How to Restain Stained Wood

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Things You'll Need

  • 100-grit sandpaper

  • Hand block

  • Staining sponge

  • Stain

  • Cloth

Restain wood for a different color.

If your woodworking project comes out blotchy when you stain it, or the stain color wasn't what you thought it was when you applied it, you don't have to start over. You can restain that wood with another coat of stain that better matches what you had in mind. Stain penetrates into the wood without changing the composition of the wood. All you need to do is lightly sand the wood before applying more stain.

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Step 1

Sand the stained wood lightly with 100 grit sandpaper on a hand block. If you see any blotches, light or dark areas, sand and blend them together.

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Step 2

Dip the sponge into the stain and saturate half of the sponge.

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Step 3

Apply the sponge to the wood. Use it like a brush to wipe the stain on the wood until the surface of the wood is evenly wet with stain.

Step 4

Wipe the stain off with a soft cloth. Let the stain dry for 30 minutes. If the wood is not dark enough or is blotchy, apply another coat of stain.

Tip

If your wood has a top coat of lacquer or varnish over the stain, you will need to sand the lacquer completely off before applying more stain. You can pick up staining sponges at any home improvement store.

Warning

Always wear breathing protection and work in a well-ventilated area.

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