Installed Pine Kitchen Cupboards. Applied the stain and it is very spotty. Is there a way to get even finish?

Question

Hi, I recently installed Pine Kitchen Cupboards. When I applied some of the Minwax brand stain to a sample of the panelling, it is very spotty. What should I do or apply to the cupboards to get a even application of the stain?

Answer 1

Pine is a soft wood and usually needs a sealer applied before staining. Kind of like using a Primer/sealer before painting. It gives you the same surface all the way over so the stain doesn't get splotchy.

Answer 2

Pine does not absorb stain evenly.

Minwax oilstains soak into the open grain & softer areas which get darker w/ each application but  will never penetrate the harder areas.

Just the way it is.

You could try wiping it off w/ paint thinner, letting it dry out

& if you want to take the chance on staining  again a water or alcohol based powder stain is easier to control & you can "feather" the ligt & dark patches by wiping it on w/ clean barely damp ( w/ stain) rags,

Would do some test pieces first.

Since pine is tough to stain evenly , you will find that new  factory finished  pine has most of the color in the finish rather than in the wood.

Very difficult to get an even tone on all the broad cabinet surfaces which is why sprayed on tinted finishes are used.

Even w/ spray equipment it was difficult to get everything to match up even if the client had everything brought to the shop.

What to do ?  .....  since you've already started.......

Live w/ the "charm"

Stain everything ,wipe it all off & sand if absolutely necessary.

Go w/ a very deep color ( alcohol or waterstain)

Keep what you have & try a tinted finish ( not Minwax polyshades) ....try online finishing sites for  tinted  spray can finishes.

Take them down & bring them to a refinishing shop.

Paint wash, or paint.

Test whatever method you think you would try.

A good  deal of effort  & some expense to get good results..

Best regards

Answer 3

Pine is notoriously difficult to stain, particular with pigment-dye stains like Minwax.  Read the article below for techniques.  Hopefully, you have not started on your cabinets yet because blotching is one of the few finishing errors that you can't easily correct by a "do over."