Best Stain for Maple Wood – (How to Stain Maple Step by Step)

Maple wood is a beautiful, light-colored hardwood often used for furniture, flooring, and cabinetry.

While Maple is durable and can withstand staining well, choosing the right stain colors on maple wood is important.

Why? Because some stains are too light, while others are too dark or overpowering. Besides, many types of wood stains are on the market, but not all are suitable for Maple.

This blog post will discuss the best stain for maple wood and show you how to stain Maple correctly to achieve the perfect finish.

Keep reading for all the details!

Our Top Picks

Best Stain for Maple Wood

1. Best Stain Color for Maple – Minwax Wood Finish Penetrating Stain
2. Best Water-based Stain for Maple – General Finishes Water-Based Stain
3. Best Stain for Maple Plywood – Minwax 61350444 Polyshades Stain
4. Best Gel Stain on Maple – Minwax 260304444 Interior Wood Gel Stain
5. Best Premium Wood Stain for Maple – Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain
6. Best Restorative Finish for Maple – Howard Products RF2016 RF3016
7. Best Maple Wood Finishing Cloths – Minwax 308210000 Wood Finishing
8. Best Wood Conditioner for Maple – Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner

Can You Stain Maple Wood?

Yes. You can stain all maple wood, although it may be tricky. 

Staining maple wood extends its life and preserves its aesthetic appeal. Though maple wood is a durable hardwood, it develops streaks and blemishes after decades of use.

It is best to stain it to safeguard it from these blotches and other external elements and preserve its beauty.

How to Stain Maple

Staining maple wood is simple but slippery. Since maple wood has a tight grain, pigment stains do not absorb easily or uniformly. Maple wood is one of the most challenging woods to achieve a uniform stain color.

You must first master a few techniques to stain maple woods excellently. If you want to stain like an expert, practice on scrap pieces first to see how the dye stain appears on the real maple wood piece.

When it comes to staining maple woods, most painters and homeowners encounter uneven staining.

As previously stated, maple wood has a tight grain, is dense, and will prevent larger pigment particles from deeply penetrating the wood. Here’s how to stain maple wood if it’s unfinished. 

Materials Needed for Staining maple wood

• A paintbrush designed for staining
• A clean rug/ sponge
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Maple stains

Procedure

• Ensure the surface is super smooth- sand your wood starting with 120-grit sandpaper, then 180-grit sandpaper, and finally 220-grit sandpaper. 
• Mix Zinsser Sanding sealer and denatured alcohol thoroughly with a turkey baster. If you do not need to use a sanding sealer, you can work with a pre-stain conditioner, such as the Min Wax Pre-Sain Conditioner, thinned with mineral spirits instead.
• Using a clean rag or brush, apply the mixture or conditioner to the wood. Apply sparingly and uniformly.
• Let the sealer dry for six hours. For best results, give it eight hours or more, depending on the temperature and humidity of your locality.
• After drying, inspect all of the wood’s surfaces. If one area dries or soaks faster than others, reapply the sealer to that part and let it dry overnight. Since that area is typically blotched, you should make it as uniform as you possibly can prior to applying your finish.
• After the wood has dried, stain it. Use pigmented oil stains, such as Minwax Red Mahogany Oil-based Stain or penetrating oil stains. To make the wood more colorful, we recommend using pigmented stains. Apply the stain with a natural bristle paintbrush along the wood’s grain. Wipe away any excess stain and let it dry overnight. 
• Seal the stain with a polyacrylic finish if need be. 
• Use mineral spirits to clean the Maple.

Dark stain on Maple: How to Stain Maple Dark

Most DIYers struggle with staining tight-grained woods such as hard Maple, cherry, and birch ply. Because after applying the stain to a board with a nice, appealing grain pattern, you may end up with dark, splotchy areas.

It can you disappointed that you have ruined the wood’s natural color. Staining Maple without struggling with blotches is possible but challenging.

If you want a darker color on maple wood, use a dye stain. If you use oil-based stains, MinWax Wood Conditioner on maple wood is unbeatable. It eliminates blotchiness and evens out the color.

Most people prefer dark stain on Maple for kitchen doors or cabinets. Nevertheless, staining maple dark necessitates attention to detail and a certain level of sophistication.

If you follow the instructions keenly, you’ll find it quite easy to darken your maple doors and other items. However, uneven staining is a real hassle. Do the following things to deal with the issue. 

