We cant go out and get a drink But that shouldnt stop us from making a cocktail, Read More Bar cart essentials and stylingContinue, Though it may sound like a thing of the past, toile wallpaper has been regaining popularity as people look to switch things up in their homes. But, if you are working with an orbital sander and flat surface, sanding your piece to bare wood is easier than you think! Gel stain differs from traditional stains in that it doesnt need to penetrate the wood. The main difference between the different types of stains is their texture. However, if youre on a last resort attempt to save a piece, it might be worth it. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this blog of mine! After sanding the wood bare, you must go over it with a tack cloth before staining it again so you don't have dust over the surface. Then apply the finish you plan to use on top of it. Gel stains are more intended to sit on top of wood and therefore can be treated more like paint. Yes! Check out my FREE 9-step design guide to help you design your space like a pro! But is still popular, Read More Is Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams In or Out?Continue, I knew when we bought this rustic house three years ago that I had to find somewhere to add a sliding barn door! "I want to stain a dresser darker. The closest example of this style would be rustic. A topcoat will help protect the wood from UV damage, scuffs, scratches, and even spills. Choosing some hidden spot on the piece and applying some stain there as a test run is your best bet. If youre refinishing a furniture piece, and dont have scrap wood to test, things get a little trickier. So, safety first: if you use this technique, be absolutely sure your wood stain has completely dried first, so that you dont end up with a dangerous chemical reaction. Otherwise, your best bet is to always apply a top coat over your stained wood for protection. So, if your project has a very nice existing stain and finish, and you are interested in changing the tone or darkening the stain, a gel stain might be your best bet! Bet, And. Vinegar may be associated with stain lightening as bleaching wood is a popular method for lightening stain and having a vinegar and water solution is suggested for cleaning it up. If you don't have a drop cloth or a tarp, use old, thick towels instead. References Using gel stain to cover the existing stain will involve a slight amount of sanding, and then applying the coat of gel stain on top of the existing stain. This should only be attempted if you have a good orbital sander; hand sanding would require a significant amount of time. Chlorine bleach removes dye-based stains, but not pigment-based stains. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Those are the most straightforward options, but you have a few other choices as well, so keep reading! This is important to note because if that is not your desired style, then it may be best to avoid this approach! This preserves the grain but can be much more flexible and require less effort from staining projects. Some stains come with additives that may help protect wood. destroy your way to a beautiful house. Farmhouse Exterior Paint Color ideas and inspiration! remove the darker stain first and then apply the lighter stain. You may also want to wear old clothes that you don't mind getting messed up, in case some of the stain spills. Hopefully by the end you will have all of your questions answered and be ready to begin your next staining project! Stripping that existing color away and offering you a new blank base to work with. Checkout my E-design services! The easiest thing to do when you dont like your wood stain color is to grab a darker stain, and apply it on top of the initial stain job. The first step is deciding the theme and vibe you want to go for, take the, Read More Farmhouse Exterior Paint Color ideas and inspiration!Continue, Today Id like to share another post in my series on building DIY built-in bookshelves using unfinished cabinets! If you think your new test option is better than the current option, go for it! Then with the next grit sandpaper you have (usually 80 grit,) sand until the pencil squiggle is gone. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You might not have as much space to test 15 options like you would when using scrap wood above, but you can probably still test 2-3 options and pick from there. If you want to darken the stain on your wood project, then removing the existing stain is not necessary! But good news using the wrong wood stain color can be fixed! Frankly, I find Polyshades difficult to work with, and have run into issues every time Ive tried it. Repeat this process until youve sanded all the way up to 240 grit sandpaper. Because of this I wanted to DIY, Read More Easy DIY sliding barn doorContinue, Your email address will not be published. These shutters were to, Building the hood vent was a little bit of a puzzl, You know It only took five years to finish. In addition to creating a lighter finish, you will need to strip the wood first if your piece has a lacquered topcoat. Yes, it is possible to use bleach to remove wood stain. Best of luck on your adventures. Here Ill share different questions you might have about stained wood, including things like is it possible to stain over old stains? Especially with everything going on right now! The tricky thing about adding a sliding barn door is that you have to have wall space at least on one side of your doorway. If all-else fails, painting the piece is always an option. Have you found the perfect piece of furniture, but the color is just a little off? Dont approach your staining project thinking that it will turn out the same as a previous one. Once you completely stain a wood piece, it will involve a bit of effort to lighten it again. In the last few posts I walked, Read More How to make a built-in bookcase with unfinished cabinetsContinue, With the holidays around the corner now is the time to stock up on bar cart essentials and styling! Instead, it sort of sits on top of the wood and provides a see-through layer of color. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'thefarmhouselife_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',114,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thefarmhouselife_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; You can even mix 2 or more stains together and make your own custom stain! You have a couple of options for staining over existing stains. Lightly sand the wood between coats and remove dust with a tack cloth. Yes! Wow! If you need to warm up the color, use a red or orange dye. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you.). Also, make sure you firmly establish your goal before your project. Ive been there so many times. If you leave a little of the excess stain, you'll get a darker finish, but it can be hard to get the color even this way. But its hard to know exactly what without testing it on your piece first. If you're not sure which one you prefer, ask an associate at your local home store for a small sample of each, then test them on your piece in an inconspicuous area. Dry the piece with a rag or towel, and then let the wood dry for a day or two before re-staining or adding a topcoat. Copyright 2022 A Butterfly House | Bamboo on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, see the full tutorial and before pictures here, I even tested stains on the bottom of the rocking part of a rocking chair. Otherwise, lightly sand the surface of the wood, then apply a thick coat of stain with a cloth or foam brush. If your like me, your first thought may be restaining but can you stain over stain? There are two types of products available for coloring already-finished wood: Gel Stain, and Poly-Stain Combo Products. That way, you know what youre going to get before you apply the stain to the entire project. If the wood is already stained, though, you might not be sure how to proceed. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. However, if you want to lighten the stain, then you will need to strip and remove the existing stain on your project. The easiest thing to do at this point is to color over the finish you have. The finer the grade, the smoother the surface of your wood will be when you're finished, but the longer the process will take. If you cannot find the perfect tone ready-made, it is possible to mix different stains together to get your ideal finish. If you're working outside in the grass, a drop cloth will help prevent grass from getting stuck in your stain while it's drying. They are often sold in packs of 6. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Home design has always been a passion of mine. To bleach your piece apply the bleach with a sponge or spray bottle. A heavy coat wont dry, so light coats are the way to go here. I used two different gel stains on this cedar chest (see the full tutorial and before pictures here) which covered the fading and wear, as well as darkened the look of the chest: To use gel stain, sand your piece with high grit sandpaper, then apply a light coat of the gel stain with a rag. 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