Looking for even MORE tips, techniques, and the materials I use for a PRO level finish? Download the FREE ebook with all new and expanded information on getting the best results on your next project: biscuittreewoodworks.ck.page/13a8c6b4df
Hey i was wonderinf if you could identify my issue. I have been having problems getting stain to penetrate. So far i have had this issue on oak and poplar. Ive noticed the same problem with or without the prestain condotioner. Is my wood somehow too smooth to accept stain? I sand to 220. Water pop. Resand to 220. Thanks for any insight!
@@Pimpincrispy1978 Yes, you are sanding too much. You only need to sand up to 180, and unless you are using a water based finish, there's no need to water pop.
Great Video. And here is why Clear, Concise Information No LOUD, annoying Background music Clear verbal instruction with corresponding Video Demo (No yammering on and on about what you had for breakfast or other irrelevant info) My mom was a DIY queen. I grew up in a family that sanded, stained, painted and repaired anything they got their hands on. My mom even made all her own drapes, curtains and re upholstered her 2nd hand furniture. Having said that, I learned something new about PRETREATING wood prior to staining. Good Tip.
Big fan of the side-by-side comparisons between sanded/undsanded, conditioned/not, and oil/water poly topcoats. Really makes it clear the benefits of each approach.
Several years ago while employed as a Deputy Sheriff, I responded to a large house fire. The painters left stain soaked rags in an enclosed plastic bag, laying on the wood sub floor. The 6000 square foot home was destroyed, which was under construction. Thank you for bringing that to your viewers attention!
How awful! Years ago, the person doing our wood floors left stain soaked rags in our garbage can under the covered porch, we were staying elsewhere while the work was being done. Around midnight my husband swung by the house to pick something up, the garbage can had just ignited! Thankfully, he arrived when he did, that late at night it’s doubtful anyone would have noticed until it was too late.
The oily rage disposal tip was the best part. Everyone says don’t toss them in the garbage, but no one ever explains why or what to do instead. I’ve been keeping them in a metal bin full of kitty litter and now I realize that’s probably overkill. Lol. Thanks!
The key is to not let them be balled/wadded/piled up while wet; lay them out flat, to dry, like in the video. Another acceptable disposal method is to place them in a sealed metal can full of water.
Really like the two board comparissons. As someone who has little to no experience with this kind of thing, it really helped me understand the importance of all the steps. Thanks alot.
Dude this was awesome. So clear and you taught me how to do this. I'm a young woman and never learned this, and I now I feel like I know what i'm doing!! Thank you :)
I learned SO MUCH from your video! I’m finishing an old desk. My husband sanded the heck out of it, although he didn’t use your sanding progression technique, and these weird oil-like stains keep magically appearing after I stain the top. They actually get worse as the stain dries. It’s so frustrating! I’ve started over three times, but I cannot get rid of the magical mystery stains. Do you, or anyone reading this, have any advice so I can finally finish this project?
@@CallMe_Blondie If it is some kind of oil soaked into the wood, that can be difficult to work with. You can try sanding down again (sorry I know, more sanding) then use some acetone to try removing the oil. Apply the pre stain conditioner and follow the steps in the video. Hope that helps!
@@CallMe_Blondie One technique that may help remove some of the oil and reduce how much you need to sand is the same as you'd use to remove spilled candle wax from carpet or a tablecloth: lay brown craft paper or an old paper grocery sack over the wax/oil stain and apply a warm iron on the LOWEST setting over top of the paper. The low heat will melt the wax (or in the case of oil, cause it to expand and become more fluid), and the craft paper (which is highly absorbent) will draw the wax/oil up out of the wood/fabric. It's VERY important to use the lowest setting possible on the iron, so you don't ignite the wax/oil or burn the wood, and be sure to lift and move the paper as it gets saturated. When the paper stops showing signs of absorbing anything, you'll know you've drawn off as much of the oil/wax as this technique can remove. From there, sand and prep as shown in the video.
Thanks for clearing that up! I actually stopped the video and went back, like did he say 220 to 150 to 180?? I thought there might be something to it that I didn't know. haha
something with stains has changed in the last several years. Staining on Oak was never a challenge before. Now its extra steps and costs to get an even finish. Thanks Greenies.
I CANNOT thank you enough for this. I'm fixing the awful staining job from the previous owners and landlords (a Moravian church) and I need all the help and advice I can get. This video truly helps. ❤
I have over 30 years experience in the hardwood flooring trade. While I am not wild about Minwax products, your info is spot on. Well done! Pine is probably the most difficult woods to work with stain wise. It tends to be blotchy no matter what. A pre-stain or at least a water pop is essential in making it look good. If your doing a piece of furniture where time is not a constraint, you can get away with an oil base finish. Do not apply one if the air is humid though. It will fish eye and screw up all your work! For flooring, use a waterbase finish. That way when the homeowner decides to walk across it the next morning, it's all good. With an oil, it won't be ready for traffic of any kind yet.
I use Bona Drifast stains. They work very well. I used to use their Traffic finish but switched to Arboritec Avenue about ten years ago and never looked back. They are both expensive, but when the phone rings, it's a happy customer. Ha. I live on referrals.@@nohandle196
I am a beginner and I Love this simple, straight forward, how to video. thank you! Also, appreciated instruction of the safe handling of the stain rags. My neighbor had a garage fire last year from exactly what you described. She tossed wet stain rags in a trash can and awakened in the middle of the night to her house on fire. It was terrifying, dangerous, costly and they were displaced for close to a year while the house was repaired and rebuilt. What wasn't burned was damaged by smoke and water. PSA...insurance doesn't come close to covering the totality of the loss.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Sorry to hear about your neighbor! A lot of people don't understand there is even a danger if you don't dispose of these products properly. I hope the video can save someone from making the same mistake!
