Staining Table; Where Can I Buy a Tent?

Recently bought an untreated table from ikea and wanted to stain a deeper colour on it, but that doing it in my garage I realised that dust could get into the coating. So I’m wondering if anyone knows if there’s a product like a pop up tent that you can put outside just to let the wood stain dry in it?

Comments

  • +1

    Just do it in the garage, the tent will still have dust in it. If it's just coloured stain you can wipe it off or go over it with some fine sand paper if there's any dust on it.

  • +4

    If you're staining, use staining primer or similar or it will come out very blotchy as different alignment of the grain will soak the stain at different rates.

    As Yippy said, do it in the garage. It is cheaper and easier to buy a shop vac and do a cleanup in the garage than it is to buy and tent and set it up. Plus, you'll end up with a clean garage.

    From your description, I think you're not experienced. I suggest not staining. Just oil it or oil based PU CC. It will darken and deepen the colour, more predictable results and will protect the surface. Staining does not seal the surface whatsoever.

  • +4

    or buy some cheapo plastic drop sheets. tape them together.

    or just do it in your house. put a drop sheet down. do it in the morning before you go to work. it will be dry when you come back

  • It seems that you are over complicating a very simple process that furniture manufacturers and refinishers have been doing for centuries - even before electricity and sanders and abrasives were invented.

    And I can't see how you are going to get dust in the finish unless your garage is so absolutely filthy that dust swirls up behind you as you walk around!
    You will have far more issues outside in the tent when a gust of wind blows crap everywhere.

    So, let's get to work…

    I am assuming that when you say it's "untreated", you mean that there is no finish on it at all?
    If you are not sure, use a combined "stain" and finish. This type of finish is a one-step process with the final colour depending on the number of coats you give it.

    You can get it in water based or oil based. But I do not have much faith in water based finishes for interiors, so I would use an oil based finish as @tshow recommends. The Wattyl Colourwood product is OK, as is the Feast Watson.
    The longer drying time of the oil based enables the finish to settle and flatten. It also sprays very nicely, if you are up to that.

    And unless you have experience, I would be putting in some time practising on some scraps of timber or at least on the underside of the table.

    And if you want to use a separate dye type stain plus a top coat, you will need to spend even more time on practice. It is very easy to muck it up.

    • +3

      Don't spend too much time on this project or you'll end up with a fully kitted woodshop. 🙄

      I swear I bought some sand paper to touch up some old junk and out of nowhere, I have a semi-industrial setup.

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