Hey everyone! I'm an 18-year-old in a sorority, and I've got to paint two paddles for my sisters. For one of them, I'm planning to use a wood stain. I'm wondering if I can stain it indoors since I don't have access to a woodworking shop like I did in high school. Is it better to do it outside in the cold, or can I manage it inside my dorm? Any advice would be super helpful—thanks!
3 Answers
It's a bit tricky. If you choose to stain outside, make sure it’s not too cold since temperatures below the stain's requirement can ruin the finish. If you opt for indoors, be sure to ventilate well—open windows, use a fan, and consider wearing a mask. Just keep in mind that the smell may linger for a while after you’re done, and the piece will continue to off-gas until fully cured.
Staining indoors can work, but it really depends on whether you’re using an oil-based stain. If that’s the case, just a heads up, it's going to smell pretty bad!
I’d definitely recommend wearing PPE like a mask, especially since most stains contain VOCs. If you can’t stain outside, try doing it in the bathroom with the fan on. It’ll help reduce the fumes.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely use the bathroom fan if I end up doing it inside.
Yeah, definitely Ventilation is key! If you can manage it, doing it outside and letting it cure there will help a lot with the smell.