# How best to start learning everything about outdoor stains.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-start-learning-everything-about-outdoor-stains/552315>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 1, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-start-learning-everything-about-outdoor-stains/552315 "2010-09-01T21:37:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-start-learning-everything-about-outdoor-stains/552315/1 "2010-09-01T21:37:48Z")

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I should like to become fairly knowledgeable about outdoor stains for decks, fences and the like. I’ve some old wood fences that I want to stain or perhaps paint. They are quite weathered and the previous finishes vary greatly.

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**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-start-learning-everything-about-outdoor-stains/552315/2 "2010-09-03T14:36:29Z")

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It depends so much on exactly what you’re trying to accomplish with the finishes, what kind of wood(s) you’re dealing with and the specific local environmental conditions you’re dealing with that offering any kind of useful advice is difficult.

Best bet in my opinion, drive around and take some pictures of finishes you like. Take the pics to a smaller, local hardware store and avoid the big-box home center places like Lowe’s or Home Depot. I’ll bet you’ll find someone who would be thrilled to answer all your questions.

The other thing to say is that you _are going to make mistakes._ You’ll put some stain on and realize you didn’t sand quite well enough when the grain pops up or it comes out a shade darker than you expected. Get over it.

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**Author:** ![Lee\_Vining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c67d28/32.png) [@Lee\_Vining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lee_Vining)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-start-learning-everything-about-outdoor-stains/552315/3 "2010-10-11T12:03:57Z")

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Ya want 100% acrylic stain.  
The cheap-o 80% products just don’t cut it. Doesn’t bite and hold on.

It varies in content around the nation.  
Do your homework and save yourself some work.

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**Author:** ![misterkrc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@misterkrc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterkrc)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-start-learning-everything-about-outdoor-stains/552315/4 "2010-11-22T17:02:13Z")

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get any water base paint, cut it with 60% water. last a long time. forty years experience as a painter. works best on rough wood fenceing.:🆒