• First, sand the end-grain to grit that is one or two grades higher than the rest of the wood. If the part is sanded to 180, the end grain should be sanded to 220 or 320. The finer the sanding helps to stop stain absorption.
• Another method is to use a glue size on the end grain. Mix water and white glue in a 10:1 ratio. Brush the solution onto the end grain and allow it to dry for several hours. After it has dried, lightly sand it and stain it. The glue embedded in the fabric will avoid excessive stain absorption.
• Wear gloves, goggles, overalls, and work in a well-ventilated location before applying dark stain on Maple. If you need to strip the surface off the existing paint, putting on this gear is critical to safeguarding your skin from burns because you’ll be handling caustic chemicals. 

How to remove paint from a surface;

• Use a dichloromethane- based chemical stripper. Spill the needed amount into a glass bowl. 
• Use a paintbrush to apply the product and follow the instructions on the label.
• To thicken your chemical stripper, put in some sawdust. This will make it much easier to remove the paint once it has dried.
• Wait a few minutes after painting to allow the chemical to penetrate the wood. 
• You should check the label to know how long it takes for the chemical to permeate the wood.
• Scrape the chemical stain with a putty knife. Take care not to scratch the wood.
• Smooth the maple wood with  180-  220-grit sandpaper.

Here’s how to stain maple wood dark after removing the paint

• Using a damp cloth, soak the wood.
• sand the maple woods with 120, 180, and 220 grit sandpaper. The goal is to smooth out the maple wood as much as possible.
• Coat with a 50/50 mix of dewaxed Zinsser Sanding Sealer and denatured alcohol.
• Allow it to dry for some hours.
• Lightly rub the wood with a mixture of Aniline-TransTint dye and water. You might not get the desired dark color in the first coat. Put on the dye three or four times more.
• Allow the stain to dry once you’ve achieved the desired color.
• After it has dried, apply tinted shellac thinned with a little water to the wood. Apply sparingly to prevent the shellac from reacting too strongly with the denatured alcohol.
• Allow drying before applying a topcoat such as urethane, oil, or poly. We highly recommend urethane and oil as the stains will cure into a long-lasting finish. Poly will cure to create a waterproof finish. Remember to apply enough coats to achieve the desired hue.
• You’ll encounter botches if you are using oil-based stains. If you do, mark those places and reapply the stains.
• On your maple furniture, you can also use gel stains, tung oil, or linseed oil. They produce nearly identical results to most oil stains or urethane.

Best Stain for Maple Wood Reviews

Different stains on maple wood can produce different looks, so it depends on the appearance you’re going for.

Whatever you choose, test out the stain on a small section of wood before applying it to the entire piece. This will help you avoid any mistakes and get the desired results.

1. Best Stain Color for Maple – Minwax Wood Finish Penetrating Stain

Minwax Wood Finish is a deep penetrating, oil-based wood stain that gives you a uniform stain color while enhancing the natural wood grain in just one coat.

It’s ideal for most interior staining projects such as wood furniture, cabinets, and doors. Minwax wood finish makes staining maple doors and other interior wood more manageable than ever.

The unique formula enables it to penetrate wood pores in five minutes, repel lapping deeply, and dry in two hours. This allows you to finish your wood staining projects quickly.

It’s easy to apply this wood stain in the direction of grain patterns with a clean, lint-free rag or a high-quality brush. Wait for ten to fifteen minutes before wiping off excess stain for exceptional results.

The color becomes darker/richer as you wait longer. You can apply more coats to achieve a deeper color. This dark stain has a lovely, rich dark walnut color.

You can never go wrong with this traditional dark color as it looks fantastic on a wide range of projects. However, when working on curly Maple, let the stain dry before applying your favorite top coat.

Sometimes you do not need to apply so many coats to get the desired hue.

What We Liked Most

It Spreads evenly to give you a uniform color
It is simple to apply, even if you are a beginner
It is unnecessary to apply as many coats to achieve a darker color finish
There is no need for thinning

What Could Be Improved

The color finish may not be appealing to you

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2. Best Water-based Stain for Maple – General Finishes Water-Based Wood Stain

General Finishes is well-known for producing some of the best wood stains and finishes available. This water-based wood stain is one of their incredible products that can bring new life to your maple woods and furniture.

It blends easily and penetrates the wood well, reducing imperfections. In addition, the high-quality pigments in the dye stain produce even, dark colors on hard Maple.

