You may have come across the idea that staining is a superior choice for preserving the innate beauty of wood while leaving its visual charm untouched. However, a quandary arises when you decide to stain wood that has already been varnished.
The good news is that staining over varnish is indeed possible, but there are important factors to take into account. The key lies in executing the correct techniques. In this regard, I’m here to impart invaluable tips for ensuring the success of your staining endeavor.
Is it Okay to Stain Over Varnished Wood?
Although it is not recommended, you can undoubtedly stain over varnish wood, and there are techniques to change the finish from varnish to stain.
Varnish offers durability through a protective layer on the surface, while wood stain penetrates the wood to provide a higher level of moisture protection and enhance the appearance of the wood.
You can tell a varnished wood with its glossy and clear coating finish, making it resistant to damage and stain. So how would you achieve a pigmented surface using a wood stain over varnished wood?
Can You Do This Without Sanding?
You can stain without sanding or stripping the varnish finish using gel-formulated stain. Gel stain has a thick consistency, and you can give your wooden surface full coverage with multiple thin coats. Unlike ordinary stains, it covers the existing stain.
But there’s a catch here on your desired new stain. Staining without sanding could damage your wood, particularly untreated wood, over time, such as creating a blotchy surface.
Leaving the varnished surface without maintenance for a long time will result in some spots that varnish worn off, making uneven absorption of stain.
Therefore, I recommend sanding the varnish before staining the surface.
Staining Over Varnished Wood in 7 Steps
Step 1: Clean the Wood
Cleaning the surface of the wood before staining is crucial to achieving your desired new stain. So, using a cleaning solution or trisodium phosphate (TSP), remove the existing finish and accumulate dirt and oil on the surface.
Step 2: Wet-Sand the Wood
Next is sanding, but this technique will use wet sanding on the surface. Use a sanding block with 320-grit sandpaper to remove bumps and a top layer of the varnished wood.
Wet sanding is when you must dampen your sandpaper or the wood using a spray bottle or de-glosser. After you remove the old finish, use a lint-free cloth to dry the wood making the surface visible for any left varnish.
Step 3: Sand the Wood Consistently
It is inevitable to encounter surface impurities, but there are steps you can take to address them. Begin by acquiring fine grit sandpaper, ideally around 400 grit, and proceed to carefully sand the surface.
This time you will not need to wet your sandpaper but a light sanding of the surface and ensure the surface is smoothened.
Ensure to stain evenly, and get a damp cloth or tack cloth to remove sand dust particles from the surface. Then let it dry completely for at least 30 minutes.
Step 4: Apply the Stain
Depending on your desired finish, you can choose between gel staining that is oil- and water-based and specialized manufactured stains that are fast dry, water-proof, and eco-friendly stains.
Oil-Based Gel Stains
Most woodworkers prefer oil-based because it allows plenty of time for woodworkers to remove the excess stain. Aside from being convenient to use, most oil-based stains are a mixture of linseed oil and varnish.
Instead of using products with harmful solvents, make a smart choice by selecting brands that offer options with low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which are essentially toxic chemicals.
This stain offers great pigmentation to your wooden surface, and the drying time is at least 12 hours. The oil-based stain has the brightest and most lustrous finish for stained wood surfaces.
Fast Dry Wood Stains
If you can’t wait for at least 12 hours, purchase the fast dry wood stain, which allows your wood surface to have a new stain after a very short time. Some stains in the market have nanoparticles that make them dry quickly.
If you decide to go with this particular stain, you can expect your wooden surface to display richer colors and emphasize the texture of the wood. Despite its lack of color, I suggest using this option if you’re aiming for a natural finish.
Solid Water-Proof Stains
How about staining your wood with added water-resistant? As mentioned earlier, stain keeps off the moisture by penetrating the wood, so your wood will get a water-proof [1] stain for this one.
The solid water-proof stains offer a solid and dense look and change the color of your wooden piece from dark stain to light shades and vice versa. Once you apply this stain, you will not need seals or a top coat to protect your stain.
More so, you will get a lasting vibrant, and more appealing look for your wooden surface.
Water-Based Gel Stains
Water-based stains are also convenient to apply, but it has less VOC, so applying stain to your interior surfaces won’t be a problem. Once you apply, there’s no overlapping, so there are no imperfections on the entire surface.
This product can blend with other interior elements, but the only downside of this stain is less durable than other stains. You must apply a sealer or top coat to prevent damage and wear.
Eco-Friendly Stains
Most eco-friendly stains are those products with almost no VOC. Therefore, most DIYers prefer this, particularly if they have kids and pets.
Since most manufacturers developed this idea, you can quickly identify these products with labels on their containers, such as unscented, biodegradable, and non-flammable.
But the catch is that eco-friendly stains are a bit more expensive than other stain products.
After you have decided on the type of wood stain you will be using, wear your protective gloves and get the necessary stain applicator before you can stain over varnish. Also, ensure to read and follow the instructions labeled on the container.
Step 5: Cure and Dry the Wood
Wait for your stained wood to dry for at least 48 hours. Although there’s a recommended curing time for your stain, ensure the stain has been completely dry will prevent the ruining of your finish.
Step 6: Add a Protective Layer or Seal the Workpiece
Once the stain is dry, add your preferred sealer or protective coating. Use the same product brand of your stain and top coat for better results. Then leave it to dry completely. But how many varnish coats should you apply on wood? Find out next!
