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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: golfman on June 16, 2012, 06:05:42 am

Title: Staining Pine
Post by: golfman on June 16, 2012, 06:05:42 am

I have made fretwork picture frames for my wife out of half inch pine. We have ten grandchildren so I cut one for each with their name.The problem is she wants a dark stain on them. Is it possible to dip them in stain. Has anyone tried this.I suggested to her I paint them but was vetoed .

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: jeff44 on June 16, 2012, 07:54:41 am

I have done it with Christmas Ornaments.  You just have to be very careful and not touch the wood with your hand.  jeff44

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: golfman on June 16, 2012, 08:06:36 am

Thanks Jeff

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: thumbs on June 16, 2012, 08:11:46 am

use sanding sealer on the pine--when you stain it, there will be less blotches and more even coverage--works for me--Richard

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: Rapid Roger on June 16, 2012, 09:34:41 am

I might suggest that on pine or any other open grain wood (poplar also) that you give it a thin coat of shellac before staining. Shellac dries fairly fast so it is no big deal. I buy my Zinsser "Bulls Eye" shellac at Lowe's and cut it 50/50 with denatured alcohol to make a 1# cut and brush it on with a cheap foam brush. It usually drys in 5 to 10 minutes. Then wipe the stain on with a folded paper towel. If you need to get the stain down inside the cuts, you can use a small water color brush or even a cotton swab where it doesn't just flow into the small, tight areas.
If you don't use a sealer of some kind, the open grained woods tend to blotch and have a lot of dark spots in odd areas (especially end grain. I have made a poplar blanket chest look like walnut to the untrained eye.) and then just apply the final finish however you want to.

Rog

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: Crabbyboater on June 16, 2012, 01:41:50 pm

If you want a dark color, you might also consider Gel Stains.  No sealer needed, just wipe on and off. 

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: BilltheDiver on June 17, 2012, 04:22:38 am

I'm with Crabby.  I have used gel stains on pine and poplar with good results.  Even on larger projects like bookcases.  You get more consistent results with better control.

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: troy_curtis on June 17, 2012, 05:45:41 pm

Can you use the gel stain for fret work? How do you get it in the little holes. I think trying to stain such a project would be hard. I did see some dark spray that I thought might work.

Title: Re: Staining Pine
Post by: edward on June 19, 2012, 09:57:08 am

 Do they still sell spray stains, might be good to get into small areas.  Edward