This was SO helpful. other videos i watched didn't go over the process nearly as well as you did and neither of them talked about pre-stain conditioning. I'm so glad i watched this
Wish I’d had this video a couple years ago when I was researching how to refinish my kitchen table! There are very few people online that know what they’re doing, explain it well, and know why things are successful or not. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise!
I am very thankful for this video because I had thrown wadded up rags with oil based stain on them in my trash can. Then I looked at this video and realized the error of my ways and promptly went and laid them out flat to dry. Thank you for that advice and possibly saving me from burning down my house.
So glad you saw my warning and got them out! I just heard a few weeks ago about a professional woodworker I know who had a fire in a dumpster outside his shop because his helper threw away some oily rags and didn’t know the danger!
Awesome video. I never fully understood the why and how of products and why sanding is a must, but glad you did the side by side. Also the side by side was awesome with the finishers. Thanks for the information and taking the time to share.
Best video ever. I’ve instructed on lots of topics for twenty years. You hit big time on the one area 99% miss. You remark on every secret that is only acquired by years of experience that are where the knowledge to become an expert comes from. It’s usually not realized by people or mentioned for a variety of reasons. Well done dude.
Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate the finishes side by side. It certainly helps us all to decide on the method we would want to use without having to do the trial and error ourselves.❤
Thank you for explaining the basics in a clear and concise way!!! I’m working on a small project, and trying to find basic woodworking info explained is surprisingly hard to find. Thanks again! I’ll be subscribing!
Thank you so much for this informative video. Have a big staining project coming up and this is honestly the best, most informative and, above all else, concise video I've seen. I really appreciate that you were able to convey so much useful information in just a 10 minute video as it really seems so many content creators are obsessed with running up the clock these days.
Not fully what I wanted to know. But enough to have taught me what I didn't. Thank you brother. Amazing work. I'm a welder who gets wooden work with metal framing. Post a video about that. I'm coming up. So I'm not as knowledgeable about stain like you are. But If you have a welding question. I'd love to help you. Great video
@@jaydreamer4558 Did you have a question that wasn't answered in the video? I can try my best to help! I've also done a bit of welding in the past. Mostly factory work and some rod iron fences.
First time ever staining an older piece of furniture. Your instructions were easy to follow and I liked how you showed the different ways of doing things. My project is not finished but very close and I think I may have nailed it (after many attempts but hey it's called learning) So thank you very much
Thank you so very much for this excellent video. All the info I need including the reasons why, in visual format. It doesn't get better than this! Thank you!
I found your video after I was assigned to refinish the wood frames around 50 windows in my house before selling it. I’ve only painted, never stained anything. Your content is awesome!Good advice about the drying out oily rags! I had no idea! This information is so valuable.
Very good tutorial! I worked in a custom cabinet/moulding shop for years. Learning when to use the MANY MANY different options of wood finishes is the main lesson. We had dozens of different stains, toners, lacquers, shellac…etc. Sometimes we’d use catalyzed lacquer in an hvlp sprayer, sometimes we’d use water based rub-on varnish. A lot depended on the type of wood, what the customer was specifically looking for, or if we were matching an existing 100+ year pattern. It was extremely meticulous and educational. I miss it sometimes!
I really needed this how to video today. I’m getting ready sand and stain our front door where the sun’s dried it out. Great & easy to follow demonstration.
Great knowledge and teaching skills. I was so impressed with your safety tip about the damp rags and preventing combustion I hit the like button a few seconds before your suggestion to do so. Also subbed. Looking forward to future content.
Thank you! If you head over to the Community tab on my channel I do polls and ask for feedback for upcoming videos. If there’s something you’d like to see that’s the best place to let me know!
I'm still kind of a beginner but I have done much research and I consider myself more of the beginner because of the jobs I've done but as far as my research and my practice, I'm comfortable with where I am. I'm sending my guitars paint job off and going straight to the bare wood and getting a dark nice even stain on that and replacing the hardware with upgraded hardware and a whole thing, big job especially because this is my baby I'm messing with. I've seen so many videos got so many websites and taken somebody notes and I'm just watching this video just to kill time while I'm doing some yard work and you summed up every single thing all my research has showed me. Everything that I've learned from so many different videos and you put it all together in one. So simple so straightforward and I'm happy for all I've learned but a little upset I haven't seen your video till just now. Great great job, you're doing the world some good with this one. Thanks for the video
Really fantastic guide, especially for newer people to woodworking! Really covers everything and explains why you're doing it, as well as things to watch out for. I'll echo the sentiment from others as well in saying having the side by side comparisons of the boards both with and without the steps you take is extremely useful in helping understand each part of the process. Thank you!
Thank you for putting together this video. I recently purchased a flintlock longrifle with an extra fancy curly maple stock and I am anguishing over how to finish it. Thank you again for the excellent tutelage on the importance of sanding and how different finishes may alter the wood's color slightly.
Thankyou. I used to get some lessons from my great grandpa on how to whittle and carve. This helped me revise what i was taught since I can no longer cross reference with him since he passed. I appreciate it.
Fun fact, instead of a conditioner just wipe it with a damp rag. It does almost exactly the same thing, but in my opinion highlights the grain better. Do let the wood dry between wetting and applying stain. That is how I stain all my floors.
@Biscuit Tree Woodworks yeah, it doesn't make it as evenly stained. But it helps with blotches and highlights grain. It's my preferred method. Hardwood floors get a lot of stain treatment. No one wants to pay for walnut floors, but they all want their oak to look like it.
Just watched another video on staining and someone commented on what your talking about and called it water popping. Funny thing is he talked about staining wood floors too so must be a common trade trick.
@Tyler - it has become one recently. The guy I learned from figured it out himself, and I just started seeing it in the wood floor magazines a few years ago. I've always wondered how many other floor guys were doing it. Lol
@@Tyler-789 no, water popping is something completely different than using a prestain conditioner. Now that I read the original comment again I see that’s what he is describing. A prestain conditioner evens out the stain and helps reduce blotching. Water popping is a technique used to improve the feel of the wood and prevent grain raising when the wood contacts moisture. This grain raising can make the wood feel rough or fuzzy. If you would like more information on water popping watch my cutting board video where I explain the process and why it should be done.
