How to Finish Hickory Without Raising the Grain

Hickory is a light hardwood used to make cabinets and furniture. Staining hickory and applying clear coat enhances the wood’s natural beauty and protects its surface from scratches and spills. Because water swells wood, using water-based stains and finishes will raise the grain. To avoid this problem, prepare the wood surface carefully and finish it with an oil-based stain.

Sponge
Sanding machine (optional)
180-grit sandpaper
220-grit sandpaper
320-grit sandpaper
Tack rag
Penetrating oil hickory stain
Natural bristle brush
Cotton rag
Clear shellac
Denatured alcohol
Gray abrasive pad

Instructions

- 1
  Sponge the wood’s surface with warm water to minimize raising the grain and to pick up dust. Allow the wood to dry thoroughly before sanding.
- 2
  Sand the wood evenly with sandpaper, starting with 180-grit paper and working up to finer 220-grit paper. Use a sanding machine to sand large areas, and sand detailed areas and edges by hand. Finally, hand-sand the surface with 320-grit sandpaper.
- 3
  Wipe the wood with a tack rag to remove sanding dust.
- 4
  Brush on a thin, even coat of stain, using a natural bristle brush. Allow the stain to dry thoroughly, and apply additional coats until you are satisfied with the color. Allow the stain to dry before applying shellac.
- 5
  Mix shellac with denatured alcohol in a 50/50 ratio. Wipe the mixture on the wood surface with a cotton rag and let it dry. Rub the wood surface with an abrasive pad to work the shellac into the wood. Repeat this process a second time for additional protection.

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