Apply this water-based wood stain using a brush, a clean stain rag, or spray it onto the surface and get pro results. Unlike other wood stains, General Finishes Water-Based Wood Stain is odorless and has low VOC levels.

You can use it without wearing protective gear as it won’t emit poisonous fumes, which can be detrimental to your health. It’s also non-combustible, so it’s completely safe to use without worrying about the risk of fire.

It cures to a thick finish, dries quickly, and has broad coverage. Plus, once you’re finished with the application, you can easily clean it up with mineral spirits.

Always play safe when using water-based stains and general finishes gel stains. Work on a test board first to decide if you like the color.

What We Liked Most

It deeply penetrates your wood to minimize blotches
It is easy to use even with no experience
Simple to clean with soap and water
It provides adequate coverage
Durable

What Could Be Improved

Some people find the finish flat and a bit dull

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3. Best Stain for Maple Plywood – Minwax 61350444 Polyshades Stain & Polyurethane

Minwax Polyshades Stain & Polyurethane enhances the maple wood texture and adds an appealing uniform stain color. Even better, the polyurethane finish safeguards the maple woods from speckles and streaks, thus extending its use.  

Even more good news about this product is that you can apply it over other polyurethane finishes. So, you do not have to break a sweat concealing or removing existing woodwork before applying the Polyshades Stain & Polyurethane.

It dries quickly and cleans up easily with the readily available mineral spirits. It is available in gloss or satin finish, and you can find it in an aerosol can if you want.

Minwax Polyshades Stain & Polyurethane is relatively simple to apply, even though the procedure is slightly different. You have to apply the dye stain fast because the coat dries amazingly fast. 

What We Liked Most

You can use it over other existing polyurethane finishes. It offers long-lasting protection.
Produces a deep stain color
You can easily clean up using mineral spirits
It is available in various colors

What Could Be Improved

It’s not ideal for exterior surfaces
Failure to follow instructions keenly will give you uneven results

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4. Best Gel Stain on Maple – Minwax 260304444 Interior Wood Gel Stain

This gel stain provides a rich, consistent color on wood and non-wood surfaces such as metal, veneer, and fiberglass. In addition, the oil-based non-drip gel stain formula makes it simple to apply, even if working on vertical surfaces.

This dye stain is suitable for offering the rich look of natural wood to fiberglass and metal doors. Apply the gel stain in one coat. To attain a darker color, apply a second coat.

It is simple to apply with a top-quality natural bristle brush or a rag/cloth. If you are working on old furniture, you may apply multiple coats.

You can refinish kitchen tables, coffee tables, drawer fronts, birch ply, etc. This gel stain will exceed your expectations in terms of stain color and quality. Use one coat on a sanded surface.

A huge advantage about this stain is that you can use leftovers for other projects, so nothing goes to waste. It’s an excellent purchase. Before applying the poly coat,  allow t to dry for two days.

Use a foam brush to apply it along the wood grain and quickly work it in with a lint-free cloth. Don’t forget to wear gloves.

What We Liked Most

It’s easy to work with
It has minimal odor
It gives you gorgeous color
It produces no drips or runs

What Could Be Improved

Wear gloves since it’s messy

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5. Best Premium Wood Stain for Maple – Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain

The Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain is an excellent stain for enhancing the wood grain on maple cabinets and soft maple furniture for extended use.

This great wood stain has a quick-drying formula, so you can use your maple furniture right away without waiting for hours.

The durable finish enhances maple wood grain on interior surfaces such as cabinets, doors, furniture, and floors.

One coat of this fast-drying, oil-based formula offers maximum durability and amazing color. It dries in one hour and covers 275 square feet per quart.

We like this dye stain because it doesn’t require as many coats to achieve the desired color. It dries into a rich, long-lasting, and even color after application.

This wood stain comes in various colors and does not require a wood conditioner. The pigmented stain is available in 19 different colors in half-pint and quart sizes and dries in an hour! With just one coat, you can achieve the desired color.

Apply when the temperature is between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the stain during and before you start using it. Wipe away any excess stain with a clean, lint-free rag in the direction of the wood grain.

The longer the stain is allowed to penetrate, the darker it will become. This is because the stain raises and accentuates the natural wood grain. And ss it stains, it penetrates deeply and seals wood pores. 

What We Liked Most

It’s available in different colors.
It completely seals wood pores for maximum durability
It’s affordable and dries fast

What Could Be Improved

It’s not appropriate for finished wood

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6. Best Restorative Finish for Maple – Howard Products RF2016 RF3016

Restor-A-Finish is a one-of-a-kind finish-penetrating formula that repairs wood while combing out dents, scratches, and blemishes. It is available in nine different colors to compliment almost any wood finish tone. 

