Stained or Cleared

Stained/cleared woodworking shows the grain of the wood as it is not covered by paint.

What do you want the piece to look like?

. Do you want it to look rustic (ex. knotty pine or alder), straight (ex. rift sawn white oak), have a wide variety in color and grain (ex. hickory), or have some variety (ex. maple)?

. Do you want a piece with just a clear protective coat that will bring out the natural colors of the wood, or do you want a piece with a stain that will change the color of the product? Keep in mind, stain will look different on different wood types.

—If you do not have a preference, maple is a good material choice. See Stained Maple examples for stain color inspiration.

Note: Digital pictures will not accurately show paint or stain color. Use pictures as a way to gain inspiration for grain type and color value (light or dark). We will create a sample for you to confirm using the material you choose before we stain/paint your product.