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Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: DogFish on March 23, 2012, 10:44:35 pm

Title: trouble staining pine
Post by: DogFish on March 23, 2012, 10:44:35 pm
so, i tried to stain my control panel frame a nice jarrah colour, but alas the pine doesnt seem to absorb the stain like hardwoord does, when i wipe it off it basically takes all the stain off. how would i go about resolving this? i'm at a complete loss.
Title: Re: trouble staining pine
Post by: yaksplat on March 23, 2012, 10:47:24 pm
You need to use conditioner when staining soft woods like pine.  It will allow the wood to stain evenly.
Title: Re: trouble staining pine
Post by: DogFish on March 25, 2012, 06:56:52 am
thankyou, i'll remember to grab some next time i'm at the hardware store.
Title: Re: trouble staining pine
Post by: TopJimmyCooks on March 25, 2012, 05:36:58 pm
Also, you can go over most wipe on stains with additional coats and leave them a few minutes, especially on the areas you want to darken.  It looks like you've got some glue squeeze out at the joints, that will not stain well because the glue seals the wood completely. 
Title: Re: trouble staining pine
Post by: Green Giant on March 28, 2012, 02:00:25 pm
I second the conditioner.

Along with making the pine absorb more of the color, it will go on very evenly.  I made super cheap pine ply look like red oak paneling with some conditioner and stain.
Title: Re: trouble staining pine
Post by: kahlid74 on March 28, 2012, 09:38:18 pm
You need to use conditioner when staining soft woods like pine.  It will allow the wood to stain evenly.

This and also I've found a trust rag that just does the best damn job.  Find a good rag and test it on some scrap pine before hitting the finished wood project.