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Doug-Fir is one of the most popular softwoods for both home and factory use. It’s stronger than most softwood, so it’s often used in projects meant for hardwoods. It’s versatile, too; it can be used in structural timber cabinets, flooring, doors, and indoor furniture.
This article lists some of the best stains for Douglas Fir to bring out its maximum potential.
Contents
Top 5 Stains for Douglas Fir Wood
Chosen for their ease of application, color quality, and overall value, here are some of the best Douglas Fir stains you can buy today:
Best Overall: General Finishes Oil Base Gel Stain
With over 15 different colors to choose from, you’re spoiled for choice with the General Finishes Oil Base Gel Stain. From basic colors like White, Black, and Gray, to more unique colors like American Oak, Georgian Cherry, and Candlelite, you’ll surely find a color that suits your taste.
Made with a thick formula, the General Finishes Oil Base Gel Stain doesn’t spill or splash. It leaves a nice, balanced finish even on more difficult wood like Douglas Fir and Pine. It doesn’t require an additional topcoat, either. It leaves a lustrous shine on wood once dry.
Product Specs
- Size: 1 gallon, 1 half-pint, 1 pint, 1 quart
- Type: Oil-based
- Stain opacity: Semi-transparent
This stain doesn’t penetrate as deeply into the wood as other wipe-on stains. As such, it offers the deepest, richest colors you’ll find on the market. A single application is more than enough to get the color you want.
Strengthened by a urethane formula, this stain protects wood from cracking and peeling during extreme weather conditions. It also prevents the growth of mold and mildew.
Pros
- Thick-bodied gel formula offers an even and smooth application
- Easy application; no practice needed
- Sanding isn’t necessary to get good color pigment; a little goes a long way
Cons
- Takes a while to cure, between 48 to 72 hours
Runner Up: Ready Seal Exterior Stain and Sealer For Wood
Available in nine gorgeous shades, the Ready Seal Exterior Stain and Sealer is a two-in-one stain that requires no primer. It’s specifically designed for outdoor use, formulated with constituents that protect it from UV rays, mold, mildew, and rot.
The Ready Seal Exterior Stain is unlike any other oil-based stain on this list. Thanks to its special blend of trans-oxide pigments, paraffin oil, algaecides, and resin, it’s easier to apply than most other water- or oil-based polyurethanes.
Product Specs
- Size: 1 gallon, 5 gallon
- Type: Oil-based
- Stain opacity: Semi-transparent
Douglas Fir is notoriously difficult for beginners, so stains such as the Ready Seal greatly aid with the application. It doesn’t leave unsightly marks, laps, and streaks, so it doesn’t need any back-brushing. You can apply it with a roller, a brush, or a sprayer with varying but similarly high-quality results.
Another great thing about this product is that it requires no wet-line application. It’s a self-blending product that can be applied outside regardless of temperature conditions.
Pros
- “Goof-proof” application; forgiving to beginnings
- Formula penetrates well into the wood, increasing color longevity
- Stain and sealer combo saves time during the application
Cons
- Takes 14 days to reach its true color
Best Value: Storm Protector Penetrating Sealer & Stain Protector
The Storm Stain Protector is a semi-transparent stain and sealer that works wonders on exterior wood such as Douglas Fir, Redwood, Pine, Spruce, and Cedar.
Designed for outdoor use, this stain offers superior UV protection and waterproofing to prevent color fading, mold, and mildew.
Product Specs
- Size: 5 gallons
- Type: Oil-based
- Stain opacity: Semi-transparent
For porous surfaces, the Storm Protector covers between 100 to 150 square feet per gallon. For smooth surfaces, it covers between 125 to 175 square feet per gallon. It takes between 24 to 36 hours to dry, depending on the surface.
The Storm Stain Protector is made with a ready-to-use formula that requires no diluting or thinning, making application quick and easy. Simply mix with a stirring stick and apply to the prepared wood surface with a sprayer, roller, or brush.
Pros
- Applies quickly and easily, making it suitable for first-time DIYers
- Color penetrates deep into the wood, promoting color longevity
- Great value for its price; offers good coverage
Cons
- Needs to be mixed frequently to ensure even color and application
Best Budget: Varathane Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain
Offering a selection of over 25 stains, the Varathane Premium Wood Stain is a semi-transparent interior stain suited for all kinds of wood projects.
The Varathane Premium Fast Dry Stain is one of the fastest-drying stains I’ve tried. It dries to the touch in just an hour, saving you a lot of time between applications. It takes 24 hours for a full cure.
Product Specs
- Size: 32 fl oz, 32 fl oz, 1/2 pint, quart
- Type: Gel-based
- Stain opacity: Semi-transparent
Enhanced with nano-pigment particles, it offers a one-coat coverage while highlighting the natural grain of Douglas Fir. It penetrates deep into the wood and seals the pores as it stains. The longer it penetrates, the darker the stain.
A half-pint can of Varathane Premium covers up to 70 square feet of wood. The formula is already thinned out, so you don’t have to dilute it with mineral spirits, water, or lacquer thinner. It’s ready out of the box—or rather the can.