Fill soft grain prior to staining. Always good advice with any kind of finish, clear, opaque, paint, anything. You can use lots of things to fill that soft grain. Sanded off paint makes a great "Americana" look, perhaps a little like your US flag with EGA. Hooya Marine. I learned to stain by first applying shellac to raw wood with 1 lb cut or even lighter. The little lac bug tincture fills those soft, porous areas on the grain. Then stain over the shellac. More than one shellac coat, sanding in between, allows you to vary the light to dark effect of the stain. Amber shellac will reduce the light to dark spread and tend to keep everything a little more in the dark tones, more blended. Several coats - shellac - very light stain - Shellac (repeat repeat repeat) with sanding in between will make the finish look deeper and allows you to "Sneak up" on the final color. Especially helpful if you're trying to match an existing work piece color. Remove shellac errors any time with alcohol. Just finish any shellac with poly or whatever you like. The shellac is not waterproof. Maybe those poor little bugs died every time it rained. I was also taught to shellac after staining and before other finishes. "Fat over lean" was the mantra we learned (Don't use water based finishes over oil based finishes but the reverse is ok). Magical shellac doesn't suffer any of that incompatibility problem. Shellac lives just fine under/over essentially any finish. Finally, Whiskey makes an interesting primer for shellac. It pops the grain so sand after drinking...I mean applying it. Not sure how the sugars and carbohydrates in the booze deal with things but I've whiskey primed thick epoxy table tops and seen them 30 yrs later with no finish weirdness.
Shellac is a great finish, and as you said, it will bind with pretty much anything! I've never tried using whiskey on my projects. I think I'll stick with drinking it instead! Thanks for sharing your finishing experience!
great video. I am completely new to all of this and learned a lot. Literally I havent done anything with finishing wood since I was 15 at high school making a food tray in class. I am now 62 so its been a while since even doing that. Still have a lot more to learn but I am feeling so much better about this now than before I watched it.
In my experience, the water based Polycrylic is not as protective as the the oil based Polyurethane. I have 2 desk I’ve made in my house. I made one with a polyurethane finish and one I used polycrylic. 3 layers each and got excellent finishes. both desk have been used the same way. Both used for kid’s homework/coloring and computing. The Polyurethane has had zero water marks from drinks without coaster, the Polycrylic one has (luckily the top was Aspen so it’s a super white colored top anyways so it’s not super noticeable). Lastly the marker test. The kids have done coloring on paper on both desks and either marker bleed through or sliding off the paper has happened on both surfaces. It has stained the polycyclic and will not come out with any cleaning agent. The marker cleaned right off the polyurethane. Just food for thought while trying to pick a finish. 😊
Thank you for this great video, with side-by-side comparisons of the results when you do or don't do specific processes. E.g. sanded vs. unsanded boards; use of pre-stain conditioner vs. not using it; oil-based vs. water based finishing top coat.
I haven’t done much staining on my projects yet, but the first time I ever did, I decided to use a clean and unused shop rag. Multiple different people who approached me were amazed and assumed I was a pro woodworker who had years of experience under my belt (hardly) and a few older and experienced woodworkers thought I was daft for not using a brush! Using a rag and gently “scrubbing” the stain on simply made much more sense to me.
Just stumbled across your video and have to say thank you. Very informative and strait to the point without annoying music blaring. All the best to you!
I really appreciate your video. I just built a cabin play area/bunk bed for my kids, and my next step is prepping it for stain. I've never been happy with my stain results before, so I've been nervous about this part. This video is exactly what I needed. Thanks!! Wish me luck 😅
What a great instructional video and just what I've been looking for! You just solved my problem of bleed thru on an old antique mahogany table I'm refinishing. Thank you so much for doing this video! I was stumped and frustrated. Now I'm hopeful I'll be on track again. :)
One more thing… I’m at 120 grit on the red oak floor. Should I go to 180 or higher before applying the conditioner and then the stain. Many thanks for the advice.
Glad i watched this before staining my project. it seems easy but its nice to know there are more steps than just applying stain. Very helpful information so thanks.
sanding a "necessary evil"? lol do people really not like sanding? I love sanding! I find it meditative, almost therapeutic, they way it refines and erases blemishes, inconsistencies, mistakes, etc. it brings everything together, it's very dharmic like that.
I never understood why sanding is so universally disliked. It keeps your hands and brain busy but not tediously, which does make it meditative in a way. There's a satisfying progression, especially when the wood starts to get smooth it feels good in the hands. Very therapeutic. More therapeutic than watering the lawn even.
I am new to woodorking and i would have never tbought od the rags spontainiously combusting and i have alrwady made that mistake ...tha k you for making me aware of that risk !!!! I was blown away when i heard you say that ......
Thank you for that information. I had no idea about the rags possibly having spontaneous combustion. I will definitely be more careful from here on out
Fantastic, helpful video! Showing the comparisons between products and techniques was excellent. Thanks so much. My kitchen table will be looking great in a few days....
Thank you for the information about how to handle used stain rags. I had no idea they could cause a fire! Thank you so much! ❤ This is a great video for many reasons!
Extremely helpful. I loved the comparisons between everything especially oil vs water based. I have #2 common unfinished pine floors and I want them dark, or darker. It's difficult finding a right answer but you answered it. Oil will be more amber? I'm just afraid of yellowing. A lot of people say oil will do that. I have 720sqft to sand, stain, and seal and I want to make sure I get the right stuff.
