Varathane 368035 Less Mess Wood Stain and Applicator, 4 oz, Golden Oak

What can I say? I love this product. I had a small job to do and I have lung issues and was worried about using a product that was going to irritate my lungs and affect my breathing. ZERO odor in this stain and it covers beautifully and the end result is stunning. Just what I needed and so simple my 9 yr old son was able to help. The colour is a beautiful warm tone, I got Golden Oak, and it suits really well for furniture projects. My husband built a new enclosure for our son's bearded dragon and we wanted to have it work as a furniture element as it is in the family room. We painted the enclosure a charcoal colour and did the front supports in this beautiful stain to offset it and bring it into our home design and colour's. It is perfect. When the entire project is complete I will update with a new picture of the finished project. But if you are hesitating thinking this won't be enough, I suggest you give it a try because honestly this little container goes a long way and it is so easy to use that if feels like cheating. Great item to use with kids DIY projects also. Highly recommend!

I've used these to cover up scratches from pet nails on our old hardwood floors. The golden oak is perfect for our orangish-brown stained cypress floors and it dries really fast. I find that the spongy top applicator does wear down quickly with friction, but nothing some paper towels can't replace. I encourage folks to use gloves if you don't want to stain your fingers, but I have not had any issues with stain transfer on socks or pet paws after application. As far as I know, there isn't any real odor and it's easy enough to use on small sections.

The stain itself is good, doesn't have a strong smell, and is easy to clean since it's water-based this bottle was enough for 4 chairs, with some product left. The sponge tip that comes with it on the other hand is very cheap and loses shape almost immediately. The first of 4 chairs I was using this product to stain came out significantly worse than the other 3 because I tried using the original tip rather than just using a sponge (regular cheap sponge).

recently used Varathane wood stain for a wooden ship model I was building, and I couldn't be happier with the results! The sponge head applicator is a game changer; it absorbs the stain perfectly and allows for smooth, even application on my wood deck model. The stain went on effortlessly, enhancing the natural beauty of the wood while providing a rich, vibrant finish. I was particularly impressed with how well it penetrated the wood, giving it a professional look. If you're looking for a top-notch wood stain for your projects, I highly recommend Varathane. It's proven to be an essential tool in my woodworking arsenal!

This works great, good coverage with no mess. However it’s really only good for small projects and touch ups. Don’t expect to do an entire piece of furniture with it. It will start to dry up after a while while you are using. I had to unclog it several times.