WillR wrote:
Philski wrote:

All,
I am looking for advice on the best way to stain a large surface. I
have a fairly large table top to stain. I want to avoid
splotches/uneven appearance. I am leaning toward spraying the stain
vs. using a brush, roller or rag. The stain I will be using is
necessarily water-based. (The final finish is a water-based poly....)
Do I just do it in manageable sections or flood the entire surface and
wipe up with rags quickly?

I have succesfully stained smaller project but a table top is going to
offer a totally new experience for me.

Thanks, as always, in advance....

Philski



Depends on the type of wood. What is it?

Just better not be Cherry or the "Stain Police" will run you in.

If it is Maple everyone will suggest aniline dye -- see Lee Valley or
others. I have a collection here I use for unusual effects in carved
scroll work etc.

I have used Minwax pre-stain conditioner if I think that a finish will
"splotch" due to color additives. It works for me.

I have done large surfaces with the Danish oil/Tung Oil type finishes.
No problems with color etc.

As far as water based goes.... I find that they are a PITA - I would
rather use oil/solvent based wipe on poly. Had great luck with that.

Did a desk suite with water based -- won't do it again. Too many bubbles
- too much care required. I would rather put on my nice organic vapor
mask and use wipe on poly or an oil based finish.

$.02 please -- I need the cash :-)



The wood is white oak. Veneered in with 1/8" strips of Wenge. It
actually a desk top. But as big as a table top. A little more background
- I have been trying to keep my postings to a smaller size as I am at
work (and on a 50K dial-up vs home on broadband ). I have already
stained all the drawer fronts, the pedestals and center drawer supports.
The smaller items are easy to stain and all look great. Then I stained
the desktop only to find that it was badly streaked and splotchy. I
sanded the top back down to bare wood. I have intentionally filled the
pores using a Behlen grain filler too. The top is baby-butt smooth -
sanded to a 320 grit finish. I have never sprayed a stain to date and I
am using ProCoat waterbased semi-transparent stain. Anywhere I overlap
brush stroke leaves a markedly darker streak when I wipe the stain off
the surface to allow the grain to show through. I can wipe it on with
rags I guess but I have to adhere to following the grain closely or it
looks like hell. So.....spray? I do have an expensive gun (I used to
paint cars) in my tool crib. I was looking for advice on avoiding the
crappy look I so far have been getting.

TIA!

Philski