1. If your wood is dry, but the stain is intact, stain over it first. Obviously this does not work if it has poly or wax on it.

2. Always water pop. The stain looks much more even if you do.

3. Power sanders spread dust, hand sanding spreads less dust.

4. 100% tung oil cut 50% with citrus solvent is an extremely nice interior finish for wood and can be used over penetrating stain.

5. Never wax wood. You can use wax remover to take it off, but it is really hard. I am dealing with the waxed wood last.

6. Gel stain covers putty marks best and should be dry brushed on after the regular stain and before the tung oil/citrus solvent.

7. I have 32 door sides, fourteen window sills, and several hundred feet of trim to refinish (about 15% complete) and that is not counting the beams in the living room or the window trim.

Afters followed by befores. More in my ideabooks.