In this video Mark Donovan of
HomeAdditionPlus.com shows how to stain wood, including hardwoods and
softwoods.
Before staining wood you need to determine what type of wood you are
staining. If the wood grain is uneven or blotchy, chances are it is a
softwood.
With softwood it is wise to use a stain pre-sealer before applying wood
stain.
After applying wood stain, it is best to apply 2 or 3 coats of a
polyurethane finish to provide a shiny and protective finish to the stained
wood.