When we wanted to stain wood a dark color we would wet it down with water in advance of staining. By doing this and letting it dry, we would be raising the grain ( or knapp ) of the wood. This provides more surface area and results in a darker look. This was usually done with hardwoods but you might do a sample pine piece, 1/2 wet down and 1/2 not, to see if it gives you a different look before the main event. Also if the wood has been planed it is more polished and will absorb less color so you might consider hand sanding with the grain to darken the boards. Again, sample pieces ahead of time could help you decide which is best. The coarser grit maybe 100 or 80 grit gives you more surface. Using the underside of your boards could work as your test area. Best of luck!
Ricster
Last edited by Ricster; 02/20/2021 10:23 PM.
