How To Stain Acacia Wood

Acacia wood is a versatile and durable wood that can be a stylish addition to your home. But because it’s hardwood, acacia wood might be difficult to stain. If you want to stain acacia wood correctly, you need to use the proper method. 

To do this properly, you need to prepare correctly. The first thing you need to do is sand your piece and raise the grain. Then after applying the stain layer, you need to sand it again. Only then can you add the polish or finish. 

In this article, you will learn about acacia wood and the best way to stain this material. 

What Is Acacia Wood? 

Acacia wood comes from trees that are grown in Asia, America, Africa, and the Pacific coast. Even though acacia wood is native to Australia, there are thousands of varieties of acacia wood. 

You can use acacia wood to make furniture and other household items that will last a lifetime. This wood is hard and sturdy while also being easy and flexible to use for your projects. 

Acacia wood is unique in that it can be used outdoors and still have a class 1 resistance.

• A class 1 resistance means that when is completely exposed, it will only last roughly 25 years.
• In comparison, wood with a class 1 resistance can last for more than 50 years when it’s protected. 

The wood is also an excellent choice for staying out on your terrace, balcony, or garden. The wood has fibers that are close to each other, and the wood is extra resistant to friction. 

The trunk’s core has a red-brown color with dark veins at the core, while the sapwood has a slightly yellow or light brown color. 

A straightforward sanding job can do wonders to bring out the wood’s natural beauty. The grain and the trees’ region will also affect the look. 

For example, the Hawaiian Koa variant of acacia wood has a medium-textured grain that interlocks with wave-like patterns.

On the other hand, acacia wood which is grown in Australia will have a uniform and fine grain that will give your project an attractive finish. 

Acacia wood is an excellent choice for creating stylish flooring. If you’re looking for something that’s rustic and modern, the colors and the grain patterns in this wood will be perfect.

You can also use this wood for new kitchen counters and tabletops because it is waterproof, and you can easily clean any mess on the surface.

How to Stain Acacia Wood

There’s no denying that acacia wood can be used to make stylish floors or countertops. But if you want to change the color to match your home’s style, staining the wood is an option. 

We’ve laid out a step-by-step guide to creating a long-lasting, smooth, and bright finish for your acacia wood piece. 

Safety Tips

When you’re staining any kind of wood, there are a few safety tips you need to follow. These tips will include the following: 

• Only stain wood in a well-ventilated room or outside
• Don’t have open flames near the stain 
• Don’t smoke near your stain or your work area
• Don’t have a pilot light near where you are working
• Soak or immerse used rags in water before throwing them away

Tools You Need 

To stain acacia wood, you will need the following tools:

• Sandpaper and/or orbital sander
• Fine grit sandpaper 
• At least three paintbrushes
• A few rags
• Paint stirrers
• Your stain of choice 
• Clear and protective finish
• A pre-stain conditioner

1. Sand the Acacia Wood 

The first step in any wood staining process is to sand down your rough wood. So you need to sand down your acacia wood furniture or deck until you get the finish you want. 

Sand your acacia wood in the following order:

• lightly sand your acacia wood with fine-grit sandpaper. Make sure that you sand your wood evenly along the wood grain. 
• Sanding with the wood grain will prevent any unwanted marks or scratches from appearing on your wood’s surface. 
• With acacia wood, sand the wood until you get the grit needed for the final look. In the next step, the wood’s grain will be raised slightly. 
• When the grain has been raised and applied the stain, you need to use fine-grit sandpaper to go over the wood. 
• At this stage, you need only need to lightly sand the wood to get rid of peaks in the raised wood grain. 

2. Raise the Wood Grain 

With the second step, you will be using a process to ensure that the wood absorbs as much of the stain as possible. This process will also ensure that there’s an increased amount of stain penetrating the wood. 

This process is sometimes called “raising the grain” or “water-popping the grain.” It will depend on whom you are talking to in woodworking circles. 

But it doesn’t matter which name you use. The process makes the wood fiber ends stand up, which will then soak in the stain. 

To start this process, you will need to wet the wood. You can do this by using a wet cloth or even a mop that’s been wrung out to wet the wood. It’s important to remember that the mop or cloth shouldn’t be dripping wet when you use it. 

After you’ve wet the wood, you should let the wood thoroughly and completely dry out, which should take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Before you move on to the next step, make sure there is no visible moisture on the wood. 

In this process:

• The fibers in the acacia wood will expand. 
• When it dries, the wood fibers will shrink and be pulled to the surface of the wood. 
• The result will be the wood grains is exposed. 
• With this process, you will be able to feel the raised ends when you run your hand over the surface. 
• Raising the grain is especially important if you’re planning on using a water-based stain for your acacia wood. 

