DIY Guide To Staining Pinewood

Whether refurbishing a furniture piece made from pinewood or building something new, you may know that this wood is not the easiest material to stain. This is because the surface is typically uneven and can make the project more tedious.

Pinewood is a commonly chosen material used by DIYers and woodworkers alike since it is typically more affordable. Although there can be challenges in staining this wood, as long as you buy the proper stain and take time to prepare it, it isn’t too difficult to accomplish. 

To learn more about staining pinewood, you will need to know what it entails. Let’s look at some of the steps you need to take to stain your pinewood properly.

Is Pine an Easy Wood to Stain? 

Knotted Pinewood Planking Rough Surface Texture Detail

While pinewood is one of the most commonly used woods since it is more readily available and less expensive than other woods, it is not the easiest to work with. This is especially true if you stain the wood rather than paint it.

Pinewood is a softwood that has been used for many projects throughout the years, such as making bookshelves, cabinets, and other pieces of furniture. However, while wildly popular, it is not the prettiest wood on the market.

Even though it is used often, pinewood typically needs to be more consistent in its coloring from the start. This is because the colors of the natural wood can vary from a lighter to a darker color that shows up on the knots of the wood.

Because of the variance, staining pinewood can be tricky since you may not reach the same consistent coloring throughout the piece. In addition, if the wood is dry, you may notice the stain does not absorb as easily, leaving behind a splotchy look.

What’s the Best Type of Stain to Use on Pine? 

For the most part, any wood stain can stain your pinewood piece, depending on the result you are looking for. While many woodworkers prefer a gel stain, others on the market can be used.

Many different wood stains are out on the market today; choosing the right one, mostly a personal preference can make or break your project. Whether you decide to use a gel or liquid stain, you should be aware of the best ones that are available.

Here are a few of the most popular choices for wood stain for your pinewood project:

For the most part, any wood stain will do the job of staining your pinewood project successfully. However, it is not the stain you must be careful with as much as the preparation steps since pinewood can be finicky.

How to Prep Pinewood Before Staining 

When prepping pinewood before you stain it, there are specific factors you need to consider. Since pinewood is a soft wood and can naturally have quite a difference in color throughout each piece, making sure you have taken the proper preparation steps can remedy the situation.

Wondering what steps you need to take to prep your pinewood before staining? Keep reading to learn more.

Sand the Pinewood

Craftman polishing pinewood with sander machine

Before staining your pinewood, you must do a little prep work. Sanding is the first step in the process since pinewood is a softer wood than other types; it can be somewhat uneven and less porous. 

Sanding pinewood helps rough the surface and open the pores to absorb more of the stain. The absorption level helps to determine the resulting color at the end of the project.

To do this step correctly, you will need to start with at least an 80-grit sandpaper to make the surface a bit rough and to even out any imperfections. You can then move in a circular motion until you have sanded the entire surface.

Smooth the Pinewood 

After you have taken the time to rough the surface of your pinewood project, you can switch over to finer-grit sandpaper to finish the job. Using either 120 or 150-grit sandpaper will help remove any other imperfections.

The finer grit sandpaper will also allow you to smooth out any coarseness that came either naturally or from the previous sanding process. While it seems over the top to sand it down again, a smoother surface will allow the stain to be absorbed even better.

Keep in mind that you should use caution with this step to avoid over-sand and causing the pinewood to become too smooth. If this occurs, you will most likely have trouble absorbing any stain fully into the wood.

Clean the Surface of Your Pinewood

After you have completed the sanding process, you will need to do a thorough cleaning of the surface of the wood. This step ensures all the residue and dust have been removed from the surface before staining.

It is highly recommended that you use a soft cloth or a sponge soaked in water to clean the surface. You can use a singular motion as you clean the pinewood so you can be sure not to miss a spot.

Apply Pre-Stain Conditioner

While many DIYers say that this step is somewhat unnecessary, for pinewood, you will not want to skip this step. Since this type of wood is known to be softer, you run the chance of the stain soaking too far into the depths of the surface.

Using a pre-stain conditioner can prevent the wood stain from going too far into the wood, which can defeat the purpose of staining. The conditioner soaks down into the crevices of the wood and acts as a buffer to prevent the stain from going too deep.

Remove Excess Conditioner 

Woodworker experts suggest leaving the pre-stain conditioner on the pinewood for at least 10-15 minutes before removing the excess. This is to allow the conditioner time to soak into the crevices properly.

After this time, take a soft cloth and remove the excess pre-stain conditioner from the surface of the pinewood. Remember to continue the process until the wood is free of any wet spots.

Allow the Conditioner to Set

Before you begin the staining process, you will need to let the conditioner set for a bit to ensure it is ready. In most cases, you can start staining it after about 15 minutes, but it should be noted that you need to complete the process within 2 hours.

How to Stain Pine Wood Step-By-Step 

Now that you have taken proper precautions with your pinewood, you should be ready for the staining process to begin. However, before you start, you should ensure that your supplies, including any protective gear, are handy.

Read on to learn the steps to stain pinewood.

Apply a Thin Layer of Wood Stain

The first step in the staining process is to apply your chosen wood stain to the surface of your pinewood project. You can do this by using either a sponge paintbrush or even a soft cloth and using even strokes on the wood.

You can either choose to apply the wood stain in long back-and-forth strokes or even in a circular motion. This depends on your personal preference and how you want your end product to look.

Remove Excess Wood Stain

Once the wood stain has been applied, you should allow it to set for a few minutes to allow it to soak into the wood properly. After a few minutes, you can take a soft cloth and remove any excess stain from the wood.

Leave for 2 Hours

After removing the excess wood stain from your pinewood, you will need to leave the project for about 2 hours. This gives the surface time to dry thoroughly so you can see the resulting color more clearly.

Drying times may vary depending on various factors, including the humidity where you live. If the wood feels sticky to the touch, allow it to dry for longer.

Evaluate and Repeat as Desired

Once the pinewood has dried completely, you can determine whether it is the color you were looking for. If not, you should repeat the staining process until the desired color is reached.

Allow to Dry Completely

Finally, once you have reached the desired stain color for your pinewood project, you will need to leave it to dry for 24 hours. Again, it would be best to do this in a well-ventilated area, so the fumes do not overwhelm you.

After 24 hours, you can lightly touch the wood to ensure it has dried completely. If it is still a bit tacky to touch, leave it for a bit longer until it is dry.

How to Finish Your Newly Stained Wood

Now that you have successfully stained your pinewood to the desired color, you should be ready to apply a finish to ensure it stays preserved. To do this, most woodworkers recommend using a polyurethane clear coat finish.

Follow these steps to ensure you are protecting your finished product properly:

  1. Clean the surface of your pinewood with a soft cloth.
  1. Apply the polyurethane, after mixing well, to the pinewood.
  1. Allow 24 hours for it to dry.
  1. Apply a second coat.
  1. Allow 24 hours to dry.
  1. Sand using fine-grit sandpaper until the clear coat is smooth.

Final Thoughts on DIY Guide to Staining Pinewood

Pinewood

The bottom line when it comes to staining pinewood is that it can be tricky if you are unsure what you are doing. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you follow specific steps to ensure your finished product comes out looking as beautiful as you expect it to.

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