If you are using a stain to darken the pine floors first, You probably won't notice yellowing. It's usually a problem when you have a white wood like pine or maple with no stain and want to keep it white. In that case you will have a yellow tint to the wood when using oil based finishes. If you are unsure, buy a piece of #2 pine and stain it like you will the floors. Then use oil topcoat on one and a water based on the other to see which you like more. Just be aware, the oil will yellow a bit more with time.
@@biscuittreewoodworks Thank you! I want a darker red toned floor and I will try out stains this weekend. Just don't want the yellow and red to clash down the road
Wait so I actually like the dark splotches and overall the darker look, so would it be better to not do the prestained conditioner? Love the video! So clear and concise!
If you like the dark splotches then no problem! Just skip the pre-stain conditioner to get the same look as in the video. If you want it really rustic, then skip the sanding as well for a rough, splotchy look!
Great tip about the used rags. THANK YOU for that and the clarification about the sanding progression. I did catch that, but not knowing ANYTHING about staining wood, I didn't know it was incorrect 😆I'm so glad I found your video before starting my project. 😇
Hi! New sub here from Ohio! Thank you for all the info but ESPECIALLY about the rags! Not one refinisher I’ve watched has discussed this very important safety information! Thank you!
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Looking for even MORE tips, techniques, and the materials I use for a PRO level finish? Download the FREE ebook with all new and expanded information on getting the best results on your next project: biscuittreewoodworks.ck.page/13a8c6b4df
Hey i was wonderinf if you could identify my issue. I have been having problems getting stain to penetrate. So far i have had this issue on oak and poplar. Ive noticed the same problem with or without the prestain condotioner. Is my wood somehow too smooth to accept stain? I sand to 220. Water pop. Resand to 220. Thanks for any insight!
@@Pimpincrispy1978 Yes, you are sanding too much. You only need to sand up to 180, and unless you are using a water based finish, there's no need to water pop.
As soon as you mentioned the fire hazard from oily rags, I stopped the video and properly dealt with the rags in my workshop. My Thanks!!
Good to hear! It’s a very real danger that too few people take seriously!
I have NEVER been told about the oily rags! I am so glad you talked about that. Thanks!
It's a shame more people don't know about the risk of throwing them in it the trash!
What burnt King tut of Egypt
Put to bed in wet linseed oil rags and he smouldered away for days .
I am 100% new to woodworking, I feel bad about doing this recently and had to call my sibling to see if my house burned down. 😰 Thankfully it didnt!!!
@@chancetrombley3114 I am really sure you can make it yourself mates. I made it 2 weeks ago thanks to WoodPrix.
Great Video. And here is why
Clear, Concise Information
No LOUD, annoying Background music
Clear verbal instruction with corresponding Video Demo (No yammering on and on about what you had for breakfast or other irrelevant info)
My mom was a DIY queen. I grew up in a family that sanded, stained, painted and repaired anything they got their hands on. My mom even made all her own drapes, curtains and re upholstered her 2nd hand furniture. Having said that, I learned something new about PRETREATING wood prior to staining. Good Tip.
Glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!
@@biscuittreewoodworks Have you done a gel stain comparison video?
A DIY'er Before "DIY" was a 'thing'
😊 😅😅
I 100% agree with you. Clear no fluff and no annoying music over powering the instructions. Bravo!!!!!
Big fan of the side-by-side comparisons between sanded/undsanded, conditioned/not, and oil/water poly topcoats. Really makes it clear the benefits of each approach.
Great, glad it helped!
Okay..I’m going to rewatch
Very neat addition I agree
I would like to add alcohol based finish to this comparison.
This is the exact reason I gave the video a like. It taught me the why’s and why nots of using certain products.
Finally, a how to video that gets to the point and doesn't have all of the unnecessary info 👍👍
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
love the tip on scribbling on the surface wood to help with sanding a must for newbees
It really helps a lot and saves time on sanding!
Earned INSTANT LIKE on "not that 80s but THAT 80s" - Amen. THanks for the tips!!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Several years ago while employed as a Deputy Sheriff, I responded to a large house fire. The painters left stain soaked rags in an enclosed plastic bag, laying on the wood sub floor. The 6000 square foot home was destroyed, which was under construction. Thank you for bringing that to your viewers attention!
Yikes! Lots of homes and shops are destroyed because people just don't know the danger.
How awful! Years ago, the person doing our wood floors left stain soaked rags in our garbage can under the covered porch, we were staying elsewhere while the work was being done. Around midnight my husband swung by the house to pick something up, the garbage can had just ignited! Thankfully, he arrived when he did, that late at night it’s doubtful anyone would have noticed until it was too late.
The oily rage disposal tip was the best part. Everyone says don’t toss them in the garbage, but no one ever explains why or what to do instead. I’ve been keeping them in a metal bin full of kitty litter and now I realize that’s probably overkill. Lol. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! It doesn’t hurt to be a little extra cautious, but those rags are harmless once they are dry, then it’s fine to throw them away!
The key is to not let them be balled/wadded/piled up while wet; lay them out flat, to dry, like in the video. Another acceptable disposal method is to place them in a sealed metal can full of water.
*rag
“Oily Rage” is funny though.
@@accuratealloys That would be an awesome garage band name!
I have a metal fire can filled with water for disposal
Really like the two board comparissons. As someone who has little to no experience with this kind of thing, it really helped me understand the importance of all the steps. Thanks alot.
Glad it was helpful!
Dude this was awesome. So clear and you taught me how to do this. I'm a young woman and never learned this, and I now I feel like I know what i'm doing!! Thank you :)
That’s awesome! So glad I could help!
A few sharp eared viewers have pointed out my error at the 2:00 mark. The sanding progression should be 100-120-150-180. Sorry for any confusion! 😅
I learned SO MUCH from your video! I’m finishing an old desk. My husband sanded the heck out of it, although he didn’t use your sanding progression technique, and these weird oil-like stains keep magically appearing after I stain the top. They actually get worse as the stain dries. It’s so frustrating! I’ve started over three times, but I cannot get rid of the magical mystery stains. Do you, or anyone reading this, have any advice so I can finally finish this project?
