# What is the easiest and least hassle wood stain to use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873 "2015-12-08T23:41:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/1 "2015-12-08T23:41:12Z")
Friends have told me the new Gel stains are really easy. No mess. No drips. etc. They cost double a regular stain. [http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-1-qt-Mahogany-Gel-Stain-66050/100376137](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-1-qt-Mahogany-Gel-Stain-66050/100376137) [http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-1-qt-Wood-Finish-Dark-Walnut-Oil-Based-Interior-Stain-70012/100376185](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-1-qt-Wood-Finish-Dark-Walnut-Oil-Based-Interior-Stain-70012/100376185) how about water based stains? they come in a 4 oz tube. by far the most expensive per oz. water based has the fastest drying time too. [http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-6-oz-Water-Based-Express-Color-Wiping-Stain-and-Finish-308034444/202526570](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-6-oz-Water-Based-Express-Color-Wiping-Stain-and-Finish-308034444/202526570) any personal choices? which is easiest and does a good job? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/2 "2015-12-09T00:23:56Z")
I’ve always use wipe-off stains. Never had any problems with them, although they are kind of messy. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/3 "2015-12-09T01:21:34Z")
Varathane wipe on stain. I just rub it on with a cloth. Many stains will work better to get the color to come out after bleaching the wood. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/4 "2015-12-09T19:10:09Z")
Small children and time. No work on your part at all (except raising the children - easy stuff). The drawback is that you don’t necessarily get to pick the final stain color. You can influence it, however, by providing them with only one color of food, drink, and markers. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/5 "2015-12-09T20:36:25Z")
I just used Minwax water-based, tintable wood stain. Tempting because of the easy clean-up. It worked beautifully. I wore throwaway gloves, applied with foam brush, and wiped with an old t-shirt. I doubt I use oil-based stain ever again. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/6 "2015-12-10T21:18:17Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I just used Minwax water-based, tintable wood stain. Tempting because of the easy clean-up. > > It worked beautifully. I wore throwaway gloves, applied with foam brush, and wiped with an old t-shirt. > > I doubt I use oil-based stain ever again. You used the product that comes in a tube? I linked to it earlier. Oil stains take so long to dry. Especially this time of year when its chilly and damp. The strong oil smell is an issue too. Water based sounds like a good option. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/7 "2015-12-10T21:29:09Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I just used Minwax water-based, tintable wood stain. Tempting because of the easy clean-up. > > It worked beautifully. I wore throwaway gloves, applied with foam brush, and wiped with an old t-shirt. > > I doubt I use oil-based stain ever again. That’s usually what I use, also. If you want a hard finish, they also come in a poly version. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/8 "2015-12-11T15:35:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > You used the product that comes in a tube? I linked to it earlier. > > Oil stains take so long to dry. Especially this time of year when its chilly and damp. The strong oil smell is an issue too. > > Water based sounds like a good option. Nope, it comes in a can like regular stain as a neutral base. Then you pick your color and they tint it like paint. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/9 "2015-12-11T22:21:19Z")
I usually use commercial oil based wiping stain from an industrial coating company in town that will do stain matches for us. I also use off the shelf products from Minwax, Varathane etc. They all seem pretty similar in use, stinky and somewhat messy if you are not careful. I use paint rags or a cheap coarse brush for application and throw out. Disposable gloves, clean up rags and hand cleaner close by make life easier. I don’t find the drying time a big deal, and oil stains are easy to work with when doing a difficult match. A wet rag will remove a surprising amount of stain if necessary. Haven’t worked as much with water based stains but when I have they seemed fine. Some people don’t like the short working time. Grain raising can be a problem. Have heard good things about wood dye, especially for blotchy woods but have not had a chance to try them. I think stain and finish in one products lack flexibility, what do you do about that nasty fingerprint that didn’t take stain? Danish oil is the exception to this rule as it has an extended working time. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-easiest-and-least-hassle-wood-stain-to-use/739873/10 "2015-12-11T22:25:52Z")
I don’t think of gel stains as particularly easy to work with, and the colour pallet is pretty limited. Only thing for fiberglass or plastic entry doors, or any other non porous faux wood surface though.