How to Stain Wood Instructions

¶ Success in staining a surface beautifully and with the even color usually desired depends largely upon your procedure, upon which part of the surface is colored first and how you follow through to the conclusion. This subject has been touched upon earlier in this chapter and here are a few more points which will help the new man to develop his working methods.

¶ When painting a wall panel or the panels of cabinets or furniture many finishers coat in the mouldings around the panels first and then follow up by coating-in the center of the panels all around. That method is not correct when staining with rapid setting stains. Don't brush the stain around the moulding edges of a panel, four sides, and then come back to coat-in the center. Working that way you will have to keep four edges wet and it can't be done on fairly large panels. It is better to start the first brushful of stain on one side, covering the moulding and part of the panel center. Then the second brushful should be laid right alongside of the first, repeating until the panel has been completely stained. In that way only one edge must be kept wet and there is much less likelihood that there will be dark streaks where a new brushful of stain is run alongside of a brushful that has become partly dry. Note the correct and incorrect brushing methods in Picture 9.

Success in Staining Wood an Even Color Depend Upon Tour Keeping All Edges Wet. To do That Correct Procedure is Necessary. Above are Pictured the Correct and Incorrect Brushing Methods.

¶ The finishing of a paneled door with stain must be carefully done to gain a uniform color, taking advantage of the natural breaks in the surface. A good procedure is indicated by Picture 10.

A Good Procedure for Use in Staining a Paneled Door in Order to Keep All Edges of the Stain Wet Until the Brushing Has Been Completed.

¶ When it comes to staining the casings, jamb, stops, etc., of an inside doorway between two rooms there is a question in the minds of new men as to where to stop, that is when one room has a stained finish and the other is painted, enameled or stained a different color.

¶ Picture 11 shows the correct division of the surface between two finishes.

Staining Door Trim and Doors Which are Between Two Rooms Finished Differently Puzzles the Inexperienced as to Where to Stop. Here Shows the Correct Handling When One Room is Stained and the Other Enameled.

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