Normal procedure for staining wood is like this, according to all manuals:
If I want to preserve the natural color of the wood (rather than make it darker), then they tell you to apply Natural Stain (#209 at Home Depot) at step 3.
But could I, instead, buy paint grade wood (which is much cheaper than stain grade), and just apply varnish alone, without stain ?
I don't think that would be a good idea at all. It is a very low quality product and every defect and blemish will show thru.
Purchase a small test piece and try it. You will see what I mean.
On 28 Feb 2005 18:05:26 -0800, the inscrutable "Ikon" spake:
PLEASE do, and try Waterlox while you're at it. It's a combo of tung oil and varnish that you wipe on, and it doesn't darken the wood much.
Regarding the wood, buy whatever looks good to you. Get it from a hardwood lumber store, not Blowes or Borg.
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