You can improve the room’s circulation by opening any doors and windows nearby. Make use of fans or work outside. Purchase a respirator mask from a general store or hardware store.
Always move in the direction of the grain when sanding wood to ensure a smooth, uniform finish. The grain is the dark lines in the wood, and in red oak these lines are very easy to see.
You can use a cloth or vacuum to make sure all of the debris is off of the wood. Any debris left over can interfere with the stain.
For example, you might mix about 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) of dye in 2 cups (470 mL) of hot water. Visit a home improvement store to find a variety of wood dye shades. For example, a honey amber dye works well on red oak, turning it a light brown color.
You can also use a sponge to moisten the wood. While you can stain dry wood, this may lead to dark patches and streaks in the stain.
You can also use clean rags or paper towels to wipe the dye onto the wood.
Wiping smooths out the coating and removes excess dye that can make the wood too dark.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for drying recommendations.
Each coating of dye deepens the oak’s coloring, so be cautious. Reversing a dark dye job is very difficult and you may need to start over on new wood if this happens.
Use only fine-grit sandpaper. Anything coarser will damage the wood. Make sure you sand the entire area. Any areas that appear dull in light usually haven’t been sanded enough.
The 2 pounds (0. 91 kg) label on the can of shellac means that 2 pounds (0. 91 kg) of shellac flakes were dissolved in alcohol. You can use sanding sealer or varnish instead of shellac.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended drying time.
Visit a home improvement store to purchase gel stain. You can choose from many different colors to stain red oak. For example, you can use a dark walnut stain to color the oak golden brown. This shade goes well with honey amber dye if you used it earlier.
The thinner you make the gel, the lighter the stain color will be. It is better to thin the gel now for a lighter stain, since you can always darken the stain later.
Always wipe off the excess gel right away and let the wood dry completely. If you use too much gel, you can wipe the oak with mineral spirits to thin the stain. This only works while the gel is wet.
Keep the rags out of direct sunlight so they do not combust. You can also fill a metal container with cold water and put the items in it. Seal the container, then take it to a hazardous waste disposal center in your area.
The shellac seals the gel stain’s coloring into the wood, protecting it. You can use the same shellac you may have used if you dyed the wood. Only use dewaxed 2 pounds (0. 91 kg) shellac.
You can use lacquer instead, which is durable and glossier but can discolor over time. Another choice is polyurethane, which can make the wood’s finish look brighter and protect it from water.
Check the manufacturer’s recommended drying time, since this can change depending on what topcoat you use.
Let the new layer of varnish dry completely before using the wood.
