Carpentry and Woodworking - finishing new wood

I have heard before that when you build furniture using two different types of wood, Oak and pine for my project that it is neccessary to apply a solution prior to staining so that the entire piece will stain evenly. It seems to me that it was like 2 parts varnish and 1 part thinner. If anyone can set me straight on this solution or a better procedure it would be very helpful. Joe

Trying to stain different species so everything is the same color is difficult to impossible if you're using transparent stain (like Minwax). It's easier with the semi-opaque stains.

I've never tried to use thinned varnish but it seems like it would seal the wood so it wouldn't take stain very well. There are sealers available for use on soft woods such as pine that limit the amount of stain they absorb. You'll need to make sample pieces and play with sealers and stains until you find a technique to get look you want.

Personally, I try to avoid using different species unless I'm trying for that look. I made daughters dresser in birch with alder accents and it looks great. I'm currently doing a large bookcase system in birch and bought shaper bits so I can run birch crown and base moldings and avoid the aggravation of trying to make the stain come out right.

When you have two such different woods as oak and pine, it seems unlikely that you will get uniform staining unless you use a semi-opaque stain. Even that will just even the general appearance some. The differences in the grain of the wood will give it away.

When you mix woods in a piece, there needs to be either a plan for it or paint coming to hide it all.

i have tried to wood conditioners for evening out stain. Save your money. You can get some control by appying sanding sealer and sanding it off so that only the grain is filled, or by using a tinted grain filler.

Hope this helps.