The stain completely removes ugly watermarks, smoke damage, sun fade, and other defects.

It restores the original glamor of the wood without interfering with the previously applied finish.

Some of the colors available include Neutral, Maple-Pine, Golden Oak, Cherry, Walnut, Mahogany, Dark Walnut, Dark Oak, and Ebony Brown.

With just a simple wipe-on, wipe-off application procedure, you can restore most wood surfaces that might need replacement in a few minutes, saving you loads of cash and time.  

Restore it first before you experience the stress and trouble of stripping old paint and sanding scratches. It is straightforward to use Restor-a-Finish. 

Wipe the surface extensively to remove dust and surface grime, then apply the RAF as directed, finishing with 0000 steel wool on all the rough areas. It’ll take about 45 minutes or so, but it’ll depend on the size of your surfaces.

What We Liked Most

You do not need to wear gloves when using this maple stain
You do not need to wash coat before applying this maple wood stain
You don’t need to use mineral spirits when cleaning maple cabinets
You can use it on drawer fronts

What Could Be Improved

Some colors are not accurate

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7. Best Maple Wood Finishing Cloths – Minwax 308210000 Wood Finishing Cloths

Discover the quick and straightforward way to finish maple woods and maple furniture with these great cloths. For excellent results, do light sanding, then remove sanding dust before applying the stain. Finally, finish up using the damp cloth.

Minwax Wood Finishing Cloths take the ease of a single-step wiping stain to new heights. You now have whatever you need in one convenient package, including plastic gloves.

Wipe away any excess stain with a clean, lint-free rag, allow the surface to dry for one hour, and you’re finished! Then, apply another topcoat for a deeper color and sheen.

This wood dye could revive your faded, weathered maple furniture and drawer fronts with such little effort. It might be messy and get all over your if you fail to use the provided glove. However, it’ll scrub off easily when you are done.

If you want something quick and straightforward for minor projects but effective for massive projects if needed, ordering this maple stain is a good step in the right direction. 

What We Liked Most

It’s easy to use
It’s effective and works as advertised
It comes in five popular wood tones
It dries quickly and is easy to wash with soap and water

What Could Be Improved

It can be messy if you fail to use the included gloves

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8. Best Wood Conditioner for Maple – Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner

This pre-stain conditioner ensures uniform stain penetration and preps the wood for subsequent applications. Applying gel stains and topcoats when using this conditioner is a breeze.

The pre-stain conditioner has superb coverage of approximately 75 s.q. Per quart. So, you use less paint to get professional results, saving you time and cash. 

By using Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner before staining with oil-based stains, you can prep your maple wood to prevent blotching and streaking, thus guaranteeing you exceptional results.

Although you can use it on any unfinished wood project, this maple wood stain is essential when working with soft or porous woods such as pine, alder, birch, and Maple.

This maple stain works by evening out the permeation of oil-based stains; it restricts streaks and blotches. For professional results, sand the wood thoroughly before applying the pre-stain wood conditioner.

Apply a light coat and give it some time to dry. Allow it to dry completely in between applications to avoid uneven staining.

What We Liked Most

You can use it on all types of woods
It guarantees uniform stain penetration
It works as advertised
It prevents blotches and streaking

What Could Be Improved

It takes longer to dry

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Best Maple Stain Comparison Table

How to Stain Maple Wood Cabinets

Because of maple wood’s nature, staining maple cabinets might be a little more difficult than you might expect. Generally speaking, Maple is a tight-grained, thicker wood, which means that stain does not absorb well.

To complicate matters, Maple has some density variants throughout the wood, resulting in some areas with a far more open grain.

As a result, staining can appear uneven since the stain absorbs more freely in areas with a more open grain and less so in areas with a tighter grain.

1. To raise the wood grain, dampen the wood with a little damp cloth.
2. Sand to 120, 180, and 220 grits to prepare an even, smooth surface, taking down raised grain.
3. Apply a thin coat with Zinsser sanding sealer cut 50% with denatured alcohol.
4. Blend aniline wood dye and water, then apply with a clean cloth with a light hand. The shellac sanding sealer protects against oversaturation, but you can get mild blotching with Maple, even with wood dye. You’re unlikely to get the desired color in the first coat. For guidance on achieving a darker stain, please refer to our blog article on how to make stain darker.
5. Once you’ve achieved the desired hue and dry the stain, apply tinted dewaxed shellac in a relatively warm shade than the water-based dye—exercise caution by using the right hand because the dyes can react with the alcohol.
6. Apply your preferred finish as a topcoat. Oil and urethane provide a highly durable finish. Poly will also perform exceptionally well if you need a bulletproof finish.

