Staining wood floor
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Staining wood floor (by DJ [VA]) May 2, 2024 10:05 PM
       Staining wood floor (by MikeA [TX]) May 2, 2024 10:53 PM
       Staining wood floor (by small potatoes [NY]) May 2, 2024 11:59 PM
       Staining wood floor (by OREO [WI]) May 3, 2024 12:28 AM
       Staining wood floor (by DJ [VA]) May 3, 2024 7:45 AM
       Staining wood floor (by MikeA [TX]) May 3, 2024 10:07 AM
       Staining wood floor (by Vee [OH]) May 3, 2024 11:06 AM
       Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) May 3, 2024 8:07 PM
       Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) May 3, 2024 8:09 PM
       Staining wood floor (by DJ [VA]) May 3, 2024 9:34 PM
       Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) May 3, 2024 9:40 PM
       Staining wood floor (by plenty [MO]) May 3, 2024 10:09 PM
       Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) May 5, 2024 8:27 PM
       Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) May 5, 2024 8:42 PM
       Staining wood floor (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) May 5, 2024 9:00 PM
       Staining wood floor (by plenty [MO]) May 6, 2024 8:32 AM
       Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) May 6, 2024 9:35 AM
       Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) May 6, 2024 9:37 AM
       Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) May 13, 2024 5:22 PM
       Staining wood floor (by zero [IN]) May 14, 2024 7:58 AM


Staining wood floor (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: May 2, 2024 10:05 PM
Message:

I'm putting down a wood floor.

The only other time I did, I just used polyurethane & kept it light.

I want to stain this one, and am looking for the most efficient way to get a good result - other than going around on my knees.

Of course, you know that to properly stain, you put the stain on and then wipe it off.

There are long-handle applicators (like lambs wool) that would put it on quickly & easily.

But, how to wipe it off properly?

Anyone done it / seen it done / have a good idea?

Thanks!

--68.229.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: May 2, 2024 10:53 PM
Message:

Last one I did I used the lambswool applicator and took an old swiffer with el-cheapo harbor freight microfiber cloths to wipe it off. Worked pretty well but I did have to hand wipe a few spots like corners and the walls perpendicular to the grain. --209.205.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: May 2, 2024 11:59 PM
Message:

Personally I like golden oak color so I wouldn't go dark. What wood are you starting with? The solvent based poly will add color to the floor. When I stripped a hard maple floor it went from white w red tones to slightly amber. Water poly dries clear but dicolors over time from UV exposure. I refinished a floor using a swiffer and many dry swiffer sheets. You may need to follow up on a raw floor w/ some cotton rags and elbow grease. Remember to keep them wet and throw them away in a sealed container wet, or dry them outside but not bundled up, to prevent a fire. --67.240.xx.xx




Staining wood floor (by OREO [WI]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 12:28 AM
Message:

If you have perfect wood this idea will likely not appeal to you DJ. In the interest of getting an idea from my post or to help others with flaws in an old floor that want to upgrade the look, here goes. The floor we refinished after stripping the old stain/varnish was had marks and stains that had penetrated the wood. We mixed minwax polyshades stain varnish with stain until we found a color we liked. It ended up to be a rich dark color, almost like a dark walnut with a hint of orange. We were in a time crunch for a move in so rolled it on with a paint roller. If I were to do it again, I'd put an extension on the paint roller to do it standing up. We figured the floor couldn't get any worse looking than it was as marred as it was. Then we used a brush to soften the look. I imagine the swiffer and microfiber cloths would be an easier way to soften the look standing up rather than with a brush sitting down on the floor. Of all the floors of our properties, this one turned out the most beautiful. We never have trouble renting this place and I attribute it to that floor. All the marrs were no longer showing, which is why we chose a darker color. The color also matched the baseboards which we prefer in our 1920's places. --75.11.xx.xx




Staining wood floor (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 7:45 AM
Message:

Thanks for your replies.

Mike- how do you attach the microfiber to the swiffer head?