@@CallMe_Blondie If it is some kind of oil soaked into the wood, that can be difficult to work with. You can try sanding down again (sorry I know, more sanding) then use some acetone to try removing the oil. Apply the pre stain conditioner and follow the steps in the video. Hope that helps!
@@CallMe_Blondie One technique that may help remove some of the oil and reduce how much you need to sand is the same as you'd use to remove spilled candle wax from carpet or a tablecloth: lay brown craft paper or an old paper grocery sack over the wax/oil stain and apply a warm iron on the LOWEST setting over top of the paper. The low heat will melt the wax (or in the case of oil, cause it to expand and become more fluid), and the craft paper (which is highly absorbent) will draw the wax/oil up out of the wood/fabric. It's VERY important to use the lowest setting possible on the iron, so you don't ignite the wax/oil or burn the wood, and be sure to lift and move the paper as it gets saturated. When the paper stops showing signs of absorbing anything, you'll know you've drawn off as much of the oil/wax as this technique can remove. From there, sand and prep as shown in the video.
Thanks for clearing that up! I actually stopped the video and went back, like did he say 220 to 150 to 180?? I thought there might be something to it that I didn't know. haha
Thank you for showing this. Brought up happy memories of my step Dad and I doing wood working. Could almost taste the wood dust in my coffee.
something with stains has changed in the last several years. Staining on Oak was never a challenge before. Now its extra steps and costs to get an even finish. Thanks Greenies.
Lots of changes as technology evolves. Some things for the better, some not so much!
I CANNOT thank you enough for this. I'm fixing the awful staining job from the previous owners and landlords (a Moravian church) and I need all the help and advice I can get. This video truly helps. ❤
Great, glad I could help!
I have over 30 years experience in the hardwood flooring trade. While I am not wild about Minwax products, your info is spot on. Well done! Pine is probably the most difficult woods to work with stain wise. It tends to be blotchy no matter what. A pre-stain or at least a water pop is essential in making it look good. If your doing a piece of furniture where time is not a constraint, you can get away with an oil base finish. Do not apply one if the air is humid though. It will fish eye and screw up all your work! For flooring, use a waterbase finish. That way when the homeowner decides to walk across it the next morning, it's all good. With an oil, it won't be ready for traffic of any kind yet.
Thanks for sharing tips from your experience!
@jamesbach2021 Whose products do you like for staining and also for poly on pine floors? Thx!
I use Bona Drifast stains. They work very well. I used to use their Traffic finish but switched to Arboritec Avenue about ten years ago and never looked back. They are both expensive, but when the phone rings, it's a happy customer. Ha. I live on referrals.@@nohandle196
I am a beginner and I Love this simple, straight forward, how to video. thank you! Also, appreciated instruction of the safe handling of the stain rags. My neighbor had a garage fire last year from exactly what you described. She tossed wet stain rags in a trash can and awakened in the middle of the night to her house on fire. It was terrifying, dangerous, costly and they were displaced for close to a year while the house was repaired and rebuilt. What wasn't burned was damaged by smoke and water. PSA...insurance doesn't come close to covering the totality of the loss.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Sorry to hear about your neighbor! A lot of people don't understand there is even a danger if you don't dispose of these products properly. I hope the video can save someone from making the same mistake!
This was SO helpful. other videos i watched didn't go over the process nearly as well as you did and neither of them talked about pre-stain conditioning. I'm so glad i watched this
Glad I could help!
Wish I’d had this video a couple years ago when I was researching how to refinish my kitchen table! There are very few people online that know what they’re doing, explain it well, and know why things are successful or not. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise!
Thank you! I'm so glad you found it useful!
I am very thankful for this video because I had thrown wadded up rags with oil based stain on them in my trash can. Then I looked at this video and realized the error of my ways and promptly went and laid them out flat to dry. Thank you for that advice and possibly saving me from burning down my house.
So glad you saw my warning and got them out! I just heard a few weeks ago about a professional woodworker I know who had a fire in a dumpster outside his shop because his helper threw away some oily rags and didn’t know the danger!
Awesome video. I never fully understood the why and how of products and why sanding is a must, but glad you did the side by side. Also the side by side was awesome with the finishers. Thanks for the information and taking the time to share.
Thank you! I’m glad it was helpful!
This is exactly what I wanted to see. I loved how you show the results of the different techniques side by side. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Best video ever. I’ve instructed on lots of topics for twenty years. You hit big time on the one area 99% miss. You remark on every secret that is only acquired by years of experience that are where the knowledge to become an expert comes from. It’s usually not realized by people or mentioned for a variety of reasons.
Well done dude.
Wow, thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate the finishes side by side. It certainly helps us all to decide on the method we would want to use without having to do the trial and error ourselves.❤
Thanks, I'm glad it's helpful!
Thank you for explaining the basics in a clear and concise way!!! I’m working on a small project, and trying to find basic woodworking info explained is surprisingly hard to find. Thanks again! I’ll be subscribing!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
THANK YOU for the tip with the pencil!!! Simple and brilliant!
Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you so much for this informative video. Have a big staining project coming up and this is honestly the best, most informative and, above all else, concise video I've seen. I really appreciate that you were able to convey so much useful information in just a 10 minute video as it really seems so many content creators are obsessed with running up the clock these days.
Thank you! Hope your project turns out great!
Not fully what I wanted to know. But enough to have taught me what I didn't. Thank you brother. Amazing work. I'm a welder who gets wooden work with metal framing. Post a video about that. I'm coming up. So I'm not as knowledgeable about stain like you are. But If you have a welding question. I'd love to help you. Great video
@@jaydreamer4558 Did you have a question that wasn't answered in the video? I can try my best to help! I've also done a bit of welding in the past. Mostly factory work and some rod iron fences.
