Spindles are usually made of one piece of wood and are used as supports for furniture and railings. Staining spindles is more difficult than staining a flat or straight piece of wood because they are curved and rounded. Because of the nooks and crannies, the key to staining a spindle is to get an even finish. Staining spindles requires time and patience. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Create space for the spindle to be stained. It is preferable to do it outdoors in order to reduce the clean-up time. If staining indoors or on a deck, place a drop cloth under the spindle and cover all areas where the stain could drip.
2. Prepare the surface to be stained. If sanding is necessary to remove the old finish, gently sand in the direction of the grain with a fine-grand sandpaper. There are two main ways to sand spindles. One is by hand and the other is with a sander. Use a foam sanding block in order to better sand around the curves.
3. Wipe the spindle with a tack cloth. Make sure all dust and particles have been removed.
4. Apply a wood-cleaning solution to the spindles. Rinse the spindle completely and allow to dry.
5. Shake the can of stain in order to mix it up. The tint of stain tends to collect at the bottom of the can. Stir the stain until is thoroughly mixed.
6. Apply a coat of stain to the spindle with a brush. Wipe the spindle with a rag, paying particular attention to the crevices where excess stain will accumulate. It is best to use several light coats, as opposed to one heavy one. Let the spindle dry in between coats. When applying the second or third coats, stain only the parts that are easy to wipe with a rag. Do not stain the crevices again. The goal is to make the color of the easy-to-reach parts match the color in the crevices.
7. There is an alternative method to applying the stain than with a brush. One is a wool mitt on which the inside is lined with rubber and the outside with wool fibers. Dip the glove into the stain, and rub the stain onto the spindle with your fingers with the mitt. This makes it even easier to get the stain into the crevices.
Another method is to use nylon stockings. Dip the stocking into the stain. Holding both ends of the stocking, rub the stain into the crevices.
8. Permit the stain to dry for 24 hours. Touch the spindle with your fingers to see if there are any uneven spots. If so, sand gently and take care not to remove the stain.
9. Apply the final finish to the spindle. There are a wide variety of final finishes to choose from, including a wax.
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