How to Add Paint Thinner to Stain

Wood stain is thinner than paint so that it creates a semi-transparent coverage, which still allows the natural wood grain to remain visible. Sometimes, however, you may want an even lighter appearance to the wood stain. If this is the case, you may thin it using paint thinner, which reduces the amount of actual color applied onto the wood. Thinned wood stain dries much faster than unthinned stain, thus allowing you to sand or proceed with finishing the wood surface.

Tarp
Bucket
Safety glasses
Rubber gloves
Flat head screwdriver
Paint stirrer

Instructions

- 1
  Spread a tarp on the ground or a work table and place a bucket on top of it. Put on safety glasses and rubber gloves before mixing the thinner and stain because the solution will be thin and splash easily.
- 2
  Insert a flat head screwdriver until the lid of a can of wood stain and pry it off. Pour all of the wood stain into the bucket.
- 3
  Open a bottle of paint thinner and fill the empty wood stain can with it until the can is half full. Carefully pour the thinner from the can into the bucket. If desired, you can reduce the thinner to 25 percent by dividing the volume of the wood stain can by four and using that amount of thinner.
- 4
  Insert a paint stirrer into the bucket and stir the mixture thoroughly for approximately 15 to 20 seconds to combine it well.

Paint Colors That Work With an Oak Trim

How to Make a Down Draft Spray Booth

Painting