What do you recommend for refinishing? And how can I apply stain without lapmarks?
IRENE DODD, Waltham A. You can take a color chart of interior stains home and make comparisons, choose a stain a bit darker than the original. Generally, stains lighten as they dry; that is why it is better to err on the dark side than the light side. On the other hand, if you choose a slightly lighter stain, and find it’s too light, you can always apply a second coat of stain. Otherwise it is a matter of buying a certain color, applying it, and varnishing to see if it works. Not a practical method. As for lapmarks, the people who call me about their projects say they have had good luck with a foam applicator. For me, the stain-on-cloth is best, but sloppy. The technique is: Dip a folded cloth in the stain and squeeze out. Rub it on, in long sweeps but moving all the time, adding stain to a wet area, not dry. Finish with two coats of a satin polyurethane varnish. Your technique will dictate how well you apply the varnish. Again, some people have had good luck with a cloth or lamb’s-woo
