Expert: Kirk Ryan - 12/21/2008

Question
My dad built a beautiful crib for me and my husband was to stain it.  Because I am 8 months pregnant we decided to use non toxin stain due to the oders of normal stain.  Anywhere on the wood where the gorilla glue was wiped off or wood filler was used, it is not taking the stain.  I am very concerned because it looks horrible.  How can we get an even finish over the glue & wood filler?

Answer
This is a tough situation. When I am staining a natural wood, I always make sure there is no glue because the stain will never take to it. I have also had issues trying to stain over wood fillers. Some wood fillers have chemicals or oils in them that reject the stain. I would try using a touch up marker (guardsman) that matches best in color.

Concerning the glue, you may have to sand the area better so that the glue does not interfere with the stain.

A quick example, I recently refinished a friends guitar for him as a Christmas present. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. His guitar had damage and spots that required wood filler. I glued a crack in the guitar, and luckily the glue was minimal and sanded down well so I could stain it. But the areas of wood filler became strange colors after I applied the stain. I had to actually buy touch up paints and paint the wood filler to match with grains, lines, and natural wood, etc. And then I was able to re stain it.

Home Depot was a big help, they have a lot of stains that may work for you. I would explain it to them and see what they have. I think a gel stain may work well.