Whatever your motivation, using a wood stain rich in pigments on bare or stripped-down wood changes the colour and also highlights the lovely grain.
Yes! In addition to trying to darken or lighten a stain, you can also just change the tone of an existing stain. Much like the process of deciding on a lighter or darker stain, you can look at your existing stain and experiment to find the new tone that is right for you.
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.
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. Don't forget to Save or Share these steps for how to stain wood without sanding.
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.
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.
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.
PolyShades stain and polyurethane also allows you to easily change the color of your currently stained or varnished wood without stripping. Over old varnish you can change the color without removing the old finish or hiding the grain.
But good news – using the wrong wood stain color can be fixed! The easiest thing to do when you don't like your wood stain color is to grab a darker stain, and apply it on top of the initial stain job. If you don't want a darker shade, sanding down the piece and re-staining is also an option.
SCUFF SAND
I sand the surface as if I was wiping down my kitchen counter. You want to slightly scuff the existing finish but you don't want to scratch the finish because Gel Stain does not cover scratches or imperfections. After sanding, I remove all the dust with a tack cloth.
The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb. Typically this will be 2 coats, unless you are dealing with extremely dense hardwoods which may only be able to absorb 1 coat of wood stain. Watch this video to see more tips on how many coats of stain to apply.
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 super easy if you take the time to prepare your wood the right way. Some types of wood get splotchy when stains are added to them, making it important to use a wood conditioner before using the stain. Apply the stain in even strokes and wipe away the excess.
Oil-Based Stains
Oil-based interior stain is what most people think of when it comes to wood stain. They are readily available and the easiest to use. They usually have a linseed oil binder that allows plenty of time to remove the excess before the stain dries.
General Finishes Oil Based Gel Wood Stain
This stain makes our list because it is an oil-based gel topcoat among the easiest to use and gets a hand-rubbed look without stress. The application of this stain is easy when using a lint-free cloth or foam brush.
Generally speaking, the more porous a wood is, the better it will take stain. Oak, for example, has very large pores so it will stain quite easily. Cedar is also well known for its ability to take stain. Other woods that are commonly used with stain include ash and chestnut.
Semi-solid stains offer more color with less wood grain peeking through. This is a good option for older decks or if there are imperfections in the wood that you'd rather cover up. Solid stain is the most opaque of the stains.
With a staining brush, work both with the grain and against it. Don't worry about being neat; all that matters is getting a nice, even, liberal coat over the wood. Wipe the stain off immediately if you'd like a lighter tone. But for a deeper tone, leave the stain on the wood for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off.
Your new stain will peel off the wood, and it might look much less desirable than it did before. In addition, if you don't have to wash your fence before staining, you'll find even more blemishes and unwanted spots in the wood.
Primer can create a strong bonding layer between a stain of one type and a surface paint of another. Certain primers will seal the prior surface so that wood tannins and old stains and dyes won't bleed through your new paint.