Staining Maple Cabinets Tips

If you're searching for tips to staining maple cabinets, cabinetry, or cabinet doors this post will help you understand how to do it.  Maple isn't an easy wood to stain and does take some preparation before applying your wood stain. 

Choosing Maple Wood Stain

Maple is a tight grained hardwood which can resist accepting wood stains.  For this reason many cabinet companies and homeowners choose to dye their maple and other hardwood cabinet doors and cabinetry.  Cherry, maple, and birch all need a little extra attention when considering staining.  The challenge is avoiding a blotchy finish as different sections absorb more or less stain.  This effect will be more pronounced the darker stain you want for your project. 

If you are going to stain maple, choose a stain color that will work with your home's other wood work in areas like flooring, baseboards, and crown moulding. 

How To Stain Maple

Knowing that maple can be hard to stain should prepare you for a little extra work to get the job done.  It isn't impossible to make a great looking even stain on maple cabinet doors and cabinetry.  Knowledge is power and this section will teach you the tips on how to get the job done right.

How To Avoid Blotchy Finish

The biggest challenge when applying stain to maple wood is avoiding a blotchy or uneven finish.  The end sections cross sections will absorb more stain than surface sections.  When this happens it will have a darker finish than the rest of the door and will look out of place.  

Sealing Maple Before Staining

To avoid this it is important to coat the surface of the door with a sealant coat before applying the stain.  A coating can be created by applying a diluted mixture of glue.  Sanding can also help avoid uneven stain absorption.  Using a finer sand paper for the cross and end sections will help prevent unevenness and blotching. 

Make your coating by using a dilution of water and yellow or white glue at a 10:1 ratio.  This means 10 parts water and 1 part glue.  Apply the mixture to the maple wood and ensure you coat the end cut grain sections or anywhere that has a more open face.  Let the coating dry completely before trying to apply your chosen stain.

Conclusion

It is possible to get a great coating of stain on maple cabinet doors.  All it takes is a little foresight, knowledge, and some work.  Maple is one of the most popular woods to have in kitchens as it is durable and attractive.  It just takes a little extra work to get the stain coating applied correctly.

Citation Souces

Hill, Jim. “The Do's and Dont's of Staining Maple Cabinet Doors.” CabinetDoors.Com , Cabinet Doors , 19 Oct. 2017, www.cabinetdoors.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-staining-maple-cabinet-doors/.