On 28 Feb 2005 18:05:26 -0800, the inscrutable "Ikon"
spake:

Normal procedure for staining wood is like this, according to all
manuals:
1. Buy stain grade wood
2. Apply wood conditioner
3. Apply stain
4. Apply varnish


If I want to preserve the natural color of the wood (rather than make
it darker), then they tell you to apply Natural Stain (#209 at Home
Depot) at step 3.


But could I, instead, buy paint grade wood (which is much cheaper than
stain grade), and just apply varnish alone, without stain ?

PLEASE do, and try Waterlox while you're at it. It's a combo of tung
oil and varnish that you wipe on, and it doesn't darken the wood much.

Regarding the wood, buy whatever looks good to you. Get it from a
hardwood lumber store, not Blowes or Borg.

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