Staining can be a tedious task if you’re working on a large project. How it can also save you a lot of money by doing it yourself.

The first and probably most important aspect of staining your wood carving is getting the right products that are of high quality and will leave your finished piece a true work of art and something you can be proud of. There are a ton of new products out there including all in one stain, varnishes, water based and oil based varnishes and brushing lacquer it can be easy to get confused on which product is right for the look you’re going for.

The first product and step in staining your new wood carvings is to sand, sand and sand some more. Yes, if you are refinishing a large item you can buy an electric sander or you can do it the old fashion way with a piece of sandpaper. Sand the piece of wood so that the surface is completely smooth. Having an uneven or rough surface will make the staining step difficult as the stain will collect in those uneven or rough areas. Thus drawing attention to those areas instead of the beauty of the piece overall.

After you have finished sanding your wood carving, you can apply a pre stain wood conditioner. The conditioner is typically used so it can penetrate into the wood which will allow the stain to absorb more evenly when it is applied.

Once you have applied your pre-stain wood conditioner you can begin applying the actual stain. If you get a traditional stain you can apply it with a sponge brush, and wipe the stain off once entire wood carving is covered. You can apply traditional stain as many times as you would like to achieve the color you prefer, wiping it off after each coat.

Some great brands of stain include Behlen, Chemcraft, ML Campbell, Mohawk, Valspar and Chemcraft. 

After the stain dries, you can apply a varnish or polyurethane to finish your wood carving. Acrylic varnish and polyurethane are typically available in a gloss or satin finish and will make your final piece beautiful!