Some types of wood, like pine, cherry, birch and maple, are notoriously ... seal the wood before wood staining. Sanding sealers, dewaxed shellac and wipe-on finishes will all do the trick.

Most common wood species — pine, birch, maple and cherry — absorb stain unevenly. For a more consistent finish, apply a pre-stain conditioner. There are lots of clear finishes. But for a ...