Woodworking is a craft that many people pursue as a fulfilling hobby, but there are often some frustrations with certain aspects of the craft. One of the most common questions beginners have about woodworking is “why does stained wood get sticky?” Let’s explore some possible causes of this issue and some solutions for the problem.
Stained wood becomes sticky if the stain is misapplied or the excess stain is not wiped off the wood before it dries. Not following drying times before adding more coats of stain can also have this result. Fixing the issue can be done with another coat or a solvent and a wipe-off.
Staining wood can produce some really stunning results, but the process can have some frustrating outcomes, such as the stain becoming sticky on the surface of the wood. Understanding the best way to apply the stain and remedy problems such as tacky spots will help you produce beautiful wood projects that don’t end up on the firewood pile!
The huge variety of finishes for furniture is one of the subjects we will be diving deeply into during our live online workshops at Cucamonga Woodworking and you can check out our past workshop YouTube videos Here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
Why Does Stained Wood Remain Tacky?
Staining wood can bring a whole new dimension to your project and can take plain-looking wood and add richness and depth to the final finish.
To achieve this professional-looking finish on your project and avoid some stain-related disasters, you will need to understand a little about stains, what types are available, and their differing characteristics.
Choosing the right stain for your wood is the first step toward a successfully stained, good-looking piece. You will need to select the color of the stain that you are going to use and the type of stain to use.
Types Of Wood Stain
Even though there are different types of wood stain, they all use a similar principle to stain the wood. In general terms, wood stain is a dye or pigment dissolved in a vehicle, the solvent, which has a dual purpose.
The solvent makes for even distribution and application of the pigment onto the wood. Also, it carries the pigment into the fibers of the wood, allowing the pigment deeper penetration into the wood.
The main types of wood stain that you will find available at your local hardware will include the following products.
- Oil-based stain. Oil stains usually use linseed oil as the carrier and tend to go on thicker and also penetrate the wood deeply. They are slow drying, but this is an advantage in some projects to achieve a smooth finish.
- Water-based stain. These stains use water as the vehicle and are more environmentally friendly, easy to apply, and dry quickly. They do not penetrate the wood as easily as other stains and, as a result, could require the application of more coats.
- Gel stains. This is the thickest type of stain, going on thicker than both water and oil-based stains. They are easier to apply and offer a paint-like finish that allows the grain of the wood to show through. Gel stain does not penetrate the wood but rather coats the surface. It takes 8 to 24 hours to dry in between coats which could be a disadvantage on projects that need to be finished quickly.
Each of these stains requires its own method for the correct application to prevent problems arising during and after the staining process.
At our Cucamonga Woodworking live online workshops we discuss bend and steaming wood at about the 5 minute mark of this video. You can also check out our other past workshops on Youtube Here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
Causes For Sticky Wood Stain
Various causes can result in your wood stain becoming a sticky residue on the surface of the wood on your workpiece. We will review some of these circumstances and offer some remedies of what to do if you find yourself with sticky wood stain on the wood.
Incorrect Application Of The Wood Stain
Each stain type has a method for applying and should be used as a guideline to apply the stain correctly to your project to achieve the best results.
One of the main problems from the incorrect application that leads to sticky wood stain is applying too much of the stain at once. With most wood stains, you should exercise restraint with the amount of stain that you apply with each coat. In this instance, less is more, as the saying goes.
Do not load up your paintbrush or cloth with a large amount of stain, and try to spread it over a large area on the wood. Rather put less product on your brush or rag and cover smaller areas at a time, making sure not to overlap treated areas as this will result in darker areas on your workpiece.
Failing to Wipe Off Excess Stain
Most wood stains work in a wipe on, wipe off method. What this means is that the stain should be wiped onto the surface of the wood, and then after a short time, the excess is wiped off with a separate cloth.
This prevents excess stain pooling on the surface of the wood and drying there, which will produce spots of sticky stain residue on your project.
The best way to apply most stains is with a cloth or rag. You should have one rag to apply the stain and a separate, clean rag to get rid of the excess stain.
How Long Should You Leave Wood Stain On Before Wiping Off?
The time you should wait before wiping off the excess stain will depend on the type of stain you are using and the darkness of the color you are looking for on the wood.
Each stain product will give you instructions on the can for the best wipe-off times to achieve certain results. To get a clean successful, even stain on your project, you should follow these instructions closely.
Not Enough Drying Time For The Wood Stain
It is often necessary to apply multiple coats of wood stain to achieve the desired depth of color or richness to the finish. You will certainly apply multiple coats of water-based stains because they have fewer penetration characteristics than oil-based stains.
Each coat that is applied must be given enough time to dry completely before applying the next coat of the product. Applying a second coat of stain before the first coat has been given a chance to fully dry may lead to areas of sticky stain on the surface of the wood.
The drying times of stains vary from product to product, which makes it imperative to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer for their particular product. Even stains using the same base, such as a water base, can have different drying times based on the other ingredients contained in the stain.
