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Knotty pines are an attractive variety of wood known for their distinctive look. You can use them in virtually anything, be it paneling, flooring, or furniture.
If you’re looking for the best stain for knotty pine, then you’re at the right place. Read on, as I’ll discuss some of the best stains you can use for pines.
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Top 5 Stains for Knotty Pine Furniture
Knotty pines are one of the most beautiful wood materials you can get. However, they’re softwood, so you might want to seal and protect them from the elements through staining.
Aside from protection, staining your knotty pine furniture, wall, and floor will enhance their look. It can provide a rich, naturally gorgeous appearance to the wood.
With that in mind, here are 5 of the best knotty pine stains you can find:
Best Overall: Varathane – Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain
If it’s your first time staining furniture, Varathane’s oil-based stain is your best option. You can pick from a wide selection of attractive colors that’ll surely fit your home.
You might’ve heard from several sources that oil stains take too long to dry. Well, this oil coating defies that stereotype and offers a finish that can dry in 1 hour.
Compared to other products like LinSheen featuring linseed oil, you’ll find that Varathane oil-based has the fastest drying time. So, you’ll refurbish that knotty pine furniture in no time.
Product Features
- High-quality stains, enhanced with nano pigment particles
- Fast drying formula that dries in 1 hour
- Suitable for all types of wood furniture
- One coat coverage
Aside from the quick-dry, it’s also simple to apply on the pine surface. Take a brush or lint-free cloth, stain, wipe, and you’re good to go.
As it’s oil-based, this stain will penetrate deeply into the pores and grains of the wood compared to water-based products like Defy. This property seals and protects your furniture from fading and premature graying.
Pros
- Varathane offers one of the best selections of stain colors on the market.
- You only need one coating to achieve that gorgeous finish.
Cons
- One issue that you may encounter with this stain is its thickness.
- This stain’s viscosity is similar to paint, so apply it with the appropriate tools to get the best results.
Best Value: General Finishes – Oil Base Gel Stain
If you don’t mind spending a few more bucks, General Finishes oil-based stain is for you. Despite the higher price tag, you won’t go wrong with this finish for your knotty pine.
As a gel stain, General Finishes is best for staining softwood such as maple, birch, cherry, and pine. These types of wood will absorb the gel more readily than traditional oil and water-based stains, like Varathane or Defy.
Product Features
- Creates a lustrous look to wood
- Best for softwood materials
- Easy to use and apply
Instead of seeping into the wood grain, the gel forms a thick coating on the wood’s surface. It’ll produce a beautifully even finish on your knotty pine without color inconsistencies.
Another highlighting quality of this gel stain is the easy application. It doesn’t run or drip when applied, so you can use it on surfaces with different orientations.
You can even use it over painted or laminated wood surfaces! Just make sure to sand the area before applying to prevent anything from sticking out.
Pros
- It creates a gorgeous uniform finish that can last for years.
- It’s perfect for DIY projects because of its easy application.
Cons
- The gel can pool in cracks and corners, which may result in an uneven result.
- As it’s merely a stain, you need to add an additional protective layer over the gel.
Best Budget: LinSheen – Boiled Linseed Oil
If you’re looking for the cheapest option, LinSheen’s boiled linseed oil is your best choice. Despite the affordable price, it provides a natural layer of stain with reliable protective capability.
Linsheen’s boiled linseed oil offers a clean finish that brings out the color and grain of the wood. It’s an excellent choice to restore or improve the appearance of your knotty pine furniture.
Product Features
- Clear wood finish that enhances the wood color
- Helps restore and preserve the wood
- Dries faster than raw linseed oil
- Applicable to any type of wood
As an oil-based finish, this coating will provide excellent protection against humidity and moisture. It’ll shield your furniture from water, mold, fading, and chipping.
Apart from the protection, this stain is easier to apply than a water-based coating such as Defy. It’s also a flexible coating that won’t crack or peel as time passes.
You can use LinSheen’s boiled linseed oil for indoor and outdoor furniture.
Pros
- It protects your furniture from scratches and water damage.
- You can sand away any deformities and scratches from the finish.
Cons
- One disadvantage to LinSheen is you can’t use it on materials that come in contact with food.
- Although it’s boiled, linseed oil can take around 12 to 24 hours to dry.
Best for Durability: Real Milk Paint – Dark Tung Oil
If you’re gearing for a darker, antique look for your knotty pine, Real Milk Paint’s dark tung oil gives you exactly that. It’s a natural, non-toxic finish and a well-rounded protective coating.
The best part of this stain is it uses pure tung oil. It’ll give a beautiful, dark, shining appearance to your knotty pine panels and furniture.
Product Features
- 100% all-natural tung oil
- Water-proof coating
- Completely planet-friendly
- Food-grade and safe for contact
Compared to General Finishes or Defy, Real Milk Paint’s tung oil provides an exceptionally thick layer of protection. It shields the wood from UV-ray, water, mold, alcohol, and food acids.
You can place your knotty pine furniture outside or inside your kitchen without worrying about any damage. It’s even better at preventing wet and dry rot than Linsheen’s linseed oil.
The best part about this stain is it’s food-grade. It means you can use it on kitchen furniture that comes into contact with food, such as chopping boards and food counters.
Pros
- Compared with Varathane and LinSheen, this stain is eco-friendly and contains zero harmful VOCs.
- It protects the knotty pine from cracks and chips.
Cons
- You’ll need multiple coats to get the best results.
- Natural tung oil takes two to three days to dry.
