Staining distressed heartwood pine floor

tom_matthews

I installed new heartwood pine floor. Will stain with minwax gel stain. Have already beaten the hell out of it with chains, nuts, etc. for a distressed look.

Questions: minwax gel stain label says first treat the pine with minwax wood conditioner (a sealant for softwood) I'm considering it, but the product instructions say to follow the application by rubbing with steel wool.... Rubbing a whole floor with steel wool doesn't sound fun. Is this even meant as an application for flooring or just for small items like furniture?

Can I get by without the sealer? Just stain bare pine, which is planed very smooth? Given that the floor is supposed to look distressed, what are your suggestions for finishing it?

Thanks in advance!

mark942

Use a conditioner, pine is porous and needs to have the pours filled so to speak, this way your stain will go on evenly and not splotchy. Wipe on, Wipe off. Then stain, is as easily as I can post it. Good Luck............

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hammerheart14

old masters gel stain is a much better product.

racebum

the fact you used pine on the floor will get distressed soon enough of its own. that's a soft wood. do agree with the style though. trying to make a clean looking pine floor would be insane to try and keep perfect.