How to Make Stain Stick to Varnished Wood

Varnish is usually applied to the surface of wood to help protect it from the elements. It is applied much like paint after the wood has dried. Some wood is stained to match a certain color. If you have already varnished your wood and you want to stain it a different color, you can do this by using a special type of wiping stain.

Wood cleaner
Clean rag
Sandpaper
Broom
Dust pan
Tack cloth
Wiping stain
Paint stir stick
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the surface of the wood with a cleaner or degreaser. Spray the cleaner over the entire surface and wipe it down with a clean rag. This will help remove any cleaner and polish residue from the wood.
- 2
  Sand the surface of the wood with 220-grit sandpaper. Move the sandpaper over the wood from one side to the other in a circular motion. Brush off the grits from the sandpaper with a broom and dust pan. Wipe the surface clean with a tack cloth.
- 3
  Open up a bucket of wiping stain and stir it up with a paint stir stick. Dip a paintbrush into the stain and begin applying the wiping stain in the direction of the wood grain, starting on one end of the wood and working toward the other.
- 4
  Add more stain to the paintbrush as necessary and continue in the same manner until the entire surface is stained. Let the first coat dry overnight and inspect it to determine if it is the desired color. Add a second coat in the same manner, if necessary.

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