With some stains, you can apply a second coat after a 2-hour drying time, while others require a 12 to 24-hour drying time before application of subsequent coats.
With oil-based stains, the drying time between coats is typically longer than water-based stains and could be up to anywhere between 12 to 48-hours.
Gel-based stains typically require between 8 and 24 hours to dry between the application of coats, but once again, the exact time between coats will differ from product to product.
Air Temperature Is Too Hot For Applying Wood Stain
One of the most common reasons for wood stain becoming sticky on the wood is due to the location you were in when you applied the stain.
In many cases, woodworkers move their project outside to apply stains and finishes to the wood to avoid any product spilling or dripping in their workshop and creating a mess. This sometimes leads to people applying the stain to the wood in a windy area or the sun.
Windy or hot temperatures can result in the solvent evaporating before you have a chance to wipe the excess stain from the surface of the wood or before the stain has a chance to penetrate sufficiently into the wood fibers.
This will result in sticky pigment residue being left behind on the surface of the wood. If you need to take your project outdoors to do the staining, it would be best to do it on a day without much wind and try to work in the shade rather than direct sunlight.
Another way you can try and get around this problem is to stain smaller areas of the project at a time, which will give you enough time to wipe off the excess before it dries on the surface of the wood.
How To Fix Sticky Wood Stain
If you happen to be in the position of having to fix a spot of sticky wood stain on your project, there are some alternative strategies that you can use to sort the problem out, depending on what is most appropriate for your project.
Apply More Stain
If you notice a sticky spot of stain on the piece you are working on, then one of the options you can use to remove the spot is to apply more stain.
This method is usually only applicable if you apply additional coats of stain and notice the sticky spot in between coat applications. This is because adding a coat will darken the color.
These remedy works are that the solvent in the fresh coat of stain will dissolve the sticky residue and allow it to be wiped away. It is imperative to wipe away the excess stain once the coat has been applied; otherwise, the sticky spot will remain.
The best way to get this method to work well is to apply another coat of stain and then wipe it off immediately, not giving it time to dry. You can then apply another coat, this time giving it the prescribed time before wiping it off.
Use A Thinner
There are commercial stain thinners you can purchase made for the very purpose of removing sticky stain spots from your project, but some mineral spirits or similar solvents will also work to remove the sticky wood stain.
The key aspect to using this method is to be quick. Place a small amount of the thinner on a rag and wipe it onto the surface of the wood. Immediately use a clean cloth to wipe the mineral spirits off the wood. You may need to perform the process several times to achieve the desired result and obliterate the spot.
The caution that needs to be mentioned about this method is that the thinners will also remove stain from the rest of the wood, resulting in an overall lightening of the color of the stain.
It may be required for you to apply another coat of wood stain after cleaning up the sticky spots to get the color that you want to achieve on the wood.
This process works similarly to the previous method in that the thinner will dissolve the pigment residue that is sitting on the surface of the wood, and when you wipe it off, the sticky residue will be wiped away as well.
Will Sticky Wood Stain Ever Dry?
The reason that wood stain leaves a sticky residue on the surface of the wood is that the vehicle or solvent that carries the stain into the wood has evaporated and left the pigment and oils as a sticky residue. You may wonder whether the sticky wood stain will dry if you leave it for long enough.
Sticky wood stain on the wood surface will never dry and will not be a suitable surface to receive a finish or sealer either. The residue will remain as a sticky, oily spot on the wood and will need to be remedied to remove the tackiness before you can add a finish to the wood.
Because the residue remains sticky, it can often be removed with little mineral spirits, which will dissolve the excess pigment. You can then immediately wipe off the surface of the wood.
Should You Sand After Staining?
Adding a stain to the surface of the wood will produce what woodworkers call raising the grain, which is when the wood fibers raise after the application of a stain or a finish.
It is normally unnecessary to sand the piece down in between, adding coats of the wood stain. Still, generally, you would need to give the project a light sanding with light grit sandpaper such as a 300 or 400-grit to knock the tops off before applying the finish to the wood.
Using more aggressive sandpaper would remove some of the stains on the surface of the wood and would lighten the overall color, which may result in the need for a new coat of stain to get the right color.
Should You Seal Wood After Staining?
Wood stain does not offer any form of protection or preservation to the wood; it only modifies the color of the wood. Sealing the wood is not necessary after staining, but the project will also look unfinished.
If the project will be outside or prevent the stain color from fading, then sealing the wood and giving it the appropriate finish is essential!
Sealing the wood will lock in the color and provide the wood with protection from wear and tear and the elements.
There are some products available on the market that combine wood stains with a sealer, allowing you to perform both tasks with a single product.
Conclusion
Staining wood is a skill that you will have to master if you want to produce projects that will be eye-catching and have a professional look.
The best way to avoid wood stain becoming a problem is to follow the guidelines of applying it correctly, including wiping excess stain from the wood before it dries and giving each coat of stain the prescribed time to dry before applying the next coat.
Following these basic principles and also ensuring that you follow the manufacturer’s directions on the use and application of the stain will give you an end result that you can be proud of!
