I have an unfinished wood wine rack that I'd like to stain but I don't know the wood species?

Question

The piece is totally unfinished and never used, my mother was trying to sell it in a garage sale. I read a few websites about choosing a stain and it mentioned that you should know the wood species and whether it's open grained or not. I have no experience in this area, is there a way to determine the species and grain? Any general tips are also appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

What you read is true but not VERY important. Here is what I would do. Take a photo of the wine rack in natural light, or if its small enough to carry, take it to the store where you want to purchase the stain. Have someone there help you in deciding what stain to use.

If I had to take a guess I would say its probably some species of oak or cherry. If it appears lighter, probably oak. If its darker, probably cherry.

Answer 2

it really isnt that important.  different wood takes different stain differently.  closed grain wood takes stain in a more uniform manner than open grain wood.  if you buy minwax or some other type, from your home center store, let it dry over night before you put your finish on it.  Im not a fan of the polyshades, but thats your choice.  

any unfinished furniture i have ever seen is all closed grain wood, with the only exception being oak.  heres a link to see what type you might have.

start in the back and work your way forward.

good luck.

Answer 3

On the back side of it, press your thumbnail into the wood. If it leaves a mark, it is a soft wood such as Pine. When I stain open grained woods, I use a sealer first so the stain doesn't look splotchy. Good luck with your project.

Answer 4

Really you need to find out if it is "HARD WOOD" or "SOFT WOOD".

The way in which you find out is :-

Use your fingernail to tell the difference between hard and soft wood.

Hard woods are useful for making sturdy long-lasting constructions and produce more heat when burnt. Soft woods are light, easy to shape and are useful for making objects that float or fly.

so softwood would leave a dent in the wood and hardwood wouldnt

so u cna use varnish for softwood and woodstain or vasrnish for hardwood

Hope its HELPS!!