Wiping is the efficient way to apply stain. The purpose of this article is to emphasize what I've said in passing many times in this column: It's much more efficient to wipe stain onto wood with a rag than to brush it. Wiping is fast, almost as fast as spraying (without the downside of having to clean the spray gun).
Stain can be applied with a bristle brush, a foam brush, or a cloth. On woods with large, open pores, such as oak, mahogany and ash, increase your pressure to work the stain into the pores. Rubbing or brushing against the direction of the grain will help fill deep pores with stain.
Get a controllable amount of stain onto the rag (rag should be wet but not dripping. Re-wet the rag with stain, as needed.) Apply stain using wipe motion of the wet rag on the work piece.
No, the sticky stains will not dry after some time, which is why it is important to wipe off the excess wood stain. If you don't, your work will end up sticky because the stain did not dry properly. You will have to use mineral spirits, more stain, or sandpaper to fix the mess.
Most brands recommend letting the wood stain sit for 5 to 15 minutes to absorb into the wood and then wipe off all of the excesses with a clean lint-free rag. If the stain is applied too thick, the surface will be tacky and sticky to the touch and will not dry evenly.
The wood stain works when the pigments and dyes soak into the wood. Stain is not intended to sit on top of the wood, which is why most stain manufacturers recommend wiping any excess off stain off the wood shortly after application.
Treat stain immediately. Soak 30 minutes or more in cold water. Rub detergent into stain. If stain persists, place a small amount of household ammonia on the stain and rub again with detergent.
Lint free rags with high thread counts work exceptionally well for staining wood. You can also use rags made from recycled or new T-shirt material for staining, but it's best to avoid colored rags which are best for cleaning up after a project. White or gray rags allow you to see how much stain you've put on the rag.
Cheesecloth: White 100% cotton cheesecloth is great for staining. Since it is a thinner material, it is easier to fill the wood grain and covers your surface better. To use, simply bunch up and start wiping away stains on your surface. Again, gloves are a must.
We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain. The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb.
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.
It's more efficient to wipe stain than to brush it, and you're less likely to have color problems. Brushing into recesses. If you don't get your cloth wet enough with stain, you'll have trouble getting the stain into recesses.
No matter how bad you want to, do not rub a stain - pat only. Rubbing will push the stain further down into the fabric. Patting will move the stain into the rag or napkin you are patting with. Rubbing damp silk will damage the material.
Wiping stain is very similar to gel stain as far as being a heavy-bodied stain that doesn't need to penetrate into the wood in order to tone it to the desired shade. Wiping stain is more resistant to blotching than penetrating stain due to the fact that it doesn't deeply penetrate the wood.
After completing the first coat, let the stain dry for roughly 5 minutes. Use a clean rag to wipe off any excess stain and continue to let the wood dry completely. Stain is a fast-drying liquid, so this shouldn't take too long. Once dry, use a tack cloth to remove any dust or dirt.
Typically, cold water works great on blood, as well as food, beverages and water-based paint, while hot water works best on protein-based stains. Unfortunately, there's no golden rule to stain removal. For example, most food stains should be soaked in cold water, unless it's egg, mustard or a tomato-based product.
The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removed. When a spill first occurs, it sits on the surface of the fabric, but over time, that spill can start to react with the fabric causing the fabric to actually change colors.
Things You Should Know
Water-based stains usually take 4 to 6 hours to dry, while oil and gel-based stains can take up to 12 to 24 hours. Stain dries the best in warm, dry areas that get great airflow. Hardwoods like oak and maple usually dry faster from staining than softwoods like pine and fir.