing.
Using a lint free rag is the best way to apply wood stain because it is great for controlling the amount of stain that is applied and for removing any excess stain. Also, the rag leaves a beautiful, even, and brush stroke free finish. It also can easily be thrown out once finished.
Use Steel Wool to Lighten Stained Wood
Steel wool is a viable option to lighten wood without sanding. Start by dampening your 0000 steel wool in warm water. Run the steel wool along the grain of your wood to avoid scratching it.
The new stain you are applying over the old stain should be compatible. For instance, if it's an oil-based stain, apply another oil-based stain. If it's a water-based stain, apply another water-based stain. Incompatible stains can lead to poor adhesion or blotchy and uneven finish.
Gel Stains are highly pigmented like a paint/stain combo and they do not sink into the wood but rather sit on top of it. This is why they CAN be used to cover up an existing finish! Light even coats are recommended so you don't end up with a tacky mess.
If you're just using a regular stain, it can provide some degree of protection compared to totally unfinished wood. But it isn't good enough. If you set a drink on a piece of wood that you've stained by not sealed, for example, it's going to leave water rings that you can't wipe out.
Wood Brightener does 3 things for your deck: It neutralizes any remaining stain stripper or wood cleaner. It restores and brightens wood to its natural, bare state. It opens the pores of the wood.
Yes—you could sand the wood all the way down to the bare wood underneath the stain and then re-stain it with a lighter color.
If you're going from a light stain to a dark stain, there's no need to strip away the existing stain first. However, keep in mind that the existing stain may alter the color of the finished product. Sand the surface of your project lightly with fine-grit sandpaper.
But, if you are in a pinch, it is possible to stain over paint without sanding. Make sure that the paint is completely dry. Also, make sure to read the back of the can. You should also apply a coat of primer beforehand to create an adhesive surface for the stain.
PolyShades® will work over stained wood (meaning it does not have a clear protective finish) or wood top-coated with a polyurethane-based finish. Proper surface preparation is necessary to ensure adhesion, so make sure you follow preparation tips provided in this Guide.
Applying a darker stain over a lighter stain is super easy and works really well. You do not need to completely sand away the old stain color. All you need to do is lightly sand the surface so the new stain color can adhere well.