What would suggest putting on ponderosa pine timbers that are outside the house.
That 80s look is still the story of my mobile home… 1976 two bedroom two bath spartan converted to a three bed. Starter home.
My parents home still has paneling in every room!
First time ever staining an older piece of furniture. Your instructions were easy to follow and I liked how you showed the different ways of doing things. My project is not finished but very close and I think I may have nailed it (after many attempts but hey it's called learning) So thank you very much
Awesome! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this information especially about the heat dispersal of the finished rags. Didn't know, but now I do. Thanks again.
Glad you learned something from the video!
Thank you so very much for this excellent video. All the info I need including the reasons why, in visual format. It doesn't get better than this! Thank you!
Thanks! I’m glad it was helpful!
Great video! I love how you go through the details, the pluses and minuses of different products and take your time explaining the process. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
I am so glad that you took the time to compare results with every strategy! The extra effort is appreciated
Glad it was helpful!
I found your video after I was assigned to refinish the wood frames around 50 windows in my house before selling it. I’ve only painted, never stained anything. Your content is awesome!Good advice about the drying out oily rags! I had no idea! This information is so valuable.
Glad I could help!
Very good tutorial! I worked in a custom cabinet/moulding shop for years. Learning when to use the MANY MANY different options of wood finishes is the main lesson. We had dozens of different stains, toners, lacquers, shellac…etc.
Sometimes we’d use catalyzed lacquer in an hvlp sprayer, sometimes we’d use water based rub-on varnish. A lot depended on the type of wood, what the customer was specifically looking for, or if we were matching an existing 100+ year pattern. It was extremely meticulous and educational. I miss it sometimes!
Yes, there are a lot of options for finishes and many pros/cons for them all as well! I should probably do a few more videos on some other finishes.
That sounds like an awesome job honestly .. id imagine it was rewarding, challenging, and educational.
I really needed this how to video today. I’m getting ready sand and stain our front door where the sun’s dried it out. Great & easy to follow demonstration.
Glad it was helpful!
Use a coating with a U/V protectant if it is going to be in the sun.
@@researchcapt and maybe even a tinted storm door cuzzz.......no finish stops the sun.
Great knowledge and teaching skills. I was so impressed with your safety tip about the damp rags and preventing combustion I hit the like button a few seconds before your suggestion to do so. Also subbed. Looking forward to future content.
Thank you! If you head over to the Community tab on my channel I do polls and ask for feedback for upcoming videos. If there’s something you’d like to see that’s the best place to let me know!
Thanks. Really helpful and informative. The pencil tip between sanding levels was good. Straightforward and calm.
Glad it was helpful!
Got it thank you for teaching us. I work at a hardware store and need to teach customers about these products. This is very helpful. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
I'm still kind of a beginner but I have done much research and I consider myself more of the beginner because of the jobs I've done but as far as my research and my practice, I'm comfortable with where I am. I'm sending my guitars paint job off and going straight to the bare wood and getting a dark nice even stain on that and replacing the hardware with upgraded hardware and a whole thing, big job especially because this is my baby I'm messing with. I've seen so many videos got so many websites and taken somebody notes and I'm just watching this video just to kill time while I'm doing some yard work and you summed up every single thing all my research has showed me. Everything that I've learned from so many different videos and you put it all together in one. So simple so straightforward and I'm happy for all I've learned but a little upset I haven't seen your video till just now. Great great job, you're doing the world some good with this one. Thanks for the video
Thank you! I really appreciate that!
Really fantastic guide, especially for newer people to woodworking! Really covers everything and explains why you're doing it, as well as things to watch out for. I'll echo the sentiment from others as well in saying having the side by side comparisons of the boards both with and without the steps you take is extremely useful in helping understand each part of the process. Thank you!
Thanks! I really appreciate that feedback!
I enjoyed the delivery of this video and subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
Thank you for putting together this video. I recently purchased a flintlock longrifle with an extra fancy curly maple stock and I am anguishing over how to finish it. Thank you again for the excellent tutelage on the importance of sanding and how different finishes may alter the wood's color slightly.
Glad it was helpful!
Thankyou. I used to get some lessons from my great grandpa on how to whittle and carve. This helped me revise what i was taught since I can no longer cross reference with him since he passed. I appreciate it.
Glad I could help!
Great tips! I'm attempting a birthday gift for my buddy's 40th, so this was a handy guide for a newbie like me.
Good to hear! Good luck on the project!
Did anyone else realize this is exactly like painting your nails? No? Just me?
Yep, pretty much the same process; smooth the surface, add your color, then cover it with the protective layer!
Yeah, but it's a new concept for us guys. ;)
@@Styledbykurryious literally the freaking process of painting ANYTHING. Don’t be a ditz.
at least there's no uv lamp involved to cure!
I don’t paint my nails. Lol😂
Fun fact, instead of a conditioner just wipe it with a damp rag. It does almost exactly the same thing, but in my opinion highlights the grain better. Do let the wood dry between wetting and applying stain. That is how I stain all my floors.
Interesting, I’ll have to try it out next time.
@Biscuit Tree Woodworks yeah, it doesn't make it as evenly stained. But it helps with blotches and highlights grain. It's my preferred method. Hardwood floors get a lot of stain treatment. No one wants to pay for walnut floors, but they all want their oak to look like it.
Just watched another video on staining and someone commented on what your talking about and called it water popping. Funny thing is he talked about staining wood floors too so must be a common trade trick.
@Tyler - it has become one recently. The guy I learned from figured it out himself, and I just started seeing it in the wood floor magazines a few years ago.
I've always wondered how many other floor guys were doing it. Lol
@@Tyler-789 no, water popping is something completely different than using a prestain conditioner. Now that I read the original comment again I see that’s what he is describing. A prestain conditioner evens out the stain and helps reduce blotching. Water popping is a technique used to improve the feel of the wood and prevent grain raising when the wood contacts moisture. This grain raising can make the wood feel rough or fuzzy. If you would like more information on water popping watch my cutting board video where I explain the process and why it should be done.
