Varnish vs. Polyurathane vs. Stain

Anonymous asked 10 years ago

I have installed pine beadboard on a short wall that I want to finish. I want to achieve a “honey” color. I’ve been told to simply use a polyurathane and the wood “ages” and I’ll receive the desired color. Others have told me to use varnish. What’s the difference? And what should I used?

2 Answers
MagicDave answered.

Stain the surface using a stain that gives you the "color" that you want… then after the stain drys (4-6 hrs for oil stain) varnish it using a clear, satin finish polyurethane varnish…

Crowder Painting answered.

Oil base finishes, Varnish and Polyurethane, have a slight yellow color (amber color). This color will darken with time but you should start off with a wood stain first then apply the finish. Make sure to test the stain color on a scrap piece of wood before applying to the entire project.