How do you change the stain color of a stair handrail?

3 Responses to “How do you change the stain color of a stair handrail?”

1. Betty Boo says:

   August 4, 2009 at 4:29 am

   Different species of wood can differ in colour. So you may not get exactly the right colour even if you buy a dark stain.
   Goo to a decorating/hardware store and take a picture of your floorboards and find out what species of wood your handrails and floorboards are. They may be able to sell you a very dark stain that may do the job but you may not be guaranteed of an exact match.
2. Alyssa J says:

   August 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm

   sand sand sand! also, see what kind of wood its made of, prob either hemlock or oak.
   find a small, unfinished, piece of wood that looks the same as the bare wood of your handrail, and a left-over piece of your flooring, and try a few different stains to see what is closest.
3. Paul in San Diego says:

   August 9, 2009 at 4:45 pm

   At least you’re going from light to dark. The other way would be more difficult.

   Is there a varnish on the rail? If so, this needs to come off. A good chemical paint stripper will take the rail down to bare wood (albeit the wrong color). Now you have to sand it down to get rid of the stripper residue and as much of the old color as you can. Then restain the wood with a dark cherry stain and cover with a clear varnish.