How to Stain Alder Wood
Choose your stain., Remove any existing stain or paint using a chemical stripper, coarse sandpaper, or both., Use a medium-grit sandpaper, around 120 grit, on the entire piece of wood., Finish sanding with a fine-grit paper, 200 grit or above., Wipe...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose your stain.
Stains generally come in two varieties
-- oil and water based.
Oil based is easier to apply but harder to clean up, and requires a well-ventilated work area.
Water-based stains are cleaner, non-toxic, and tend to have lighter colors.
If you have lots of space and fresh air, oil-based stains are generally preferable.
Gel stains are hybrids that are easy to apply and clean.
However, they can be significantly more expensive. -
Step 2: Remove any existing stain or paint using a chemical stripper
If you want to stain the wood a darker color than it is now or the wood is unfinished (its original color), you can skip to the next step.
If not, you need to remove any coatings or old coloring using a chemical stripper.
To do so, use a coarse-grit sandpaper (60-100 grit) to sand off as much as possible.
For deep stains that sanding doesn't cover you can use a chemical stripper:
Work in a well-ventilated area, with eye and hand protection.
Apply a thick coat of stripper over everything, letting sit according to the directions.
Use a putty knife and steel wool to remove the stripper after the required time.
Wipe any excess stripper off with a damp cloth and let it all dry., Use a hand sander to smooth the wood.
Make sure you sand in the direction of the wood grain, along the natural lines in the alder wood.
Wipe the wood down with a cloth after every sanding, removing the dust from the surface.
Tack clothes will work the best at picking everything up. , Hit the wood again with a nice, fine-grit paper, which will smooth it out attractively.
For the best results you should work your way up, using 180-200 sandpaper, then 200-220, and then a final pass with an ultra-fine grit.
Wipe off the dust with your tack paper whenever you switch to a new grit., This helps clean the wood and brings out its natural coloring.
A rag is fine, and can be used to rub a light coating of mineral spirits on everything.
Let it sit for 2-3 minutes, then wipe off with a clean cloth., Alder wood is not an easy wood to stain, as it absorbs the stain unevenly.If you want a weathered, rustic look then this is a good thing
-- skip the wood conditioner and move on.
However, for a nice even coat, you must apply a wood conditioner.
Stir the wood conditioner thoroughly.
Use a clean rag to apply a thin, even layer of conditioner on the wood.
Let the conditioner soak in and dry for 15 minutes.
Remove any excess conditioner with a clean rag., The conditioner will get the wood ready for stain, but it will start to evaporate out if you wait too long.
Conditioner should be applied, dried, and wipe clear within two hours of staining., Choose an inconspicuous area and apply a thin square of stain on it.
Wait a few minutes for the stain to soak in, then wipe it all off with a clean cloth, making sure you timed how long you waited to remove it.
If you want a darker stain, you'll need to let the stain sit longer.
If you want lighter coloring you'll have to wipe it off faster., Make sure you completely stir up the stain, allowing you to get a nice even coloring on the wood. , Using a rag may allow a more uniform coating, but brushes work well too.
Work slowly, adding a thin, even coat instead of big globs of stain.
You shouldn't need more than a little bit of stain on your brush at any one time. , Wipe away any places where the stain pools, avoiding bubbling, puddles, or blotches.
Your final brush of stain should be following the wood grain for the best results. , You don't want the stain to dry on the wood.
If it does, it can make it much harder to add more stain or a finish later on.
Instead, wait several minutes and then wipe the stain all off with a clean rag.
The longer you leave the stain on, the darker the coloring will be. , This usually takes 6-8 hours, but check the can for specific instructions for your stain.
After the stain has completely dried you can always add another coat of stain to get an even darker finish. , Stain is decorative, but finish is what you need to protect the wood from scratches, moisture, and scuffs.
Use a fine-grit paper to lightly sand the surface, just like you did before sanding.
Wipe the surface down with a clean cloth once you finish. , Once you finish, sand again with the very fine grit sandpaper and apply a second coating.
Your options for finish, in order from most durable to least durable, are:
Polyurethane Water-based polyurethane Wood lacquer Finishing oils., The wood will take 48 hours to several weeks to cure completely.
This allows the color and finish to set attractively. -
Step 3: coarse sandpaper
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Step 4: or both.
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Step 5: Use a medium-grit sandpaper
-
Step 6: around 120 grit
-
Step 7: on the entire piece of wood.
-
Step 8: Finish sanding with a fine-grit paper
-
Step 9: 200 grit or above.
-
Step 10: Wipe the wood down with mineral spirits after sanding.
-
Step 11: Apply a wood conditioner
-
Step 12: helping absorb pigments more thoroughly.
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Step 13: Be ready to stain within two hours of applying conditioner.
