5GMs

I've done quite a bit of home improvement but very little requiring stains. My wife decided to pull the carpet off the staircase to see if she could stain the treads and paint the risers. After removing tacboard and carpet the project became mine...you know how it goes.

The treads are white oak and were not stain grade. You could see the curfs (sp) from the saw blade on a few of the treads and they all needed sanding. They are all ready for stain and painting at this point so now the real work begins.

The stairs are the only way to the second floor and are used every day. My plan is to stain at night after everyone gets into bed, then sand the next day and stain the following evening. Should take a life time to complete but it is what it is.

My questions are:
1. Which stain brand to use on White Oak? And, how many coats?
2. Is there a product to use as a base that will even out the stain? I tried five different stains on the risers and the wood really has some contrast between the grains.
3. Do I finish with a polyurethane top coat and again, how many coats?

Thanks for help...this project has been a real hum-dinger.

cabinetman

Have you considered waterbased stain or dye, and waterbased polyurethane? They both dry very fast.

5GMs

No I haven't but they sound like what I am looking for. I have some Cabot's Gunstock on hand but I'll have to check and see if it is water based. In the mean time I am taping the sideboards and risers in prep for the stain. I read where someone stained in two phases doing every other tread and then finished off the other half once done. Sounds better than staying up late night after night.

Thanks for the tip, Cabinetman.