Author	[Modern View]
N. TX Tim 10-26-2012 06:18:35 132.3.53.68 Report to Moderator	I am replacing the old hollow core doors in our home with pine solid core panel doors (with 6 panels). Anyone have a suggestion on the best way to apply stain to the doors to get the stain to flow between the panel and stiles/rails. I suspended the doors from my shop ceiling (vertically) so I could finish both sides of the door at the same time. After finishing the door, with temperature and humidity changes, it appears that some of the panels have shrunk and now I have a fine line of unfinished wood showing along the edge of some of the panels. I am assuming that I will have to finish the doors horizontally, one side at a time, but I would like to avoid that if possible. I thought one of you with more experience might have a suggestion on how to avoid this problem. Thanks,Tim [Reply]   [No Email]
Stephen Newell 10-26-2012 20:18:35 63.25.55.56 Report to Moderator	Re: Staining Panel Doors in reply to N. TX Tim, 10-26-2012 06:18:35   You don't have to hang the door from the ceiling to work both sides. Screw a piece of wood 1 1/2"x1 1/2"x 36" to the top and bottom of the door. Then screw a piece of 3/4"x 4"x 36" to the 1 1/2" boards. It makes a T which you can suspend the door on saw horses and stain and finish both sides laying horizontal, easy to get to and sand between coats of finish. With a helper you can just flip the door over handling it by the T brackets to work the other side. If the wood is a pine or other soft wood you might want to use a wood conditioner to prevent the stain from going on blochy. For the stain I would use Sherwin Williams exterior wood stains. The stain can be just brushed on and the excess wiped off with a rag. Be sure to try the stain on scrap wood before putting anything on your door. If the door is used in a sunny location Kwick Kleen makes a product called Sun Block. Its like sun screen for wood. It gives better UV protection than the finish alone. Finally I would finish the door with a marine grade spar varnish. [Reply]  [No Email]
redtom 10-26-2012 16:59:21 71.90.155.125 Report to Moderator	Re: Staining Panel Doors in reply to N. TX Tim, 10-26-2012 06:18:35   In my younger days I worked for a contractor doing finish work and staining no great science. But, that being said, when I did my house 20 yrs ago I used a little metal paint brush(acid brush) to put a good flow of stain in the panel edges, then wiping, to help prevent exactly what happened to you. It appears to have worked. I was alos told to "seal" the doors with Minwax sealer beforehand. I didn't do it. The sealer is basically a clear "stain" that will act to prevent really obvious dark blotches that occur naturally in the wood. I like my wood to have character but now seeing some of the really bold dark spots, I wish I would have sealed them. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jason the Red 10-26-2012 16:54:16 99.109.189.134 Report to Moderator	Re: Staining Panel Doors in reply to N. TX Tim, 10-26-2012 06:18:35   You should stain the doors in the climate they will reside. I would have stained them the same way you did, just indoors possibly even swinging. This post was edited by Jason the Red at 16:59:43 10/26/12. [Reply]  [No Email]
Wile E 10-26-2012 13:11:48 66.188.56.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Staining Panel Doors in reply to N. TX Tim, 10-26-2012 06:18:35   I stained many 6 panel doors. Here is the scoop on what to do. Get a set of saw horsys. Lay door on both saw horsys Use a non-water based stain and then use clean cloth rags. I have used Minwax interior stain with great results. After getting stain on the rag. Wipe with force going the grain of the wood. Keep the rag moving while staining. Make sure that the door does not have blotches. Stand door up and let dry, then do other side. After door is dry on both side then spray with a can of polyurethane, satin finish. [Reply]  [No Email]
tractor300 10-26-2012 08:00:37 74.36.160.45 Report to Moderator	Re: Staining Panel Doors in reply to N. TX Tim, 10-26-2012 06:18:35   We have always sprayed the stain on in a vertical position, and have had very few problems. Once in a while a panel will shrink, but not often. Perhaps the doors were damp when applied. I might add the doors we use are mostly oak. [Reply]  [No Email]
Uncle Ernie 10-26-2012 07:21:46 64.38.158.247 Report to Moderator	Re: Staining Panel Doors in reply to N. TX Tim, 10-26-2012 06:18:35   Minwax makes a marker pen with stain that might work for you. Minwax [Reply]  [No Email]