Question 1

Is it water based

Accepted Answer

No. My experience is that water-based stains/prestains don't work as well as oil-based products since the water causes the wood fiber to swell up and resist penetration of the material being applied.  Also, don't intermix use of an oil-based prestain with a water-based stain or, for that matter, water and oil-based stains and poly finish coats. Personally I like this product; I use it with Minwax oil-stains and Minwax oil-based wipe-on satin poly finish.

Question 2

Has anyone used this on Cherry wood? I also wanted to know if this would make a difference before I stain Cherry wood?

Accepted Answer

I used this on cherry when applying a black cherry stain. In general, pre-stain makes the actual stain lighter. With the black cherry stain and no pre-stain it made the wood appear too dark and very purple. When applying the pre-stain It worked perfectly for what I was trying to achieve. I was able to match an antique dark cherry dresser almost perfectly.

Always test with a scrap piece with and without the pre-stain but it works on all wood types.

Question 3

how does pre stain work?

Accepted Answer

This is what MinWax says:Minwax® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner penetrates the grain of the wood to promote uniform acceptance of wood stain. Minwax® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner helps prevent streaking and blotching to help ensure a beautiful, even stain. It is specifically designed to condition wood before staining new, bare softwood or porous surfaces.From my experience, it makes any stain look better. The darker the stain, the more you need a Pre-Stain. Some people call their product a "wood conditioner" and some call it a "pre-stain". But I believe they basically do the same thing. What the pre-stain does is fill in the soft part of the wood. The softer parts of the wood are more porous and they will absorb more of the pre-stain. So when you put on the stain, the softer more porous parts of the wood are already filled and they will not absorb as much stain. So the look is much better. This makes the stains go on more evenly. Important Note: I first apply the pre-stain in generous amounts. And then I quickly apply the stain. Do not let the pre-stain dry. Apply the stain immediately over the moist pre-stain. Also please note that there are water based and oil based pre-stains / wood conditioners and stains. If you use a water based pre-stain / wood conditioner and then apply a water based stain, I have noticed that is like not using the pre-stain. Since they are both water based, the water based stain will mix in with the pre-stain and acts almost like you did not use the pre-stain. Even worse is then try applying a water based top coat. You will have a mess on your hands. Especially if using a brush. Plus the water base stuff will definitely raise the grain on the wood. Instead I first apply an oil based pre-stain or wood conditioner and then I apply a water based stain. Sounds crazy but I have the best of luck with that combination. The reason this works so well is because oil and water do not mix and so the stain will not mix with the pre-stain. And that is what I want. I can rub the water based stain as much as I want and feel I have more control over the tone or shade of the stain. But before I apply a top coat of polyurethane, I wait 3 or 4 hours - enough time to allow the oil base pre-stain to evaporate. If I do not wait, then I will see air bubbles in the top coat from the oil based pre-stain trying to evaporate. So I just wait a few hours and then I can seal the project with my top coat. I spray on a water based polyuerethane for the top coat and get a nice even finish. That is what works for me. I always use an oil based pre-stain or wood conditioner. Next I immediately rub on a water base stain. Wait 3 hours. Spray on a water based top coat of polyurethane. Works beautiful every time.

Question 4

Should I use this on pine wood before I stain?

Accepted Answer

I would, it will help prevent blotchy areas.   Soaks right in, I have had good luck with it.

ASIN	B002OTUYCY
Base Material	Oil
Best Sellers Rank	#22,255 in Tools & Home Improvement ( See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement ) #26 in Household Wood Stains
Brand	Minwax
Brand Name	Minwax
Coating Description	Transparent Oil Stain for Wood
Color	Quart
Colour	Quart
Compatible Material	Wood
Coverage	75-Square Feet
Customer Reviews	4.6 out of 5 stars 13,503 Reviews
Finish Types	Clear
Global Trade Identification Number	00027426615007
Included Components	1
Item Dimensions	10.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 centimeters
Item Type Name	Minwax 61500444 Pre Stain Wood Conditioner, 1 Quart
Item Weight	1.94 Pounds
Liquid Volume	32 Fluid Ounces
Manufacturer	Minwax
Manufacturer Part Number	61500444
Material	Wood
Material Type	Wood
Model Name	61500
Model Number	61500444
Model name	61500
Number of Items	1
Paint Type	Oil
Recommended Uses For Product	interior
Size	1 Quart
Style Name	Classic
Surface Recommendation	Wood
Surface recommendation	Wood
UPC	027426615007
Unit Count	32 Fluid Ounces

Minwax 61500444 Pre Stain Wood Conditioner, 1 Quart,Clear

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