#1 Home Improvement Retailer

Internet # 305704375

Model # 342087

Store SKU # 1003317070

$1838
  • Conditions interior wood surfaces to prep for oil based stain
  • Seals soft or porous wood for a smooth, even wood stain finish
  • Easy to use, high solid formula covers up to 220 sq. ft./quart
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Product Details

Varathane 1 qt. Wood Conditioner is a pre-staining step made for use on interior wood projects before finishing with an oil-based stain. Varathane Wood Conditioner helps prevent splotchy, uneven staining on soft and porous wood types, including birch, maple, alder, fir and pine. High-solids formula offers excellent penetration into the wood for beautiful staining results and projects. Made to prep and seal wood surfaces allowing for a rich, deep and even color.
  • Use prior to applying stain to porous woods to minimize blotchiness and ensure a consistent, even stain application
  • Works on interior soft wood surfaces including pine, maple, alder, fir and birch
  • Covers up to 220 sq. ft.
  • Acts as a wood sealer and seals soft wood pores for a better, even color and stain control without splotches
  • Applies easily to interior wood surfaces using a brush or cloth
  • High-solids formula penetrates deeply into wood to close pores, allow 30 minutes after application before applying wood stain
  • Cleans up with mineral spirits
  • Will work on a variety of wood surfaces including interior wood furniture, cabinets, doors, trim, wood floors and paneling
  • New project? Click here to find the right wood stain products
  • Browse Available Floor Refinishing Tool Rental Options
  • Online price includes PaintCare fee in the following states: CA, CO, CT, DC, ME, MN, OR, RI, VT, WA
  • Return Policy
  • California residents

Additional Resources

From the Manufacturer

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Specifications

Dimensions

Container Size1 QuartCoverage Area (sq. ft.)220 sq ft

Details

Application MethodBrushBase MaterialOil Based
Dry to Touch (min.)30 minInterior Paint & Stains Product TypeOil/Conditioner
Interior/ExteriorInteriorNumber of coats recommended2
Number per Package1Paint Tool Product TypeInterior Paint/Stain
Paint/Stain Clean UpMineral SpiritsPaint/Stain FeaturesNo additional features
Product FormLiquidReturnable90-Day
Substrate ConditionBare Wood, Finished Wood, Stained Wood, Unfinished WoodTransparencyTransparent
Vertical/HorizontalVertical / Horizontal

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer WarrantySatisfaction guaranteed for full refund of purchase price
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Questions & Answers

55Questions
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Q:Should I use this product with gel stain? Or is the water-based pre-stain conditioner a better option with gel stain?
by|Nov 2, 2023
1 Answer
Answer This Question

A:  We're happy to help. As our Rust-Oleum Varathane Premium Gel Stain is an Oil-Based Stain we recommend using Rust-Oleum Varathane Oil-Based Wood Conditioner before applying the wood stain. -Rust-Oleum Product Support 14

by|Nov 2, 2023
    caret
    Q:Can I use to seal painted wood ? I painted my wood stairs railing and would like to use to make paint last longer and doesn’t peel off.
    by|Oct 24, 2023
    1 Answer
    Answer This Question

    A:  Thank you for reaching out, Tati. Our Varathane Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner is designed to penetrate bare wood, ensuring even penetration and color when a wood stain is applied, it is not intended to provide any extra protection. Instead, we would recommend using Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane as it provides superior durability to indoor wooden surfaces. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Varathane-1-qt-Clear-Satin-Water-Based-Interior-Polyurethane-200241H/100169146 -Rust-Oleum Product Support 14

    by|Oct 25, 2023
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      Q:Is this the same product as Rustoleum’s SKU #211775H? That one is called Varathane Premium Wood Conditioner. Is there a premium vs non-premium?
      by|Oct 11, 2023
      1 Answer
      Answer This Question

      A:  The Rust-Oleum Varathane Wood Conditioner doesn't actually have a premium or a non-premium version, JD! You can use this wood conditioner for your staining needs. We hope this helps! - Rust-Oleum Product Support 1

      by|Oct 12, 2023
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        Q:Can this conditioner be used under water based stain?
        by|Sep 29, 2023
        1 Answer
        Answer This Question

        A:  Happy to help! This is a listing for Rust-Oleum Varathane Oil-Based Wood Conditioner and is not recommended for use with water-based stains. Instead, we recommend Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Wood Conditioner. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Varathane-1-qt-Classic-Water-Based-Pre-Stain-Wood-Conditioner-2-Pack-340226/305627166 - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3

        by|Sep 29, 2023
          Showing 1-4 of 55
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          Customer Reviews