Step 7: Analyze the Final Results
After you achieve your desired result, check your wood project to see if there are no streaks or blotch. If you see some bumps, lightly sand enough only to remove the bumps.
Tips & Tricks While Staining Over Varnished Wood
To prevent mistakes and redo your wood staining, here are some tips and tricks to achieve perfect results when you stain over varnish.
- Wear protective gear like masks or respirators, industrial glasses, and gloves.
- Practice your choices of stain on a scrap of wood to ensure you pick the right shades.
- When sanding, you can use a vacuum to remove the sand dust and debris on the surface. It will make the surface completely dust-free.
- Darker stain can be achieved when you apply multiple coats, and to have a consistent stain evenly, use a pre-stain wood conditioner or pre-stain your wood. It will prevent the blotches of your stain.
- Use an oil-based paint thinned down with paint thinner or a clear oil-based glaze as an alternative for gel stain.
- To find what kind of finish your wood has, soak a cotton ball in acetone and stick it to the wood surface. If it sticks, the old finish is varnish. Otherwise, you can apply a gel stain.
- You can mix different colors of the same stain brand to customize your shades.
- Baby oil can remove gel stains on your skin if you accidentally paint yourself.
- Start applying a thin layer of paint, then proceed with a thick coat.
- Use a drop cloth or plastic sheets on the wood beneath or on floorings and on other surfaces that you do not want to put a stain on it accidentally.
When Should You Remove Varnish Before Staining?
It’s recommended to remove any old finish, including varnish on your wood surface, before staining.
You can use a chemical stripper or de-glosser to make your surface bare or already an unvarnished wood as much as possible completely.
Aside from stripping, you can sand or use a heat gun to ensure a smooth finish surface. If varnish was not removed from the surface, the stain could not adhere properly to your wood, and the results are uneven.
Can You Use a Water-Based Stain Over Varnished Wood?
A water-based stain over already varnished wood is not advisable to apply because varnish is an oil-based finish.
The chemical reaction will result in patches, and once you apply it, the water-based stain will not adhere to varnished wood.
Therefore, remove the varnished finish first if you want to use a water-based stain.
Can You Stain Over Polyurethane Finished Wood?
If you want to skip removing the old finish, you can stain it as long as you use it to apply gel stain.
This stain bonds with a polyurethane finish because it has poly properties that make it possible to skip removing the old finish.
Can You Stain Sealed Wood?
You can apply stain on sealed wood, and the effect can be seen if the surface changes its color. And this is particularly noticeable if you’re using untreated wood.
To see the result, test your stain in a small hidden area. Make sure you’re applying stain carefully so it won’t smudge on the main surface. After testing, you can now apply the stain over the whole surface.
Can You Use Gel Stain Over Varnish?
Absolutely, you can apply gel stain on top of varnished wood, as previously discussed. The unique thing about gel stain is its denser texture, which results in a more profound and lustrous hue when used over varnish.
This application also highlights the wood’s natural grain, adding to its visual appeal.
Can You Stain Over Lacquer Finish?
Like how you stain over varnish, staining over a lacquer finish is possible. But, achieving a balanced stain consistency will take a lot of work.
Lacquer offers different hues and shades so that you can customize the final appearance of your stained surface. For this one, you must use a gel stain to ensure a smooth surface.
Can You Varnish Over Varnish?
If you think of varnishing over a varnished wood surface, you can do it, but there are many conditions to consider, such as the type of varnish used as the previous finish. Some homeowners apply varnish over varnish, but each layer is thin.
The technique also includes sanding the existing varnish before applying the stain to give it more adhesion.
Can You Turn Varnished Wood Darker? + How to Do It
You can darken varnished wood but make wood grain visible using various techniques.
You must apply multiple or at least two layers of varnish, but in between those layers is the stain layer. Before adding a new layer over the prior one, let it dry so your stain and varnish won’t create blotch.
Even using fine-grit sandpaper, do not sand any layers for this procedure to achieve the best results.
What Other Finishes Can You Apply Over Varnish?
Furthermore, if you’re looking to maintain the integrity of your wood’s natural beauty while dealing with varnished surfaces, painting over varnish can be a savvy choice. This approach enhances the wood’s adherence.
For this task, you better opt for a water-based wood stain to achieve the best results. But before painting over varnish, you must ensure the old finish has no holes and spots that need to fill.
FAQ
Can you apply stain over epoxy resin?
When it comes to applying stain over epoxy resin, it’s like staining wood in some ways. However, here’s a pro tip: opt for water-based stains when dealing with epoxy resin, but make sure that your resin is thoroughly dry before adding the wood stain. This will help you achieve the best results.
Is it okay to stain over laminate furniture?
Staining laminate furniture can be a bit of a puzzle because the glossy surface doesn’t play nice with regular stain products. Think about using a faux stain that’s tailor-made for shiny finishes like laminates. When you’re working with laminate furniture, this particular kind of stain is your ace in the hole, guaranteeing a reliable and good-looking outcome.
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Conclusion
Certainly, staining over varnish is a viable DIY endeavor, and it’s more approachable than you might think. When it comes to enhancing the look of wood, especially on surfaces with varnish, understanding the proper techniques is key.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a pro to accomplish this. Whether you’re dealing with raw, unvarnished wood or a previously finished piece, you can achieve a stunning finish by following the steps outlined above. It’s all about taking the right approach to transform your wood into a true work of art.
You've probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
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