Can you stain poplar wood

Also, there are heavier bodied stains you can choose that might not soak in so deep and get so blotchy. The best place to start is by bringing a sample into the store. Would that work? TIP 3 Save your scraps!

TIP 6 Purchase a wiping stain or a gel stain—not a penetrating stain. TIP 7 Finally, to repeat : sample, sample, sample! Paint Screw-Ups Anonymous. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.

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Necessary Necessary. I find that wood conditioner makes the biggest difference with dark stain colors. Sand thoroughly and finish with a fine grit sandpaper — I like grit. Then, apply a wood conditioner, especially if staining with a dark color. Now you are ready to apply your wood stain! Poplar is a hard wood that does not warp easily. Boards at the store are usually straight, unlike pine! No, if you want to use poplar wood outdoors, you will need to apply an outdoor sealant.

Here are our tips for sealing stained wood. We tested these ten stains on five different wood species! Check out our favorite white wood stains and black wood stains! Be sure to watch my video on how to open a can of wood stain. Poplar is easy to work with and easy to get. The more gel you remove, the more you will thin out the stain, leading to a lighter coloring in your wood. Leave the wood to dry for a day. Give the gel stain plenty of time to set into the wood. Staining products can be slow-drying.

They usually begin drying after about 8 hours but require a full day to completely settle. The wood should feel dry to the touch before you work on it again. Apply a second coating of gel stainer as needed.

Check the wood, gauging the color of the stain while noticing any inconsistencies. If the color appears light or uneven, you can fix it by applying a second coating. You will need to wipe up the excess stainer and let the wood dry again afterwards. Stainer can also get stuck in nooks and cracks. Cover the wood with a coating of shellac or another finisher. Shellac, polyurethane, and other products all seal in the stain. Choose 1, then use a paint brush or rag to coat the wood in a smooth, even layer of the chemical.

You might use amber shellac to give the wood a more vibrant brown color. Polyurethane is good for making the wood waterproof. You can apply a finisher like shellac first, then waterproof the poplar with polyurethane.

Allow the finish to dry for at least 30 minutes. Shellac may dry within 45 minutes, but polyurethane can take 2 hours or more. Apply a second coating of finisher as needed.

Recoating the wood is usually a good idea, since it ensures total coverage. Use a rag or paint brush to go back over the poplar, applying another smooth layer of the finishing material. Wait for it to dry, then admire your work. If the coating looks uneven, you can smooth it out with grit sandpaper.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Test all staining products on a piece of scrap wood first so you can get the color you want without wasting material. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. You can use oxalic acid before you varnish poplar in order to brighten up its coloring. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. All chemicals used can be dangerous, so always wear safety gear such as gloves and a respirator.

Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 8. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: 3. Updated: September 16, Categories: Wood Finishes and Treatments. Some of the older timber has attractive purple streaks after milling that persist after drying.

Do you have any recommendation for a stain to mostly keep natural look but soften the greens while maintaining the purple? Thanks so much for putting this together!! I'm too new to woodworking to justify buying anything more expensive than poplar. Unfortunately, most things that I've seen online about finishing poplar is how to make it pass for another wood. I'm not interested in trying to make it look like something it's not - I just want it to look decent!

I think I may end up a set of samples, following your lead - in order to decide what I like, it's best I see it up close in person. By davethewoodworker Visit my youtube channel here Follow. More by the author:. About: Hi my name is David, I like to make things out of Wood, also like to take things apart and fixed them.