Minwax 61500444 Pre Stain Wood Conditioner, 1 Quart

Product Information

Softwoods are more likely than hardwoods to become blotchy after applying conditioner since they have a less uniformed pore structure on the inside.

If you are planning to stain some soft or hardwood in your DIY project then you might be wondering whether or not a pre-stain wood conditioner is necessary before the actual staining? Apply the stain. Wipe the color over the entire surface with a rag or brush and allow it to soak in.There are two types of commercially available stain conditioner - water-based and oil-based. Oil and water don't mix, so make sure you use the same base for both the conditioner and stain. Oil based wood conditioner Some common ingredients in pre-stain wood conditioners are linseed oil, tung oil, mineral spirits, and turpentine. Linseed oil is organic and doesn’t contain any solvents. Tung oil is also an organic product that’s derived from tung nuts. Mineral spirits are petroleum distillates that act as solvents for other substances like oils or waxes. Turpentine is distilled from pine trees and contains “naturally occurring” pentane found in petroleum products like paint thinner or gasoline. What Happens If You Let the Wood Conditioner Dry Before Staining? Apply a top coat. Protect your stained wood with a clear top coat. Stain by itself doesn't offer any protection against moisture, and may come off on your hands or clothing. A pre-stain wood conditioners main job is to even out the absorption of your wood stain when applied, it does this by sealing the wood to create a more uniform coat no matter the wood density. Step 2: Apply Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner directly onto your surface, ensuring that it is evenly distributed across the entire application area (use of disposable items is recommended). Let sit for about ten minutes. Note: It may take around two hours, depending on humidity levels and temperature.

The stain should be allowed to sit for at least five minutes before wiping off. This allows the color to fully penetrate and dry into the wood. I recommend that the stain be applied in a generous amount and then left to sit for around 15 minutes before it is wiped off. If you wipe the stain off too soon, you will get less color penetration and intensity. It’s best to take your time when applying a stain because all of the hard work pays off in the end with a beautiful finish! Stir Pre-Stain Conditioner Natural to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can before and throughout the application process. Use a water-based pre-stainwood conditioner with water-based stains. With a water based stain conditioner, you don't need to worry as much about strong smells and harmful fumes. Many people like water-based products because you can easily clean it up with soap and water. You can also use a mixture of wood glue, water-based clear finish and water to create what is called "glue-size." You may have noticed that wood glue prevents stain from soaking into the wood, which creates light spots at the joints that can seriously mess up your project. A wood pre-stain wood conditioner is a water-based product that is used to protect the wood and paint from changing after it’s been stained. The products remove unwanted odors and other residues that can’t be removed by just washing, such as smoke and dampness.Pre-Stain Conditioner Natural can improve colour uniformity over difficult-to-stain wood species such as pine. However, it will limit colour absorption, so a darker wood stain may be required to get the desired depth of colour. Sanding. If you haven't already, sand your bare wood to at least 180 grit. It's important to sand with the grainand avoid over or under-sanding any one location - good sanding can prevent a lot of blotchiness! An oil-based pre-stainconditioner is for use with oil-based stains. The main thing to know about oil based stain conditioners is that you'll likely be dealing with more VOCs (volatile organic compounds), so it's smart to apply this stuff in an open area. Wait. After about 5 minutes, wipe any excess pre-stain away. Most manufacturers recommend applying the stain in a window between 15 minutes and two hours, but consult the can for specific dry times. Applying stain too soon may just dilute the color without preventing blotching, but waiting too long may prevent the stain from soaking in at all!

Applying a pre-stain wood conditioner is simple and is not time intensive no matter the type of wood conditioner that you use. If you want to have pre-condition wood before applying stain but don’t want to buy wood conditioners there are some cheaper alternatives to consider which will work in a similar way to help even out absorbent woods. If you left your wood conditioner on for too long, you can lightly scuff up the surface with 220 grit sandpaper. Does wood conditioner make stain darker?Let Pre-stain Conditioner dry 20 minutes but no more than 30 minutes before applying GF water-based stain in ideal conditions: 50-70% humidity, 70°F/20°C. Apply the pre-stain. Wipe the pre-stain conditioner onto the wood with a rag or foam brush. Try to be as even as you can, though don't stress it - you'll wipe off any excess later. The quality of the wood also matters. For example, you'll see more blotches after staining construction grade pine 2x4 boards than you will after staining a perfectly milled piece of pine.