[ntz4ikea]

Hi there,

Not exactly sure this is in the correct subforum but the Ask Question section seems to have no thread creation so apologies in advanced if that is the case.

I'm staining a Bekvam kitchen cart and I'm not sure if the inconsistency I'm getting is the best result I can expect given what I have to work with. This is my very first project of this kind as I've never done any home improvement type thing before but on the strength of some Youtube Howtos, I bought some sand paper, stain and so far so good but hoping it could be better.

I started off with a used Bekvam that had some stains infused in the surface area which I sanded with a 60 and then finished it off with a 120 grit. Wiped it clean and applied a generous amount of a dark stain I bought from Walmart Minmax brand, but I'm not getting the consistency I had hoped.

Pictures:

*Help* Regarding Staining 

*Help* Regarding Staining 

Thanks in advanced.

[kisaacs]

I'd try one more coat. Stain takes into wood unevenly due to grain differences. It's generally easier to get really dark than an in-between medium tone. Maybe one more coat would even it out?

Kristen

[Harpy]

Someone who has gorgeous walnut stained ikea butcherblock counters said she sealed them with Benite before applying stain:

Dark Numerar Countertop from IKEA - Kitchens Forum - GardenWeb

[perfekt strom]

You probably should have used a wood conditioner, such as the one from Varathane. Softwoods have an uneven amount of resin that affects the absorption rate of stain in different parts of the wood, and the conditioner somehow evens it out. I learned this the hard way when I was finishing a pine dining room table top, and had to completely sand it down after doing the final clearcoat. I thought the varnish would even it out but it just made it worse!

If you are only staining the top and leaving the rest natural, I would give it one or two more appplications of stain for more contrast.

I have the same Bekvam cart but I did not stain it, I just put a water based polyurethane finish and it is amazing how it has lasted for a decade despite being used as a central kitchen island. I installed long handles along the side that function as hanging rails for utensils and kitchen cloths. The slatted shelf turned out to be a perfect pot lid rack! Here's a photo of my well used ten-year-old Beckvam:

[NBeth]

Wow your cart looks great and you've used it so well! We bought one and treated the wood very similarly BUT then we kept it outside for bbq. Needless to say it does NOT look anything like yours!