I have never found poplar wood to take a stain well.  Seems some areas stain darker than other areas resulting in an uneven blotchy mess.  Any ideas on how to alleviate this problem?  

 

SQ

 

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It it can't be fixed with glue and sawdust - it's not worth fixing.

I wrote a little blog about Poplar.

 

Poplar

 

-Ace-

 

 

I've had the same trouble with pine. I just received my latest issue of Woodsmith. They have an article on Water-based dyes. Think I might try that. Seems to be a viable alternative to regular staining.

Try a "wash coat" of 20% shellac and 75% mineral spirits.  Wipe on a thin coat, let dry, then try the stain.

You might have to experiment with the shellac/MS ratios.

Larry

Susie, I built my daughter a telephone stand that I had to stain and it had a poplar front and a birch body.  I used MinWax Sanding Sealer and it did a very nice job. 

 

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Ron Dudelston
Above and Beyond WoodWorks

A quality sanding sealer will minimize the blotchy. It is the same thing if yo are using pine or another "soft" wood. I have had great success with this approach. You have to approach this the same as if you were using a water based stain. Best of luck. As always use a test piece before going to the finished product just as a safety measure.

 

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

 

You can do wash mineral spirit and the color stain you are using for the first coat.   I usually do 2 part mineral spirit and 4 part stain.  

After the coat wash coat dries.  You can stain over it.  

 

Wayne E

Shouldn't denatured alcohol be mixed with the shellac to make a wash-coat? 

 

-Ace- 

Larry Jenkins said:

Try a "wash coat" of 20% shellac and 75% mineral spirits.  Wipe on a thin coat, let dry, then try the stain.

You might have to experiment with the shellac/MS ratios.

Larry

 Yes Sir!  My bad..

 

Larry

I know there are lot of ways to skin a cat. Just thought I'd ask...

 

-Ace-

Larry Jenkins said:

 Yes Sir!  My bad..

 

Larry

Thanks everyone for all the great recommendations.  You have all been a huge help.

SQ

 

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It it can't be fixed with glue and sawdust - it's not worth fixing.

   With Minwax Stains, I take a two step approach.    First "coat" is right out of the can, with out even a stirring of the stain.  I want just the thinnest coat of colour I can get.  The second coat goes on after the first is dry.   This time, I stir the can well, added a little thinner if needed.    I just coat like I am using paint.    I let that dry a bit, and wipe the rest off.  The next day, IF any touch up is needed, I'll add some more.  

 

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'and may the road raise up to meet ye'

Go read Ace's blog. It is good solid information. Don't use a dye on poplar unless you want really bad blotching. You have to follow a way to get to where you can't tell if its walnut or cherry. It is possible, but you need to follow the steps Ace put out. Certain products will produce great results. Minwax is not one of them.bob

 

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

Fantastic information.  Thanks!


Ace HoleInOne said:

I wrote a little blog about Poplar.

 

Poplar

 

-Ace-

 

 

Thanks everyone for all the information.  I have lots of good options now and will trying many of these ideas.

 

SQ

 

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It it can't be fixed with glue and sawdust - it's not worth fixing.