Fill soft grain prior to staining. Always good advice with any kind of finish, clear, opaque, paint, anything. You can use lots of things to fill that soft grain. Sanded off paint makes a great "Americana" look, perhaps a little like your US flag with EGA. Hooya Marine.
I learned to stain by first applying shellac to raw wood with 1 lb cut or even lighter. The little lac bug tincture fills those soft, porous areas on the grain. Then stain over the shellac. More than one shellac coat, sanding in between, allows you to vary the light to dark effect of the stain. Amber shellac will reduce the light to dark spread and tend to keep everything a little more in the dark tones, more blended. Several coats - shellac - very light stain - Shellac (repeat repeat repeat) with sanding in between will make the finish look deeper and allows you to "Sneak up" on the final color. Especially helpful if you're trying to match an existing work piece color. Remove shellac errors any time with alcohol. Just finish any shellac with poly or whatever you like. The shellac is not waterproof. Maybe those poor little bugs died every time it rained.
I was also taught to shellac after staining and before other finishes. "Fat over lean" was the mantra we learned (Don't use water based finishes over oil based finishes but the reverse is ok). Magical shellac doesn't suffer any of that incompatibility problem. Shellac lives just fine under/over essentially any finish.
Finally, Whiskey makes an interesting primer for shellac. It pops the grain so sand after drinking...I mean applying it. Not sure how the sugars and carbohydrates in the booze deal with things but I've whiskey primed thick epoxy table tops and seen them 30 yrs later with no finish weirdness.
Shellac is a great finish, and as you said, it will bind with pretty much anything! I've never tried using whiskey on my projects. I think I'll stick with drinking it instead! Thanks for sharing your finishing experience!
great video. I am completely new to all of this and learned a lot. Literally I havent done anything with finishing wood since I was 15 at high school making a food tray in class. I am now 62 so its been a while since even doing that. Still have a lot more to learn but I am feeling so much better about this now than before I watched it.
Glad I could could help!
This video has been so incredibly helpful for my never ending banister sand/prep/stain/seal project! thank you!
Awesome! Glad I could help!
In my experience, the water based Polycrylic is not as protective as the the oil based Polyurethane.
I have 2 desk I’ve made in my house. I made one with a polyurethane finish and one I used polycrylic. 3 layers each and got excellent finishes.
both desk have been used the same way. Both used for kid’s homework/coloring and computing. The Polyurethane has had zero water marks from drinks without coaster, the Polycrylic one has (luckily the top was Aspen so it’s a super white colored top anyways so it’s not super noticeable).
Lastly the marker test. The kids have done coloring on paper on both desks and either marker bleed through or sliding off the paper has happened on both surfaces. It has stained the polycyclic and will not come out with any cleaning agent. The marker cleaned right off the polyurethane.
Just food for thought while trying to pick a finish. 😊
Great insights on long term durability! Thanks for sharing!
This comment was exactly what I needed to know thank you
Thank you for this great video, with side-by-side comparisons of the results when you do or don't do specific processes. E.g. sanded vs. unsanded boards; use of pre-stain conditioner vs. not using it; oil-based vs. water based finishing top coat.
Glad it’s helpful!
Nicely done! Thorough and clearly communicated information right here.
Much appreciated!
So glad you talked about rags catching fire!! I never throw mine away wet, or bunched up. I always lay them flat, like you do.
Sadly there are a lot of people that don't know the danger or think it's some kind of myth.
Thanks for contrasting oil and water based finishes. This will really elevate my next projects.
Awesome! Glad I could help!
Great safety tip about the wet rags. You maybe just saved someone’s business, house, or life.
Great video, too!
Thanks 👍
Yes that 80's!!!!
Oh the memories!
I haven’t done much staining on my projects yet, but the first time I ever did, I decided to use a clean and unused shop rag.
Multiple different people who approached me were amazed and assumed I was a pro woodworker who had years of experience under my belt (hardly) and a few older and experienced woodworkers thought I was daft for not using a brush!
Using a rag and gently “scrubbing” the stain on simply made much more sense to me.
Yes, I prefer using a rag over a brush for applying stain. It's less messy and you get a more even application.
I did my 1st time staining with a damp rag too & the results were beautiful. 👍🏼
great information, thank you! especially about the oily rags. i never would have thought they could combust.
Glad it was helpful!
Just stumbled across your video and have to say thank you. Very informative and strait to the point without annoying music blaring. All the best to you!
Awesome, thank you!
Great to the point video. I definitely learned something from and enjoyed watching it. Subscribed for sure
Thank you! So glad you learned something from the video, I love hearing that!
I really appreciate your video. I just built a cabin play area/bunk bed for my kids, and my next step is prepping it for stain. I've never been happy with my stain results before, so I've been nervous about this part. This video is exactly what I needed. Thanks!! Wish me luck 😅
Awesome! Glad the video was helpful! Good luck with your project!
What a great instructional video and just what I've been looking for! You just solved my problem of bleed thru on an old antique mahogany table I'm refinishing.
Thank you so much for doing this video!
I was stumped and frustrated.
Now I'm hopeful I'll be on track again.
:)
Awesome! So glad it's helpful!
Thank you!! I’m doing my very first wood working project and this was extremely helpful!
Great to hear!
Great intro and examples. Well put together. Thx for taking the time to do this walk-thru, super helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Pencil between grits: Never thought of that!
It works great for keeping track of your progress!
I liked the contrasting look of the sanded board better than the stain conditioner prepared one.
Some people like that look, it's more rustic I guess. Nothing wrong with it if that's what you prefer.
Best video of the 40+ I’ve watched. Now I feel ready 👨🏻🎓 to tackle my project. Thanks!
Awesome! Thank you!
