Staining wood

• raiderbuck

  Planning on tackling a wood staining project for my groomsmen's gifts. I'm going to buy them cigar boxes and stain them myself. I've got a graphic designer helping me make monogram decals to put on top of the boxes, which I'll put on before the finish to give it a "burned in" look. I realize that it's not the same as actually burning the wood. But I don't have time or money for all that. Also, I'm a bit concerned that the stain and the decal won't work together?
  
  Anyway. My only experience with wood staining was helping my dad put stain on the baseboards in the basement, but that was like twenty years ago. I've got five boxes, each pine wood box is about 8x8x1.5". My hope is that my friends will appreciate the work I've put into this.
  
  Any tips on brands to look out for or avoid? My plan was to just put the stain on like paint and let it dry, but after talking to my dad it sounds like I can't just do that or else it'll come out looking like crap. I know some of you have tackled wood projects before, so any help is appreciated.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Where'd you get the boxes?
• Devils Advocate

  

  If you are using pine, make sure you use a sanding sealer! do your sanding in some place other than where you are staining and clear coating.
  
  Stay away from all in one brands like minwax poly. The best finishes are different processes.
  
  I do like Minwax clear polyurethane for the finish coats ( at least 2 )
• Belly35

  

  Not sure I would use a commerial type stain or finish. It's a cigar box and I sure the hell done want my cigar to smell like a stain and polyurthane finish coat.
  
  http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/secretsofthecbgunderground/forum/topics/homemade-wood-stains
• raiderbuck

  ernest_t_bass;1603098 wrote:Where'd you get the boxes?

  Well, right now the only option I've ran accross were from Michael's craft store. Those boxes were pine, but you can tell that they're cheaply made. I'm open to suggestions on finding other options.
  

  Belly35;1603178 wrote:Not sure I would use a commerial type stain or finish. It's a cigar box and I sure the hell done want my cigar to smell like a stain and polyurthane finish coat.
  
  http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/secretsofthecbgunderground/forum/topics/homemade-wood-stains

  Great point, never thought about that. I do like the shoe polish suggestion from your link, however I feel like the smell isn't any better than wood stain or polyurthane. The wedding isn't until this November, so I got some time. I suppose I could make them well in advance to help rid the smell?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  raiderbuck;1603191 wrote:Well, right now the only option I've ran accross were from Michael's craft store. Those boxes were pine, but you can tell that they're cheaply made. I'm open to suggestions on finding other options.

  I got one from Michael's, and it was shit. Very brittle. Got another from Jo-Ann Fabrics, and it was of better quality, but not 8.5" x 8.5"
  
  I was wondering if you had ordered off Amazon, and what the quality was.
• dlazz

  Just make them wooden pickles.
  
  
• Devils Advocate

  

  If the smell is a concern and you want a burned/dirty look, try unboiled linseed oil.