We advise that you use oil-based and gel stains. Allow the maple wood to dry overnight after wiping away any excess. If you see any flaws, re-stain the part and let it dry. You can apply additional coats until you obtain the desired hue.

You can stain over previously stained maple wood without having to remove the existing one. Nevertheless, the existing stain may interfere with the new stain, resulting in a less-than-desirable finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NyGZ3olhMI

Maple Wood Stain Colors

We have two kinds of stains; those that penetrate the wood referred to as penetrative stains, and those that sit on top of the wood, known as pigmented stains.

Penetrative oil stains adhere to expertly sanded maple woods, whereas pigmented oil stains require a rough area on the maple wood to adhere to. Maple stain colors include;

• Cinnamon.
• Traditional Cherry.
• Natural maple stain
• Golden Oak.
• Country Pine.
• Traditional Mahogany.
• American Walnut
• Minwax stain colors on Maple
• Provincial stain on Maple
• Special walnut stain on Maple
• Early american stain on Maple
• Honey maple wood stain

Maple stain color chart

FAQs

Does maple wood stain well?

Yes, maple stains very well. However, its dense and tight grain structure makes staining maple without splodges tricky. Stains mostly do not soak into the Maple and absorb stain unevenly. Because Maple is a tightly pored wood, even experienced finishers struggle to achieve a uniform stain color. You can use dark stains and dye stains on Maple on Maple and get professional results if you follow the right procedure.

Does Maple need to be conditioned before staining?

Yes. You need to condition maple wood before staining it. Conditioning your wood surface with a pre-Stain wood conditioner stops streaks and splodges by evening out the absorption of oil-based stains. You use it on any wood, but it is especially essential when working with soft or porous woods such as Maple,  pine, alder, and birch.

Does gel stain work well on Maple?

Gel stain is especially forgiving on splotchy woods such as birch, cherry, maple, and pine. These woods absorb conventional stains unevenly, leaving them messy and unfinished no matter how many thin coats are applied, but they readily accept gel stains. A gel stain coats the surface instead of penetrating the wood grain, creating a professional finish on even the most complicated wood species. Also, check to see if you can use gel stain on laminate wood.

Does Maple wood stain get blotchy?

Yes. Blotching is a common problem with maple. It’s a complex hardwood that blotches as a result of poor sanding. Inconsistent sanding strokes lead to imperfections on the stain. Remove the blotches by resanding and reapplying gel stain for uniform absorption.

What kind of stain do you use on maple wood?

Gel stain is especially easy going on splotchy woods such as maple and pine as it creates a professional finish even on the most stubborn wood. It coats the surface instead of permeating the wood grain.

Can Maple be stained to look like walnut?

Yes. You can stain Maple any color you want. So you can stain it to look like walnut, though it will be difficult because Maple is challenging to stain. However, staining Maple to look like walnut may not be a good idea because it will ruin Maple’s natural appearance.

What is the best stain color for maple cabinets?

The best stain color for maple cabinets is a light blonde wood stain color. This brings out your maple cabinets’ natural colors and beauty while also providing subtle contrast. Other popular stain colors for maple cabinets include dark brown, ebony, and black, but these colors can sometimes end up looking too harsh.

Can you stain maple plywood?

Yes, it is possible to stain maple plywood. Maple plywood is a popular choice for furniture because of its natural beauty and strength. You can stain it with a wide variety of colors to create a look that matches your style. Be sure to follow the right steps-preparing the surface and sealing.

What is the best way to stain Maple?

The best way to stain maple is to use a wood dye. The tight grain of maple means that other pigment-type stains don’t soak in well and can leave the wood looking blotchy. Wood dyes are available in most hardware stores and come in various colors.

Final Thoughts on the Best Stains for Maple Wood

Invest in the best maple wood stain if you want your maple furniture to look fantastic even after many decades of use.

Aside from adding beauty to maple woods, Staining maple is essential for providing extra protection and extending the lifespan of the wood.

Our overall pick is General Finishes Water Based Wood Stain, 1 Quart, Espresso.