A stain prep was used to condition the wood for the stain.
A stain prep was used to condition the wood for the stain, and then the stain was added.At first I was really unhappy with how the color came out. Turns out I hadn't mixed up the stain well enough. The darker reds came out after a better mixing, and a quick second coat helped.
Ta-da! Getting the coat to shine took three coats of sealant, with wet sanding between each coat. Wet sanding is a dark art, and should be practiced carefully. Once mastered, however, it's completely worth the effort.
A close up of the wood.
And a cute lil' bunny who was hanging out in the backyard. :)