Using most gel stains, you can darken wood furniture, or stay the same color, without sanding off the old stain. But, I usually use General Finishes Gel Stain because the finish always looks beautiful.
One of the most popular oils to darken wood without stain is boiled linseed oil. This oil is extracted from the flax plant and can be a great option to darken wood. To use this oil, you need to prep the wood surface, use a lint free cloth, and apply the oil to the lovely natural grain of the wood.
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.
Can You Stain Your Cabinets Darker Without Sanding? While yes, you can avoid completely sanding and stripping an old stain finish off of your kitchen cabinets, you will need to do some light sanding as part of this project. So be wary of any tutorials that suggest otherwise.
The sealant will (very, very slightly) darken the wood, but if you whitewash your piece it will help maintain the natural and original color. 4. Use a sponge brush to eliminate brush strokes, and apply the General Finishes Flat Out Flat topcoat.
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!
Beeswax for Hardwood
Beeswax furniture polish is great for any type of wood because it brings out the natural colour. Whether you are polishing mahogany, maple, walnut, cherry, or teak, keep in mind that over time, beeswax on wood will lead to a slight darkening over time.
4 Easy Steps to Stain Wood with Coffee
(This takes about half an hour or so.) After it's cooled, pour the coffee into the container you wish to use for the project. A large plastic container will do. (Note: You may need to brew more coffee, depending on what you want to stain.)
Doesn't get blotchy – Wood contains tannic acid, which causes the color of a piece of wood. Lighter woods have less tannic acid and darker woods have more tannic acid. Coffee has a chemical reaction with the tannins in the wood to even out the tone of the wood, reduce blotchiness and gives the wood a uniform color.
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.
Nevertheless, a dirty wipe is such an effective and often-used method that it has its own name. 4. Wet the wood with water before applying the stain to raise the grain and leave a rougher surface for more pigment to lodge.
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.
Step 3: Apply Dark Gel Stain
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.
To make deeper scratches or areas where the finish is worn away less noticeable, they need to be doused with some mineral spirits to darken the spot a bit (this works for lightly colored floors).