Pros
- Easy to work with; goes on easy and wipes down easy
- Highly pigmented, a little goes a long way
- Covers 75% more area than its competitors
Cons
- Releases strong fumes, so you need to use an n95 respirator mask and crack open a window during the application
Best Gel-Based: Minwax Gel Stain for Interior Wood Surfaces
Minwax is one of the more well-known brands on this list. It’s been around since 1904, making it a staple choice in many households—including mine.
Whether for your Douglas Fir cabinets, doors, or interior woodwork, the Minwax Gel Stain doesn’t disappoint. Thanks to its thick-bodied, non-drip formula, it can be applied on vertical surfaces without making a mess. It applies easily and stays more toward the surface, allowing for greater control during application.
Product Specs
- Size: 1/2 pint, quart
- Type: Gel-based
- Stain opacity: Semi-solid
Since it’s so thick, this gel stain takes longer to dry than most other stains. Depending on how you look at it, this can be either good or bad.
Good, because you can stain in better detail and attend to unfinished areas without the threat of the stain drying up. Bad, because you’ll need to wait up to 72 hours for the stain to fully cure.
Pros
- Thick formula prevents dripping
- Can be used on non-wood materials, such as metal and fiberglass
Cons
- Needs to be sealed with a separate topcoat to get a smoother finish
Douglas Fir Stain Features to Consider
Douglas Fir has an uneven texture and variable porous structure, making it more difficult to stain than most other softwood. Here are some factors to consider when buying stain for this wood to ensure you’re buying the right product:
Stain Type
Wood stains are sold in three basic types: water-based, oil-based, and gel-based.
While you can use any type of stain for Douglas Fir, you’ll get the best results with oil-based and gel-based stains.
These stains have a thicker consistency than water-based stains, thus easier to apply. Oil-based and gel-based stains also maintain a more even finish, making the stain on Douglas Fir look nicer in the long run.
Indoor vs Outdoor
Indoor stains differ from outdoor stains. They have varying chemical makeups that make them unsuitable for all-around use.
Outdoor stains are formulated with constituents that protect them from external damage, such as UV rays, mold, mildew, and rot. They also have preservatives and pesticides that can’t be found in indoor stains. These chemicals release toxic fumes, so they shouldn’t be used to stain indoor furniture.
Indoor stains offer some environmental protection but to a much lesser degree. Moreover, they penetrate less deeply than outdoor stains and are meant to be top-coated with a clear finish like polyurethane to bring out the best appearance.
Wood Finishing
Some stains need an additional sealant or finish to enhance the appearance of wood, while others already have it mixed in the formula.
If the stain you’ve purchased isn’t two-in-one, you’ll need to buy the appropriate finish. If you’re using an oil stain, you should seal your project with wax or linseed oil. For gel stains, use an oil-based polyurethane sealant, shellac, or varnish.
Why Use Douglas Fir For Woodworking Projects
Douglas Fir is a popular wood for woodworkers due to its many beneficial characteristics, including:
- Strength and Durability: Douglas Fir is a strong and durable wood that is ideal for heavy-duty projects, such as structural beams, flooring, and decking.
- Workability: Douglas Fir is easy to work with, whether by hand or machine, making it a versatile wood for woodworkers.
- Responsiveness to Finishing: Doug Fir responds well to staining, painting, and other types of wood finishes, allowing woodworkers to customize the final appearance of their projects.
- Availability and Affordability: Douglas Fir is widely available and is more affordable than many of the other hardwoods, making it a good choice for projects that are budget-conscious. Its what you see lining the aisles of big box home improvement stores.
- Appearance: Douglas Fir has a light to medium color, with a straight grain pattern that gives it a distinctive look that is well suited to many different styles of woodworking.
- Versatility: Douglas Fir is versatile and can be used for a wide range of woodworking projects, from furniture and cabinetry to flooring and decking.
Overall, Douglas Fir is a popular choice for woodworkers due to its strength, durability, workability, and affordability, as well as its responsiveness to finishing and distinctive appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Douglas Fir Darken Over Time?
Douglas Fir does darken over time due to the oxidation of tannins in the wood, with factors such as exposure to sunlight, finishing treatments, age, environmental conditions, and type of wood affecting the rate of darkening.
Heartwood will darken more quickly than sapwood, and finishes such as staining or painting can slow down or prevent darkening. This darkening process is a natural one.
How Long Does It Take for Stain to Dry on Douglas Fir?
The drying time for stain on Douglas Fir depends on several factors, including the type of stain used, the environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, and air flow), and the thickness of the stain application. Generally, most oil-based stains take 24-48 hours to dry completely, while water-based stains can dry in as little as 2-4 hours.
Does Douglas Fir Stain Easily?
Douglas Fir is a porous wood that can absorb stain easily, but it can also be prone to blotching, especially if it is not properly prepped and conditioned before staining. To achieve a uniform and consistent color on Douglas Fir, use a pre-stain wood conditioner or a wood grain fille. Properly prepped and finished, Douglas Fir can have a beautiful, stained appearance.
Final Thoughts
You can’t go wrong with any of the stains mentioned above, but if I had to choose, I’d say my favorite is the General Finishes Oil Base Gel Stain. It offers the deepest, richest color among all the stains I’ve used, plus it leaves a gorgeous shine on the wood once cured.
