I spent about 4 hours yesterday wiping stain on three cabinets I'm building.  I think there's about 7 sheets of plywood in there, plus some trim, and both insides and outsides and lots of little corners.   I usually wipe on stains with a rag.  That was working, but some of the surfaces had to be one vertically and there were lots of drips (luckily I had rosin paper and drop cloths down).   To get into the concave crevices I finally got a foam brush.  And about half-way through, I just started to use it on the vertical surfaces as it seemed to go faster. and fewer drips.  But by the time I was done, it was pretty much shreds.  While cleaning up, I remembered a tip to use a piece cut off a grout sponge.   Duh!  I had those in the next room where I keep finishes.  I've used this for applying dyes but not for pre-canned stain.    I'll remember that next time and save myself a lot of time and mess.

 

 

Edited March 6, 20197 yr by kmealy

This sounds like a good tip for large projects, or even cut up for smaller ones.

Great idea, Keith. Thanks.

Thanks!!

10 hours ago, Cal said:

This sounds like a good tip for large projects, or even cut up for smaller ones.

 

Definitely cut up.   You can probably get 8-10 out of one of these.   Use a serrated blade knife or even better and electric knife (old upholster's technique for cutting foam)

 

3 minutes ago, kmealy said:

 

Definitely cut up.   You can probably get 8-10 out of one of these.   Use a serrated blade knife or even better and electric knife (old upholster's technique for cutting foam)

 

would a a guillotine style paper cutter work???

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

Definitely cut up.   You can probably get 8-10 out of one of these.   Use a serrated blade knife or even better and electric knife (old upholster's technique for cutting foam)

I use some upholstery shears, works okay. 

3 hours ago, Stick486 said:

would a a guillotine style paper cutter work???

Been years since I've used one (but every once in a while wish I had one)   I think the last one I had at work I took to my local sharpening shop and they tuned it up for me.