reader contribution
from an email...
When I stain,I do a fairly small area at a time. I usually apply enough stain to make sure it soaks in some, but I wipe right away. If I want it darker, I apply a second coat. The more you rub, the more you bring out the grain of the wood. When you have wood that has deep grain or knot holes, they will usually take stain a bit darker in those areas, but this is the natural grain and beauty of the wood. I like contrast. Sometimes, the smoother the grain, the more boring the outcome. Some wood just does not have a lot of natural beauty and is wood that is probably better to paint. I have stained a lot of doors. Sometimes, they don't have a lot of grain and are kind of plain when you are done, but I find the more I rub them, the prettier they look. Those new doors we put in upstairs were not expensive doors. They were pine. I sanded them, but I do not worry about sanding the crap out of them if you know what I mean. Just so it is fairly smooth and not splintery. Pine usually isn't. Fir can be rough and hard to get really smooth. I have not worked with fir for a long time. I used fir for the trim in the bedroom that you guys sleep in. I probably would not use fir again. It was cheaper. On those doors upstairs, I applied two or three coats of stain on them to get them a bit darker and I really rubbed them out with a cloth each time.
To me, varnishing is more difficult. You have to be kind of careful when doing that. Need good lighting for sure. Natural light is the best.
-Jan