How to Stain Basswood

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Things You'll Need

  • Particle stain

  • Stirrer

  • Lint-free cloth

  • 250-grit sandpaper

  • Topcoat

Basswood is grown through most of the world and is one of the most common woods available. It is a light color, which makes it pretty to use as is, or stain for a deeper color. Uses for basswood include food containers, caskets, toys and mobile homes. Some manufacturers of high-end venetian blinds still make their products out of basswood. It is lightweight, durable and easy to stain, making it a good choice for home woodworking projects.

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Step 1

Wipe down the wood to ensure it is free of any dust or particles and set it down on top of paper. This will protect whatever surface you are working on.

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Step 2

Open the can of stain and stir it thoroughly with a stirrer to combine any particles that may have settled. Only use particle stain on basswood, not dye stain.

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Step 3

Dip a lint-free cloth into the mixed stain and wipe it over the basswood in even back and forth strokes over the surface of the wood. Apply the stain in sections instead of applying it on the whole surface at once. Leave the stain to soak in for five minutes.

Step 4

Wipe down the basswood to remove any loose stain and to even out the color. Cover all of the basswood in the same way.

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Step 5

Leave the stain to dry overnight and sand the surface very lightly with 250-grit sandpaper. This will remove the fine layer of grain that got raised out of the stain.

Step 6

Apply the topcoat over the entire stained surface in an even layer. Leave the topcoat to dry completely. The topcoat is a water or solvent-based based clear finish used to seal the wood.

Tip

You don’t need to use a base coat because the surface of the basswood has minimal sap and dips.

Warning

Do not smoke near the drying wood or the ashes may get caught on the wet finishes.

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