So you're thinking about staining some furniture, cabinet work or maybe even the outside of your house, but you're not quite sure what kind of stain to use. Here are a couple tips.
Stains come in solid colors and they apply just like paint with a brush or roller.
There are also stains that are clear with a natural tone that accents the natural beauty and color of the wood. It takes the color of the stain deep into the pores of the wood. However, the disadvantage is when you're using water-based stains, after they've been applied, they raise the grain of the wood. So you'll have to come along with a piece of fine sandpaper, sand down the burrs, and come back for another application. If you've worked long and hard on a cabinet project and you don't want to mess it up, test the stain in a hidden area that's not noticeable so you can achieve the color that you want.