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SWEvery step matters! Here’s why 👇🏻
If you want a full list of my favorite woodworking products/tools comment ‘𝙎𝙐𝙋𝙋𝙇𝙄𝙀𝙎’ and I’ll DM it to you 🫶🏻
⏳ SANDING :
Yes, you absolutely need both grits. 120 grit preps the surface and smooths out imperfections. 220 grit gives it that silky smooth finish. Putting love into this step is huge for getting stain to absorb evenly!
If you’re working with rough lumber, you can start lower (like 80 grit). But for most plywood or solid boards from Home Depot / Lowe’s, starting at 120 is usually perfect
🪵 PRE-STAIN :
Trust me… don’t skip this! It conditions the wood and helps prevent those ugly blotchy patches when stain absorbs unevenly. Especially for softer woods like pine
STAIN 🤎
I like doing a few faster coats until I hit the perfect color. Most of the time I apply stain and wipe it off after about 5 minutes. You can always add more coats, but you can’t take them away.
Also: WIPE OFF YOUR EXCESS STAIN. If you leave it sitting you’ll end up with a sticky, blotchy mess (and probably sanding it all off later).
POLYURETHANE vs POLYCRYLIC :
This mostly comes down to preference…
— Polyurethane: super durable, yellow tone, great for high-traffic pieces
— Polycrylic: crystal clear, dries faster, great for lighter woods where you don’t want yellowing
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If you found these tips helpful, make sure to follow @swayhome.renovations 🫶🏻 we are renovating our 1970s home and love sharing everything we’re learning along the way!
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