How do you stain wood?

To stain wood, decide how dark you want the stain to be, sand the wood, apply the stain and go over the area with a cloth. You need a piece of wood, sandpaper, stain, a tack cloth, a rag and a paintbrush.

1. Decide on how dark you want the stain to be

   Before staining the wood, test the stain out on a scrap to determine how light the stain is and how many coats you need to apply for it to reach the desired level of darkness.

2. Sand the wood

   Sand the piece of wood thoroughly, which helps the stain to adhere and seep into the grooves of the wood. Afterward, wipe away all the dust with a tack cloth.

3. Apply the stain

   Apply the stain to the piece of wood using a paintbrush. Brush with the grain. Make sure there is proper ventilation in the work area to protect you from the fumes.

4. Go over the area with a rag

   Immediately after staining the wood, go over the stain with a rag to blend it into the area and prevent brush marks. If you are staining a large area, wipe with the rag every four brushstrokes before the stain dries too much.

5. Add another layer of stain

   If you want a darker color, add another layer of stain after the first layer completely dries. Repeat this process until the wood reaches the right color.