Pre-stain conditioner

[squawk]

Hi, I'm going to use Dylon cold water dye on my unfinished pine table. Should I use a pre-stain conditioner?

[Chesand]

I have used it on hardwood without anything underneath and it was OK but do not know about pine.

[squawk]

I have used it on hardwood without anything underneath and it was OK but do not know about pine.

I shall take a risk and not use the pre-stain wood conditioner. Thanks.

[jerryc]

Squawk,

I know I state the bleeding obvious, but as with all finishing why not try it on a piece of scrap first? Often it answers the question before it is asked. Other point is that not only do finishes vary but so do woods. Even the same species of wood will react differently. Often this relates to how long the surface has been exposed to air. A freshly planed piece and a piece from the rack will have oxidised at a different rate.

Just a thought

Jerry

[ubeaut]

You're using the Dylon water dye so soaking the timber prior to application will help to take the colour into the wood more evenly. Putting a drop of household ammonia into the dye will help it to drive deeper into the timber.

Make sure you wet the surface with some warm water to raise the grain, let it dry and sand with your finest grit abrasive before wetting again prior to applying the dye.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers - Neil