The Easy Secret To Staining Cheap Wood (So It's Not Blotchy)

For the longest time, I just assumed cheap wood would look bad when I stained it. Turns out, there are some easy things you can do to make softwoods take stain well!
Staining End Grain Video:
• Staining the End Grain...

[@SharonPiano8]

Foam brushes are garbage. They create a lot of bubbles and are flimsy to use. I like to use a good brush that lasts forever.

[@christophermahon1851]

Good tips! Regarding over-sanding, I read a letter in one of the woodworking magazines where some poor schlub was sanding and polishing to unbelievably fine grits, like 800 to 1000 fine, and couldn't get stain to work. Their advice to him was the same as yours. I do wonder, though, if maybe that guy had some OCD issues.

[@bethanyweeksmcclure9271]

Thank you for this video! Appreciate the explanation : ) So for a soft wood like basswood, just sanding and using a rag to apply the stain is all you need to do?

[@scottjohnson3226]

Thanks for the good info! P.S. You are adorable.

[@triplet4579]

Hi there England here ,found your stain info really helpful quick and easy to follow ,thanks

[@JonnyDIY]

Great tips thanks for sharing 👍

[@blainemcdonald6972]

Not practical for bigger job

[@kostaspanayiotakis]

How about when you stain a big surface? The stain dries and when you come back in some area you add two coats of stain... That comes up with a lot of blotching. Any idea to prevent that phenomenon pls

[@robertahaynes2080]

I have this same question

[@cindypowell6358]

I stained for the 1st time ever this past week & did exactly what you recommended, even before seeing this video. Let me tell you you’re absolutely right. It turned out beautifully with just using a damp rag & I sanded my wood 1st by hand, since it was cabinet wood trim. 👍🏼😊

[@reneaurora4721]

Cool video, just wondering what colour stain that was?

[@dopeylwh]

Thank you for the tips! Really like the stain color too. Which color and brand is this? And are those wood blocks pine?

[@Pat19eighty4]

Very helpful advice. Thanks.

[@christmastubbs2613]

Makes sense, especially the rag instead of roller.

[@amberthecolor_]

Very helpful! I’m about to start my powder room makeover and I had visions of pretty stained beadboard with wallpaper but most of the stained beadboard I’ve seen has looked ugly and splotchy. Great tips!

[@ashleysayss]

They sell unfinished bead board and colored bead board now too! I’m doing a stair project and the kick plate is being covered by bead board and we are installing new stair treads that I’m in the process of staining so I’ve been shopping around for it. I’ve seen it in white of course, grey, black, light pink, and various natural wood stain colors as well. But it seemed like you could get the unfinished kind and stain it or paint it whatever color you want! I love the way bead board looks with the bottom half of the wall bead board framed with trim at the middle point and the top half of the wall done with a pretty print wallpaper. Good luck with your project!😊

[@FluffyMatzahBalls]

Great video! Thank you! 😊

[@CAPTAINJ777]

Thanks for the input!!!

[@thomascampbell5633]

Great tip about sanding to get an even stain finish.

[@MrMd5555]

Now I'm hearing contradictory explanations. Steve Ramsey & several other wood working you tubers say sanding actually opens the pours in the grain which helps soak the stain into the grain instead of closing/clogging the pours. Hmm either way sanding is definitely the key regardless off the science. Thanks for your tips

[@AButterflyHouse]

This is true for awhile! The key is sanding with the right grits. Once you get above 240 grit, the sawdust residue is so small, it starts clogging the pores instead.

[@reality150tv]

You arent clogging the pours, in fact it should be wiped down of any sawdust to begin with, what it is and she was partially right is the fibers, the finer the sanding the less fibers for the stain to absorb on, same concept of planing the wood are using a card scraper, it lays all the fibers down and it will absorb less or show lighter stain, the more fibers / rougher the wood the darker it will look and more it will take it, those fibers act like end grain. Take some rough sawn wood fresh off the mill stain it all those fibers will absorb all the stain and make it really dark, start sanding it down to finer grit to lighten the stain. For some woods like hard maple and several other hardwoods, most cabinet makers wont sand past 80 to 100 grit cause it is doesnt absorb much stain and u need as much fibers as you can without the sanding scratches showing to make it take the stain darker. That is the number one reason why i dont believe in a card scraper or using a hand plane to finish the wood before staining. The only time i use those tools is for oils or if just clear coating the wood.

[@WTFENIGMA]

I have a spot that didn't stain at all how you fix that

[@Arcticroberto9376]

Alcohol might help. Get those fibers ready to soak it up. Might be a knot in the wood if you're using something like pine, that's normal. Also make sure you've got raw wood, if there's finish on there then you aren't going to access the fibers

[@Arcticroberto9376]

@@WTFENIGMA what'd you end up doing, and did it work?

[@watamatafoyu]

I think it's hard to control pressure with a foam brush, and you can't apply as much as you could with a cloth, which explains a lot of blotching.

[@catmom548]

Very helpful, well presented information!

[@watercoloraanik4388]

I cannot understand what you want to say.

[@sjohn-777]

Thank you!

[@SteveFrench_420]

Minwax says on their gel stain to use 220 grit

[@sexylipslikemorphine]

Easier to just lightly sand & pre stain or use mineral spirits