Project details
Skill
1 out of 5EasyRequires just a little patience and practice.
Cost
$20 to $40
Estimated Time
1 to 2 hours, not including drying times
Steps
- Lightly hand-sand the wood, always working in the direction of the grain.
- Start sanding with 120-grit sandpaper and continue with progressively finer sandpaper up to 180 grit.
- Brush a coat of wood conditioner onto the wood, which will allow the stain to soak in evenly without blotching.
- After applying the conditioner, wait at least 15 minutes, but no more than 2 hours, before staining.
- Liberally apply wood stain to the surface using a paintbrush or clean cotton cloth.
- Allow the stain to soak into the wood for at least 10 minutes.
- Wipe off all the excess stain with a dry cloth. Wait 8 hours or, if necessary, overnight for the stain to thoroughly dry.
- Gently stir—never shake—a can of polyurethane varnish.
- Use a paintbrush to apply an even coat of polyurethane onto the surface. Work the brush back and forth in the direction of the wood grain.
- After applying the polyurethane, use the tips of the brush’s bristles to very lightly smooth out the finish.
- Allow the polyurethane to dry overnight, then lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper.
- Wipe off the sanding dust with a damp cloth, dry the surface, then brush on a second coat of polyurethane.
Tool
Tools & Materials
- Paint brushes