How to Stain a Birch Desk

Smooth out the desk surface using a firm sheet of sandpaper. Remove any bumps, crevices and splinters. Do not proceed until the entire birch surface feels completely flat, and no coarseness remains. Remove any sawdust from the desk before proceeding.

Paint over the desk surface using a pre-stain wood conditioner. Since birch is a highly porous wood, the pre-stain will help you to reduce penetration of your stain and ultimately result in a much more even application. Use a clean cloth or paintbrush to apply a single thick coat along the entire surface, always moving in the direction of the grain. Wait at least 15 minutes before proceeding, or longer if advised by the pre-stain manufacturer.

Open your stain and mix it thoroughly to ensure that the color remains consistent during application. When approaching birch, use a gel-based stain for best results. This type of thick, pasty stain will penetrate the porous birch more evenly than a traditional stain, further helping you to avoid a blotchy result.

Apply the stain to your desk surface, always moving in the direction of the grain with your cloth or brush. Overlap each paint stroke slightly to ensure that the color dries evenly. If you allow one section of stain to dry before you stain the section immediately beside it, it may result in visible lap marks.

Apply a second coat of stain after 24 hours if you decide that you want the color to be darker, or if it appears slightly uneven. The 24-hour waiting period will give the first coat ample time to dry fully.