Best for Outdoors: Defy Extreme Semi-Transparent Wood Stain
Defy’s semi-transparent wood finish is one of the best if you’re looking for a stain for your outdoor knotty pine wood. This coating is excellent in protecting the wood from the harsh elements outside your home.
Although it’s water-based, Defy’s wood finish can penetrate hardwood grains. It means it’ll seep into your knotty pine without any difficulty.
Product Features
- Formulated for hardwood furniture
- Produces a semi-transparent finish to the wood
- Made with high-quality resin
- Resists wear and tear
- Easy to maintain
While it may not offer the same protection as oil-based products such as Real Milk Paint, it can last longer if you use it correctly. The key is to take your time applying it to the wood.
It’s also efficient at protecting the wood from damaging sun rays and other elements. So, even if you place your knotty pine furniture outside, you won’t have to worry about fading or graying.
Pro
- It’s more durable than your average water-based wood stain.
- It provides one of the best UV-ray protection for pine wood.
Cons
- It requires extra care when applying it to the wood.
- You can only purchase the product in gallons, so it’s not suitable for small projects.
Why Use Knotty Pine for Woodworking Projects
Knotty pine is popular for woodworking projects for its unique, rustic appearance and characterful knots. Some of the key characteristics of knotty pine include:
- Knots: You guessed it – knotty pine is characterized by its distinctive knots, which are formed when branches on the pine tree grow and die, leaving holes in the wood. These knots give knotty pine a rustic, natural look that is highly sought after.
- Softness: Knotty pine is a soft wood but much harder than knotty alder wood, making it easier to work with than some of the harder woods, such as oak or maple.
- Warm color: Knotty pine ranges in color from light yellow to reddish brown, giving it a warm, inviting look that is ideal for rustic-style furnishings and cabinetry.
- Affordability: Knotty pine is one of the more affordable wood options, making it a good choice for projects that are budget-conscious.
- Versatility: Knotty pine can be used for a variety of projects, including paneling, flooring, and furniture, and can be finished in a variety of ways to suit different styles.
These qualities make knotty pine a popular choice for woodworkers looking for a rustic, natural look for their projects.
Knotty Pine Stain Features to Consider
Now that you know the best stain products for your knotty pine, here are some of the qualities you need to consider when choosing a finish.
- Durability and Protection
When deciding on a stain product for pine wood, the first thing to consider is that pine is a softwood. Softwoods are less dense, so they’re weaker and less durable.
If you’re planning to expose the furniture to outside elements, use a finish that can seep into the wood. Real Milk Paint and Varathane are not water-based stains but oil-based stains which are your best choices for the job.
- Appearance and Look
If you’re more concerned with appearance than protection, you should know that knotty pines have porous and uneven density. This characteristic will make it difficult to stain evenly.
For aesthetic purposes, it’s best to choose transparent or lighter stains like LinSheen or Defy. Darker colors tend to appear slightly patchy on the pine’s uneven surface.
General finishes, which is a not wiping stain but a gel stain is an excellent pick to produce even and attractive finishes on pine. Though, it doesn’t offer much protection for the wood.
What Stain Colors Are Best for Pine Wood?
Pine wood is a softwood with a light (almost yellowish) color and open grain pattern. It can be stained with a variety of colors to enhance its natural beauty or to change its color entirely. Some popular stain colors for pine wood include:
- Natural or clear: enhances the wood’s natural color and grain pattern.
- Early American: gives the wood a warm, reddish-brown color.
- Ipswich Pine: gives the wood a yellow-orange color.
- Red Chestnut: gives the wood a dark, reddish-brown color.
- Jacobean: gives the wood a dark, brownish-black color.
- Dark Walnut: gives the wood a rich, dark brown color.
Ultimately, the best stain color for pine wood is a matter of personal preference and the desired outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Knowing the best products and qualities is only the tip of the iceberg. So, here are some frequently asked questions about knotty pine staining.
Does Pine Take Stain Well?
Pine can take stain well, but because it is a softwood with an open grain pattern, it can be more challenging to get an even color. Pine wood may also be more prone to blotching and streaking than other types of wood, so it is important to choose the right type of stain and application method to get the desired result.
A pre-stain wood conditioner can help reduce blotching and provide a more even base for the stain to adhere to.
What Do You Put on Pine Before Staining?
Before staining pine, it is recommended to apply a pre-stain wood conditioner to help ensure an even color and reduce blotching. The wood conditioner helps to fill the open grain and create a uniform surface for the stain to adhere to.
Here’s how to apply a pre-stain wood conditioner:
-Clean the surface of the pine to remove any dirt, dust, or debris.
-Apply the pre-stain conditioner according to the manufacturer’s instructions, using a brush, rag, or sprayer.
-Allow the conditioner to penetrate the wood for the recommended time, usually 5 to 15 minutes.
-Wipe off any excess conditioner with a clean cloth.
-Let the wood dry completely before staining.
By using a pre-stain conditioner, you can help ensure that the final stain color will be more consistent and even on the pine wood surface.
How to Stain Knotty Pine?
The porous and uneven grain of knotty pine surfaces can be challenging to stain. That said, there are tricks that you can use to ensure a beautiful stain wood finish.
The best tip I recommend is sanding the bare pine wood with sandpaper. Sanding will make a clean, smooth surface that’ll help with the pinewood’s stain absorption.
Conclusion
People love knotty pines for their distinctive and striking patterns and knots. They can lend an attractive rustic look to your home’s furniture, wall, and floor.
That said, it’s only natural to want to maintain the beauty of your knotty pine materials and stain them. Varathane, General Finishes, LinSheen, Real Milk Paint, and Defy are the go-to products if you’re looking for the best stain for knotty pine.
