Staining & Finishing Oak

Because of its strength and beauty, oak has many uses.

Oak is a beautiful hardwood used in homes and businesses worldwide. It's used for flooring, cabinets, doors, trim, and bookcases, and in many other places. Oak can be stained any color that you choose. When you stain oak, it will bring out the wood grain; the grain patterns are one of the reasons oak is so popular. To achieve the look you are after, prepare your oak by sanding first, staining, and then clear-coating.

Things You'll Need

• Palm sander
• 150-grit sandpaper
• 220-grit sandpaper
• Chemical-resistant gloves
• Stain
• Stain brush
• Paint thinner
• Paint pot
• Sanding sealer
• Polyurethane

Instructions

1. Attach a sheet of 150-grit sandpaper to your palm sander. Sand the entire surface of your oak piece, sanding only the same direction of the wood grain. Never sand against the grain on wood; you will create deep scratches that are difficult to remove. Change sandpaper often. Sand a second time with your 220-grit sandpaper. Sanding creates a smooth surface and removes any mill marks created when the oak wood was cut.

2. Stir your stain with a stir stick; do not shake it. If you shake your stain, you will create air bubbles. Put on your chemical-resistant gloves, and apply your stain with your stain brush in small sections at a time and wipe off the excess with a rag. Continue this process until you have stained the entire piece. Allow your stain to dry overnight and stain a second time if it is not dark enough to suit your taste. Allow your second coat to dry overnight. Thoroughly clean your stain brush with paint thinner after each use.

3. Stir your sanding sealer with a stir stick. Most of the protective sealant is settled at the bottom of the can. Apply a coat of sanding sealer to your entire piece of furniture or trim and allow to dry. Sanding sealer usually dries within two hours. Use 220-grit sandpaper to sand your oak. Sanding sealer provides an added layer of protection against moisture. Use a clean cloth slightly dampened with paint thinner to wipe off the sanding dust. If you do not wipe off the dust, your final coat will have a gritty surface.

4. Open your can of polyurethane and stir it. The sealing properties will be settled in the bottom of the can, just like your sanding sealer. Apply a thin, even coat of polyurethane to the entire surface. Allow the polyurethane to completely dry and apply a second coat. After your final coat is completely dry, your oak is ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use a water-based polyurethane that will dry within two hours. This type of polyurethane is available at all home remodeling centers.

• Do not apply polyurethane too heavily; it will run.

• Carefully inspect your work while you are applying the polyurethane; brush out runs while it is still wet; otherwise, you will have to sand out dried runs.

• Do not stop staining in the middle of a piece and allow it to dry. When you resume staining, you will have created an obvious stain overlap.

• Make sure your work area is well-ventilated.

References

• Popular Woodworking; Finishing for First-Timers