I'm in the process of building a picnic table and I'm wondering when the best time to stain the wood is. Should I stain all the pieces before I put them together, or do it after I've finished building the table? I'd appreciate any tips or advice you might have!
3 Answers
If it were me, I’d stain everything before assembly. It’s way less hassle to do it on flat surfaces rather than crawling around trying to stain once it’s all together. Plus, it’ll be much easier to get even coverage that way!
For picnic tables, I usually recommend staining and finishing it after you’ve assembled everything. You’ll have better access to all the nooks and crannies that way. But if you think the assembly will block you from reaching some areas, then staining beforehand can work too! Just make sure you're careful with the glue if you go that route.
Honestly, it’s kind of up to you. Staining separate pieces is generally easier, especially if you can do it flat. But if you’re worried about the glue getting messed up from the stain, just mask it off. There’s really no one right answer, just what works best for your project!
Got it! I think I'll go for staining after assembly then.