3. Sand the Acacia Wood Lightly

When your wood has completely dried from “water-popping the grain,” it’s time to sand your acacia wood again. 

You’ll want to gently sand your wood with fine-grit sandpaper until your acacia wood is smooth to the touch. Just as you did in the first step, evenly sand your wood while working from one end to the other. 

This is not deep sanding – you only want to briefly sand the raised grain, while not taking off any of the actual wood.

4. Pick Your Stain

We’re at the part that I’ve all been waiting for: staining the acacia wood. Before diving in, you need to pick the best stain for acacia wood

When it comes to staining acacia wood, you will have a few choices, from oil-based and water-based stains to solvent-based stains. Each type of stain is handy in its own way, and they each have their own pros and cons. 

• Oil-based wood stains: These wood stains are an excellent option for staining acacia wood. Oil stain will sink deeply into the wood. In most cases, a mineral spirit can be used in the oil-based stain to thin it out and help it deeper penetrate the wood. 

Using an oil-based stain is a great way to preserve acacia wood preservatives. Linseed oil and natural oils are great options for wood preservatives. These oils can cover wood evenly, and they take a long time to dry. 

• Water-based wood stains: With a water-based stain, water is used to thin the stain and help it penetrate the wood. A water-based wood stain will bring out the wood grain while still being more eco-friendly than an oil-based stain.  

A water-based stain will dry faster than oil-based stains. However, a water-based won’t stain your acacia wood as deeply as an oil-based wood stain. A water-based stain also doesn’t provide the same level of protection as an oil-based stain. 

Tip: My first choice for staining acacia wood would be an oil-based wood stain because of its durability and how well it can preserve the wood. 

Here you will need to ensure that you apply the stain evenly. If you have uneven stain layers, you’ll have slightly darker patches than others. 

The best method to ensure that you have even layers is to use a cloth or sponge to apply the stain. Just remember to wear gloves to protect your hands from the stain. 

5. Apply Stain to the Acacia Wood with a Cloth

If you decide to use a cloth to stain acacia wood, use the same method as you used to wet the wood. The method is as follows:

• Simply dab the cloth in the stain but don’t let the cloth absorb too much of the stain or drip on the wood. 

Tip: It’s important to remember that you won’t be able to get rid of drip marks at a later stage. 

• Wipe this cloth on the acacia wood. Start from one end of the piece and work your way to the other end. Make sure that you apply even layers to the wood and don’t cross over too much onto areas you’ve already applied. 

• When applying the stain, make sure that you work along the wood grain. This will ensure that the wood soaks in more of the stain into the wood. 

• After applying the first stain layer, check to see if you like the result. If you want a darker color, add a second coat but only do this after the first layer has dried completely. This usually takes roughly 15 minutes. 

• When applying more stain coats, use the same method as you did with the first layer.

Tip: Just keep in mind how dark you want acacia wood to be because it will be difficult to remove any extra stain at a later stage. 

6. Sand Off the Tops of the Wood Fibers 

Even after applying your stain, the surface will still feel rough. Similar to sanding down the raised wood grain, you will want to lightly sand your stained wood. 

• Use a fine-grit sandpaper to give your acacia wood a light sanding. 
• Run your hand over the surface in between sanding to feel how smooth the surface is and if you like the feel. 

7. Prepare for Finishing Wood 

After you’ve stained and smoothed the wooden surface, there’s just one more step in this process. Your acacia will be ready for applying a finish to your project at this stage. 

We recommend that you use an oil-based finish for your acacia wood such as Tung oil or Danish oil. These finishes enhance the natural look and colors of the wood.

Tip: You can also use boiled linseed oil or just simple linseed oil to give your acacia wood a more natural look while protecting it against water. 

In some cases, you might need to do more sanding. But if you’ve done enough sanding, start applying the finish. 

After applying the first layer of finish to your project, wait for the finish to dry. Then ,check if the surface is still smooth by running your hand over it.

To smooth out the roughness, give your piece a very light sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper. But only do this after applying the first layer. After this, let the next coat of finish layers dry before applying the next coat. 

Conclusion 

Acacia wood is a beautiful material to use for crafting any outdoor furniture or household items. It is tough and able to withstand harsh climates, but it’s also stunning to look at without staining. 

But if you want your acacia wood piece to be slightly darker or just want to bring out its natural beauty, then staining is a relatively simple process. You need to wear your work gloves and check what you need for the specific stain you’re using.