How to Stain Plywood Cabinets

Sand the top of the veneer lightly with 220-grit sandpaper. This will remove any scuff marks, fingerprints or other blemishes before staining. Wipe off with a rag.

Apply a conditioner to the surface of the wood. Use a brush and apply an even coat on the entire plywood surface. Let it dry overnight before continuing.

Apply a wood sealer over the top of the conditioned wood. This will not only seal the wood conditioner into the wood pores, but will limit stain penetration. On plywood this is particularly important. The glues that hold the sheets of veneer together can effect stain penetration, which can leave blotches and uneven stain patches. Sealing the wood prevents this from happening. Allow the sealer to dry.

Sand the surface lightly with 220-grit sandpaper to scuff it up.

Apply your choice of stain. Use a bristle brush to apply oil based stains, while a nylon brush works best for applying latex based stains. Always brush in the direction of the grain, and wipe the excess off with a clean rag.