The basic rule for getting good results with any stain is to apply a wet coat and wipe off the excess before it dries. You can use any tool – rag, brush, paint pad, roller or spray gun – to apply the stain. You can even dip the object into stain or pour the stain onto the wood and spread it around.
Unwiped stains can lead to your work becoming sticky and also spotty. This is because the wood absorbs the coat application. While the solvent will evaporate, the excess will no longer penetrate the material.
Wood stain is intended to be wiped off immediately after application. If the wood stain remains on the wood, liquid solvents in the stain will evaporate, leaving sticky pigments behind that will never fully dry. To remove tacky wood stain, firmly scrub the piece with mineral spirits.
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. Be sure to wipe off all the excess stain going in the direction of the grain of the wood.
Simply use a lint-free rag soaked in mineral spirits or paint thinner to rub the areas of over-application—wherever the stain has puddled or is thick and sticky—to remove the excess stain. Areas of over-application may be noticeable because the stain is darker. Start with light pressure (this may be all you need).
Once a stain has been dried it's very hard to remove, but it is possible. If you've already used a stain remover, try using it again. More than likely you'll need to soak the stain or use a more aggressive stain remover. On white clothes, try using lemon juice and placing the garment in the sun.
Instead, it will create a tacky surface, which may be prone to early peeling. Because the additional coat is not penetrating the wood, it is simply layered on top, which will cause the coat to be more fragile and will not offer the same level of protection as the proper amount of stain.
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. You can always use a brush to help do this.
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.
Try lightly wiping down the piece with a rag soaked in mineral spirits. This should remove the excess stain, and allow the leftover to cure properly. You can either leave the piece for another 24 hours to dry, or lightly sand it, and apply another coat of stain using much less stain.
Old t-shirts are great for this, but even paper towels work for smaller projects. But again, I can't stress enough how important it is to wipe it down with a clean dry cloth. Don't slack off on this part.
Once the stain has dried, apply a clear finish to protect both the stain and the wood—and to make the final results look even more beautiful.
You can leave wood stain overnight because it is part of the drying process. After the first coat, you should allow it to dry for at least 12-24 hours. Follow the same process for the second coat.
hazy white stains are caused by moisture trapped between the finish on your table, and the wood itself. They are caused by water or condensation sitting directly on the wood. For example, condensation dripping off ice-cold water glasses, or hot food plates resting on the table.
Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried fully. This will usually produce a slightly darker coloring with the excess wiped off. Substitute a glaze or gel stain for the liquid stain. Glazes and gel stains usually contain a higher ratio of pigment to vehicle.
You should sand after the first coat of water-based stain to flatten any wood grain the water raised, but it's unnecessary after that.
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.
Stains lighten as they dry, then return to their damp color when a finish is applied. So the quick method of seeing the color you'll get with the finish applied is to look at the stain while it is still damp. If you're using a satin or flat finish, however, you need to factor in the impact of the flatting agent.
Penetrating wood stains are not intended to be a surface finish. If applied too thickly, they won't dry properly and will remain tacky to the touch.
If the stain stays on too long, the wood will absorb too much stain. As a result, you may have a darker shade than you anticipated—or uneven coloring. Likewise, the stain can start to peel and flake off. The wood may also discolor or become blotchy.
Stains and oils penetrate wood best when it's cool and dry. If it rains within 48 hours of applying a treatment, the water will soak into the wood, and try and displace the stain. This can cause a blotchy, flaky look, rather than a smooth, even, coat.