One more thing… I’m at 120 grit on the red oak floor. Should I go to 180 or higher before applying the conditioner and then the stain. Many thanks for the advice.
@@bobinhouston7638 You could stop at 120 if you are happy with the surface. I recommend going to 180, but no higher.
So glad i found this video. You explained it in layman terms and the comparisons made it the process understandable.
Awesome! Glad it was helpful!
Just wanted to clarify your sanding routine. 100 - 220(?)- 150 - 180..correct
Should be 100-120-150-180.
He meant 120 not 220.
Southerners sure like their grits.
@@EF-69 Lmfao
“They don’t call it stain for nothing”😂
So true!
This is exactly a comment I would post 😅
LISTEN TO HIM ABOUT YOUR RAGS
THAT SHIT WILL COMBUST, CAPS INTENDED
👍
Glad i watched this before staining my project. it seems easy but its nice to know there are more steps than just applying stain. Very helpful information so thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice one dude. Made planning my future projects a bit easier. I’ve saved to my favourites so I can come back for reference. Thanks bud.
Awesome! Really glad you found it helpful!
sanding a "necessary evil"? lol do people really not like sanding? I love sanding! I find it meditative, almost therapeutic, they way it refines and erases blemishes, inconsistencies, mistakes, etc. it brings everything together, it's very dharmic like that.
If you enjoy it that's great! I wish I could say the same. I've heard from a few people who enjoy the sanding process, but most despise it.
I never understood why sanding is so universally disliked. It keeps your hands and brain busy but not tediously, which does make it meditative in a way. There's a satisfying progression, especially when the wood starts to get smooth it feels good in the hands. Very therapeutic. More therapeutic than watering the lawn even.
i dont know if you will see this but just wanted to say thank you. I know nothing about woodworking but you make learning simple and engaging.
You're very welcome! I hope to give people the information and encouragement to just get started!
EXCELLENT Video, I’m a beginner and I have already made some mistakes, time to start over and do it YOUR WAY!…ThankYou fo this excellent video.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks!
Thank you!
I am new to woodorking and i would have never tbought od the rags spontainiously combusting and i have alrwady made that mistake ...tha k you for making me aware of that risk !!!!
I was blown away when i heard you say that ......
There are a lot of people who don't know that can happen, and unfortunately there are a lot of fires as a result.
This is such a thorough, straight-forward, and easy to follow video.
Thanks!
honestly the best video i’ve come across. redoing my dining room table na have watched plenty of videos but this was the most informative.
Thank you!
Thank you for the info about disposal of rags. These mundane tips are so important.
Thank you! It’s such a simple thing but may prevent a horrible accident!
I watched 4 or 5 youtube videos on staining. This is the best one by far - thank you!
Thank you!
Thanks for the tips. I'm working on a project now and I need to get better at the staining and top coat.
Let me know if you have questions! Good luck on your project!
I hate painting in general but I'm doing some shelves for a closet and your video has helped a lot!!! Thank you
Great! Good luck with the project!
Thank you for that information. I had no idea about the rags possibly having spontaneous combustion. I will definitely be more careful from here on out
You are so welcome!
Fantastic, helpful video! Showing the comparisons between products and techniques was excellent. Thanks so much. My kitchen table will be looking great in a few days....
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the information about how to handle used stain rags. I had no idea they could cause a fire! Thank you so much! ❤ This is a great video for many reasons!
They really should put a larger warning on the can, too many people don't know they can start a fire by just throwing them away!
@@biscuittreewoodworks Agreed!
this was overall the best and most educational video i’ve seen on how to properly stain wood, thank you so much!
Thanks! I’m glad you found it helpful!
About to buy a house that needs some work. I’ll be watching your videos for sure. You explain very well
Thanks!
Extremely helpful. I loved the comparisons between everything especially oil vs water based. I have #2 common unfinished pine floors and I want them dark, or darker. It's difficult finding a right answer but you answered it. Oil will be more amber? I'm just afraid of yellowing. A lot of people say oil will do that. I have 720sqft to sand, stain, and seal and I want to make sure I get the right stuff.
If you are using a stain to darken the pine floors first, You probably won't notice yellowing. It's usually a problem when you have a white wood like pine or maple with no stain and want to keep it white. In that case you will have a yellow tint to the wood when using oil based finishes. If you are unsure, buy a piece of #2 pine and stain it like you will the floors. Then use oil topcoat on one and a water based on the other to see which you like more. Just be aware, the oil will yellow a bit more with time.
@@biscuittreewoodworks Thank you! I want a darker red toned floor and I will try out stains this weekend. Just don't want the yellow and red to clash down the road
Useful education with clear explanations for reasoning behind practices! Also, "No, not that 80's." Same- very well put!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wait so I actually like the dark splotches and overall the darker look, so would it be better to not do the prestained conditioner? Love the video! So clear and concise!
If you like the dark splotches then no problem! Just skip the pre-stain conditioner to get the same look as in the video. If you want it really rustic, then skip the sanding as well for a rough, splotchy look!
I too like the wood to look natural. thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Great tip about the used rags. THANK YOU for that and the clarification about the sanding progression. I did catch that, but not knowing ANYTHING about staining wood, I didn't know it was incorrect 😆I'm so glad I found your video before starting my project. 😇
So glad you found it helpful!
Hi! New sub here from Ohio! Thank you for all the info but ESPECIALLY about the rags! Not one refinisher I’ve watched has discussed this very important safety information! Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you for the safety tip about the rags, as many times I have been guilty for just throwing the rags in the garbage
I’m glad you got something useful from the video!
Very helpful stuff. I also appreciate the safety reminders, since it's missing in too many how-to videos.
Glad you liked it!
This is my favorite video so far. Ive been watching many on how to build a butcher block countertop
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I appreciate the information about the conditioner and the fire hazard. No one else covered that in the videos I saw.
I'm glad it's helping people! Thanks for watching!