Help, blotchy birch

[BT69]

My husband made a bathroom vanity and I may have ruined it. I stained it with Minwax oil stain and it is very blotchy.  I have now read that I should have used shellac first.  I also have read that spraying with toner will probably fix it but we don't have a sprayer. Would Minwax Polyshades be an option?  We want a dark espresso color.

[Eric.]

Staining anything is a bad idea but blotchy woods like birch especially.  Sounds like you're on the right track...smother it in color until it submits.  Won't look much like wood but it'll be dark.

[Guest]

Polyshades looks crappy, IMO.  It is very difficult to get an even finish   

Wiping with naptha will remove some of the color.  Then sand it lightly and try a gel stain in a darker color.  

 

[..Kev]

Get yourself some scrap and create test boards to sample everything you're about to try.  That's the only way you're going to know what the final product is going to look like.

 

[xxdabroxx]

I was trying to get my vanity I built out of birch dark too.  After many tests I gave up and wiped on clear poly.  I wish you luck but don't have any good suggestions, sorry. 

[treeslayer]

hey BT and welcome to the forum. i recently used Varathane stain plus polyurethane in dark walnut to refinish some interior doors about the same stuff as minwax polyshades. i sanded lightly before applying it and it took about 3 coats to get the desired effect but be aware its more like painting a picture as the stain and varnish don't want to go on evenly. use light coats, sand lightly between coats if you decide to go this route, good luck.