This will darken the surface, just enough to show mars and sanding marks. Pine, one of the most common woods you'll encounter, also can be one of the trickiest to finish because it has various levels of porosity. Boonstra recommends applying an alkyd-based wood conditioner first. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and wipe off the excess product. Then, within two hours, apply the stain.
Softwoods generally stain poorly because they're soft.
Their cell walls bend and crush easily as you prepare the surfaces for finishing. Scrapes, dents, and sanding marks can suddenly appear when you apply a stain. Because softwood surfaces are fragile, fuss over them a bit. Carefully sand out all dents and scratches, glue marks, and old finishes. Moreover, if you use a power sander, finish up by hand.