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Step 14: Test a small area of wood with the stain.
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Step 15: Mix up your stain with a paint brush
-
Step 16: foam brush
-
Step 17: or rag.
-
Step 18: Apply a thin
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Step 19: even coating of stain on the entire piece of wood.
-
Step 20: Make a final pass along the grain of the wood with your brush.
-
Step 21: Wipe the stain off with a clean rag after 5-15 minutes.
-
Step 22: Allow the coat to dry.
-
Step 23: Sand the surface with 240 to 280-grit if you're adding a finish.
-
Step 24: Apply your preferred sealer or finish.
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Step 25: Let the wood cure at 70F (20C) for 2-4 days.
Detailed Guide
Stains generally come in two varieties
-- oil and water based.
Oil based is easier to apply but harder to clean up, and requires a well-ventilated work area.
Water-based stains are cleaner, non-toxic, and tend to have lighter colors.
If you have lots of space and fresh air, oil-based stains are generally preferable.
Gel stains are hybrids that are easy to apply and clean.
However, they can be significantly more expensive.
If you want to stain the wood a darker color than it is now or the wood is unfinished (its original color), you can skip to the next step.
If not, you need to remove any coatings or old coloring using a chemical stripper.
To do so, use a coarse-grit sandpaper (60-100 grit) to sand off as much as possible.
For deep stains that sanding doesn't cover you can use a chemical stripper:
Work in a well-ventilated area, with eye and hand protection.
Apply a thick coat of stripper over everything, letting sit according to the directions.
Use a putty knife and steel wool to remove the stripper after the required time.
Wipe any excess stripper off with a damp cloth and let it all dry., Use a hand sander to smooth the wood.
Make sure you sand in the direction of the wood grain, along the natural lines in the alder wood.
Wipe the wood down with a cloth after every sanding, removing the dust from the surface.
Tack clothes will work the best at picking everything up. , Hit the wood again with a nice, fine-grit paper, which will smooth it out attractively.
For the best results you should work your way up, using 180-200 sandpaper, then 200-220, and then a final pass with an ultra-fine grit.
Wipe off the dust with your tack paper whenever you switch to a new grit., This helps clean the wood and brings out its natural coloring.
A rag is fine, and can be used to rub a light coating of mineral spirits on everything.
Let it sit for 2-3 minutes, then wipe off with a clean cloth., Alder wood is not an easy wood to stain, as it absorbs the stain unevenly.If you want a weathered, rustic look then this is a good thing
-- skip the wood conditioner and move on.
However, for a nice even coat, you must apply a wood conditioner.
Stir the wood conditioner thoroughly.
Use a clean rag to apply a thin, even layer of conditioner on the wood.
Let the conditioner soak in and dry for 15 minutes.
Remove any excess conditioner with a clean rag., The conditioner will get the wood ready for stain, but it will start to evaporate out if you wait too long.
Conditioner should be applied, dried, and wipe clear within two hours of staining., Choose an inconspicuous area and apply a thin square of stain on it.
Wait a few minutes for the stain to soak in, then wipe it all off with a clean cloth, making sure you timed how long you waited to remove it.
If you want a darker stain, you'll need to let the stain sit longer.
If you want lighter coloring you'll have to wipe it off faster., Make sure you completely stir up the stain, allowing you to get a nice even coloring on the wood. , Using a rag may allow a more uniform coating, but brushes work well too.
Work slowly, adding a thin, even coat instead of big globs of stain.
You shouldn't need more than a little bit of stain on your brush at any one time. , Wipe away any places where the stain pools, avoiding bubbling, puddles, or blotches.
Your final brush of stain should be following the wood grain for the best results. , You don't want the stain to dry on the wood.
If it does, it can make it much harder to add more stain or a finish later on.
Instead, wait several minutes and then wipe the stain all off with a clean rag.
The longer you leave the stain on, the darker the coloring will be. , This usually takes 6-8 hours, but check the can for specific instructions for your stain.
After the stain has completely dried you can always add another coat of stain to get an even darker finish. , Stain is decorative, but finish is what you need to protect the wood from scratches, moisture, and scuffs.
Use a fine-grit paper to lightly sand the surface, just like you did before sanding.
Wipe the surface down with a clean cloth once you finish. , Once you finish, sand again with the very fine grit sandpaper and apply a second coating.
Your options for finish, in order from most durable to least durable, are:
Polyurethane Water-based polyurethane Wood lacquer Finishing oils., The wood will take 48 hours to several weeks to cure completely.
This allows the color and finish to set attractively.
About the Author
Jacob Martinez
Jacob Martinez has dedicated 9 years to mastering education and learning. As a content creator, Jacob focuses on providing actionable tips and step-by-step guides.
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