Replies

1. 
   Kent_F | Oct 01, 2004 10:58pm | #1

   Testing on scrap is the only way to know if you will be happy with the result!

1. 
   SCaseria | Oct 01, 2004 11:25pm | #3

   The only scrap I had I used to test 4 different colors to see which the wife and I preferred.

   There was a little uneveness, but the area of coverage was small, and I didn't spend a whole lot of time (just wanted to narrow down light vs dark/ brown vs reddish).

   Thanks for your reply.

2. 
   JohnWW | Oct 01, 2004 11:18pm | #2

   Gel stains are less prone to blotching, but pine is especially prone to the problem, especially millwork which can have boards of varying quality. 

   Compared to your overall investment in time and materials to finish the door, using a conditioner is cheap insurance and it won't do any harm, I'd use it.  Don' rush the job, follow the drying times on the cans.  It may not be possible to finish the job properly in one weekend.

   John W.

1. 
   SCaseria | Oct 01, 2004 11:34pm | #4

   Thanks, John. I'm all for cheap insurance.

   As for timing, since it is a raised panel door and the stain has a recommended saturation/wiping-off time, would you suggest just doing one panel at a time? Do I run the risk of the adjoining panels looking different?

   What I mean is this, I probably can't apply it over the entire surface and then remove all of it in the same amount of time. The part I do last will have had stain on it much longer than the part I begin on, right?

   6milessouth

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 01, 2004 11:58pm | #5

   I work back an forth, applying stain to a couple of panels to start, then wiping down the first panel stained, applying stain to a third panel, then wiping the second panel, staining a fourth, then wiping the third and so on. 

   You are better off to wipe a bit too soon than to allow the stain to start to get tacky and become hard to wipe.  On pine especially, the stain will penetrate quickly and wiping early will have little effect on the depth of color.

   John W.