Bookcase staining dilemma!

**KittyJess** · 13th October 2012, 12:44 PM

Hi guys,
just after some advice. I'm staining a set of bookcases using a decking stain, a bit cheeky I know but a lot cheaper and have used it before on a raw pine chest of drawers and it comes up pretty good (I usually use proper furniture stain but a bit short on cash with a little one on the way in 3 months.) Anyway, the stain is not soaking in as well as it usually does, it's not as dark as it should be, and is all blotchy (looks like dirty water rather than rich colour). It's going on to raw pine. I have only applied one coat with a sponge in a rag, normally it looks great after one coat but not this time.
I experimented a bit and used some of my left over furniture stain and its the same thing, not soaking in to the wood and looking like crap. So I got an off cut and tried sanding and mineral turps then applied the stain over that, and same thing, still blotchy and nowhere near as dark/rich as it usually is. In a dilly of a pickle trying to figure out what's wrong with the wood or the stain or me!
Staining is normally my favourite part but this time it's a nightmare. I would cry if I had to paint it instead!
Thanks all
Jess

**TKO** · 13th October 2012, 09:37 PM

Hi there, there is nearly always a problem with staining pine timber, if you have stained it all one coat already,and it is blotchy,it is because the dark areas are soft grained parts of the wood,and therefore take in more stain,most likely if it is allowed to thoroughly dry a further coat might help but doubtful, I have in the past always tried a sample piece before staining pine and if the blotchy shows always sealed with a thin bone glue size, and when dry a rub down and a coat of stain usually worked fine,BUT the modern day paints may not necessarily work like this, now this probably isn't much help to you now,and short of stripping the stain and starting again,this is the only thing I can help you with.I hope some modern day person can come up with some Idea to help you with, good luck.

Eddie.

**Bob38S** · 15th October 2012, 01:36 PM

Agree with TKO, you need to prepare raw pine to accept almost any stain by partially sealing the surface and especially any end grain. There are comercial versions available or use a light coat of shellac.

As to solving your blotchy problem - probably not too much joy there - not sure what the solvent is for the decking stain you used - I presume water cleanup - if it is you could possibly try to dissolve it / thin it out with methylated spirits [not sure how successful you will be] to lighten up the dark patches. Failing the thinnig of the existing coat, probably the only way is to coat it again to try and even it out but it will, of course, be darker and will also hide any grain.

Not sure if it helps but there could be others wiser than me who could have a better idea.

Regards,
Bob

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