Stain producing two diffrent shades..?

[Derrick Williams]

 

Hello All,

I am fairly new at woodwork and have a slight problem. I have built a headboard and a bed frame. Both were built using the Kreg Jig (I love this tool !) I purchased all the wood at the same time. I built the headboard and stained it no problem. I have now built the bed frame and stained it. The problem is the two items are not the same shade now. I used the same can of stain. I built the two items about three weeks apart.The bed frame is quiet a bit darker..now what do I do..??

Should I have built both items then stained them both ?

any suggestions would be very helpful,

Derrick Williams

[Steve]

I like using the oil based Minwax stains. Sand the wood smooth, before applying the stain. I top the wood with Minwax polyurethane, oil based. The also have spar polyurethane for exterior use.

[Bennett S. Reynolds]

Another method of getting a darker color is to steam an area or piece with any kind of steam machine or steam iron and let it dry before application of stain. The heat and moisture will open the grain of the wood to allow deeper and darker color. Ditto on Minwax Products. 

Mike Robson said:

HI bennett....sorry for not responding sooner.

I have always used Minwax products...I have good luck with them.

Craig Sims said:

In the past I have had the same problem or something simular. My project comes out darker than I want, or it is supposed to have a red tent and it is brown. What wood conditioner do you recommendand where do I buy it?

Mike Robson said:

Was the headboard exposed to direct sunlight when drying ? ...and yes it is best to finish any "set" pieces at the same time if possible...you may also want to try wood conditioner before staining, especially if on pine.