Nicky wrote:
End grain will soak up more stain. Because of the translucent nature of
stain, the more you put on, the darker it becomes.

This may be true, but only if you are applying it wrong.

According to Bob Flexnor, the correct way to apply stain is to
rub it on with a rag and then wipe off the excess in the direction
of the grain. This will fill the pores with the stain particles. Once
filled, you cannot put any more into the pores.

If you slather the stain on and let it dry without wiping off the
excess
then indeed it will get darker with each application. It will also
obscure the grain as the stain partlces are opaque.

A stain, as opposed to a dye, is a suspension of solid particles
in a translucent or transparent base.

Of course according to Bob Flexnor anything that you do
differrntly from him is wrong. ;-)

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FF