Small pot- that's what I did on the other floor. Oil poly gives a slight amber tone & I wanted that one light. I appreciate the fire warning, but Im using water-based this time.

With oily rags, you must NOT seal them up wet - they create heat as they dry. Always dry them out before throwing them away.

I actually want them to look like older, distressed, country floors. --68.229.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 10:07 AM
Message:

There's two kinds of swiffers, one has a velcro like surface that catches. That one doesn't work with microfiber. On the other type of swiffer you wrap the pad around to the back and shove the edge into a rubber hole with your finger, the teeth on the hole catch the pad and hold it on the 4 corners. Those work perfectly. In fact, for cleaning (including my own home) I use microfiber cloths and a spray bottle of cleaner rather than the throw away pads that you buy. --209.205.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 11:06 AM
Message:

I cut sleeves off shirts - use like swiffer stuff, toss when done, dresss shirts make good poly roller covers.

--184.59.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 8:07 PM
Message:

Bare wood, especially old, will soak the stain in fast. Stain with the grain. Apply the stain fairly quickly to avoid dry spots or spots where you stopped and started. Woodworkers on here can give some good advice. --76.129.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 8:09 PM
Message:

Use lint free rags or lambs wool. Be sure to clean the surface first. I used mineral spirits. --76.129.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 9:34 PM
Message:

6x6: That's all true.

Did you crawl around doing it all on your hands & knees? --68.229.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 9:40 PM
Message:

I sanded the 100+ year old floors for over 75 hours on my hands and knees. I stained them on my hands and knees. I then used a lambswool pad on a pole to apply the oil-based poly. --76.129.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: May 3, 2024 10:09 PM
Message:

Can you get someone else to get down there and wipe on and off the stain.? Maybe this is a job to hire out --172.59.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: May 5, 2024 8:27 PM
Message:

6x6, So, after sanding to bare wood, you used mineral spirits? Or before sanding?

I did a test patch in a closet, and it just doesn't seem to be staining very dark. I think I didn't leave it on long enough before wiping off. Hubby is going to help me sand all the floors this week, and he's refinished wood floors before, but always with a light stain. I'm wanting a medium brown.

DJ, thanks for bringing this up. Your timing was perfect for my floor project! Hope your are turning out well. --72.135.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: May 5, 2024 8:42 PM
Message:

Busy, I wiped the floors down with mineral spirits to get up any extra dust left behind after sanding, sweeping, and vacuuming. --76.129.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: May 5, 2024 9:00 PM
Message:

Very timely posting. I have a place coming back. I have had it for 23 years . It has hardwood floors and it should be about time to let this one go and pick up a replacement --24.101.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: May 6, 2024 8:32 AM
Message:

The color stain we like is named Gunstock. It may not be dark enough for your project. --172.59.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: May 6, 2024 9:35 AM
Message:

I was looking at gunstock, but thought it might be too red for my area. But, I'd like it in my own home! --72.135.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: May 6, 2024 9:37 AM
Message:

Thanks, 6x6. I'll do that too. I do not like when dust particles have been finished into the floors. One of my houses had floors redone before I bought them, and they sure didn't get all the dust. --72.135.xxx.xx




Staining wood floor (by Busy [WI]) Posted on: May 13, 2024 5:22 PM
Message:

DJ, thanks for this thread too. Mike, after a day of hands and knees, and only one room done, I’m heading to Harbor Freight for microfiber cloths, and Target for a second Swiffer. After this house is done, I have floors to do at another house that is waiting its turn. I need to go faster! --172.58.xxx.xxx




Staining wood floor (by zero [IN]) Posted on: May 14, 2024 7:58 AM
Message:

Busy, I have a word for you that will change everything:

Grandkids

You are welcome. Two birds with one stone. Kids are full of energy. They are short. They are flexible.

You not only get someone else to work on the project, you get to see the grandkids and teach them something. --107.147.xx.xx





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