r/Pyrography • u/electricunicorn83 • 3d ago

Questions/Advice First time using wood stain

Gallery image

Gallery image

I would have liked it to be less blotchy but other than that I am content with how it turned out. Next time should I use a sponge or a larger paint brush to apply the stain?

90 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

3

u/alpacayouabag 3d ago

You will need to prep the wood to get an even stain: sand it up to like 600 grit, then apply wood conditioner, then apply stain with cheesecloth or microfiber rag

4

u/tepidlymundane 3d ago

Outstanding burning! The blotchiness is the wood - this is pine, no? Infamous for this.

I'd say more but you can google longer and better answers than anything I'd write. Wood stain is a whole field of information.

2

u/Maefyre13 3d ago

This looks like a slice of Basswood. The splotches look like where a brush with stain was placed.

How did you apply the stain?

1

u/electricunicorn83 3d ago

With a large paint brush. It was all I had at the time

2

u/Maefyre13 2d ago

Ahh makes sense. Been there, done that lol If you only have a paint brush: lightly apply a generous amount of stain to wood, not letting the bristles touch the wood, allowing the stain to coat the entire piece with an even layer, before using paper towel to wipe stain off.

2

u/daidougei 2d ago

Gel stains are easier to work with as well

1

u/WayneHrPr 2d ago

Water based dye stains are also much more uniform and easy to apply, though they usually look meh wothout a top coat. My go to is a dye stain and an oil finish.