Step 10 Our desk will receive a coat of wood stain. We have chosen to use a water-based stain called English Oak by Minwax. It is very easy to use, fast drying and cleans up with water.
The surface to be stained should be smooth and free of any oils or grit. You may want to give it a light sanding with 220 grit just to make sure there are no oils transferred from your hands. Use a tack cloth to remove any sanding particles.
Lightly mist the surface with a plant mister before you start. This will stop the stain from soaking in too fast and give you more working time. Apply a coat of stain, brushing in the direction of the wood grain. Using a lint free cloth, wipe in the excess stain, again in the direction of the grain. This will even out the stain and remove any excess so it doesn't puddle and create an uneven look. Allow 2 hours to dry.
No Stain
Two Coats of Stain
Lightly sand the burr from the wood. Tack the surface then apply a second coat of stain. Sand again, the surface should be smooth and silky to the touch. Tack again.
Step 11 It's time to wet sand the edges of the desk. This removes the top layers of red paint to reveal the butterscotch colour below. This will give the piece a distressed look.
For this we use a wet sanding sponge, a bucket of water and a clean lint free cloth.
Wet edges
Wet sand
Wipe with wet cloth
Finished look
With a damp cloth, wipe the edges of the piece. The water will soften the paint finish. Next, lightly sand the damp area using a wet sanding sponge. Do not over do it, more paint comes off than it appears at first. Wipe the area just sanded with a damp cloth. This will reveal how much has actually been sanded away. Be gentle, do a little bit at a time.
The idea is to make the paint finish look worn. Irregular sanded areas are more visually appealing than areas that are all sanded the same.
Step 12 The final step. In order to guard the paint finish, varathane the entire piece including the stained desk top. We like to use a brand called "Varathane" Diamond Wood Finish Interior Satin. It looks a little milky but it dries crystal clear. Apply in the direction of the wood grain, let dry. Apply another coat. Let cure a 24 hours before you place anything on the surface.
Step 13 Attach your hardware. If you have to drill new holes click here for instructions on how to install knobs on your furniture.
Our desk has wooden knobs which were custom painted to a sports theme for a boys room.