          4.2 out of 5
          (417)
          • 4.2
            out of 417 reviews
          • 75% recommend this product
          Filter by:
          Showing 1-10 of 417 reviews
          Did What it Promised
          Easy to apply. Could only find the small sized cans so I had to buy three. Good product.
          by
          • Verified Purchase
          Must have.
          This is a must have for staining soft woods like pine. It really helps to keep the stain from blotching.
          by
          • Verified Purchase
          • Recommended
          I conditioned, stained and varathaned my custom workbench. Had several...
          I conditioned, stained and varathaned my custom workbench. Had several tell me it was more of a household piece that a garage piece! Ha *came out good.
          by
          • Verified Purchase
          Glad that I started with this product
          Only giving 4 stars due to lack of information available from Rustoleum on this product. However, we achieved the look we were going after. We decided to buy unfinished cabinets for the kitchen. If our stain doesn't work out, we'll still paint with oil based paints. But, we wanted to try to create a natural look using the money we spent. We definitely followed the directions. Against the grain. It was nice to see the difference of the conditioner before our eyes.
          by
            • Recommended
            Good product, (probably 30 minutes- MAX)
            Seems like an alright product? I had never used before. I wanted to stain birch to look like walnut. I was told at my local HD store that this wood conditioner opens the pores of the wood to absorb the stain, (or create an even absorption). Was told the pictures of my project, (after this conditioner and four coats of stain), look good but I'm not happy with it. I did sand prior, but think I left this on too long? I also think I should have gone with a gel wood stain. Hopefully the Varathane stain poly will make it look better to me.
            by
            • Verified Purchase
            • Recommended
            Blotchy
            I used this as directed and the aged walnut stain for my butcher block for a desk and it turned out blotchy. So disappointing
            by
            Response from Rust-OleumSupportApr 25, 2022
            Oh no, not something we like to hear. Varathane Premium Wood Conditioner is designed to prep soft or porous woods before staining. Apply with a brush or clean, lint-free cloth. Apply the conditioner across the grain until the wood is saturated on top. Wipe the excess wood conditioner off in the direction of the wood grain, do not let the conditioner dry before wiping off the excess. Allow the conditioner to penetrate for 30 minutes before staining. Give us a call at 800-901-0411 so we can hear more about your application and try to make things right.
            - Rust-Oleum Product Support 6 Rustoleum
              Don’t get!
              I have used pre conditioner before with another brand and was very disappointed in this product. The fumes were awful and it took hours to dry! I had one area where there was no pre conditioner and when I stained it and another area that had pre conditioner, the pre conditioner was blotchy-it had the opposite effect (image shows the left side where the pre-conditioner was used). Now I have to re-sand the floors again and start again-so frustrating!
              by
              Response from Rust-OleumSupportMar 30, 2022
              Oh no, not something we like to hear Anna. For best results using Varathane Premium Wood Conditioner, apply the conditioner across the grain until the wood is saturated on top. Wipe the excess wood conditioner off in the direction of the wood grain. Do not let the conditioner dry before wiping off the excess. Allow the conditioner to penetrate for 30 minutes before staining. Give us a call at 800-901-0411 so we can hear more about your application and try to make things right.
              - Rust-Oleum Product Support 6 Rustoleum
                1 found this review helpful
                Not what I expected
                I stripped and sanded an antique oak cabinet. I was under the impression that I needed to add conditioner to the piece. The conditioner has darkened the oak and I planned to add a white oak stain to the wood. Now the doors are darker than the cabinet that was just sanded. I would not recommend applying this conditioner to oak wood.
                by
                Response from Rust-OleumSupportMar 19, 2021
                Thank you for sharing your experience using our Varathane Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner. This product is designed to even out the porosity of porous woods such as pine, maple, alder, fir, and birch, since staining these woods directly can result in a splotchy or uneven appearance. Oak does not typically require a pre-stain conditioner, however, applying this product and wiping the excess according to the label instructions should not result in any change in the color of the wood surface. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 2 Rustoleum
                  2 found this review helpful
                  DO NOT BUY
                  This product does not work. I ran out of MinWax pre-stain conditioner and swapped some of this in. Came out just how I suspected. Luckily this is the inside of the door that no one will see. I urge anyone to avoid this product as it will cause blotching. See photos for comparison between MinWax and Varathane.
                  by
                  Response from Rust-OleumSupportDec 28, 2020
                  Oh no, that's not what we like to see, Adam! Please give us a call at 800-901-0411 to talk with us further about your application with Rust-Oleum Varathane Wood Conditioner. We hope you will give us a chance to try to make things right with you!
                  - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3 Rustoleum
                    Use this if you want to ruin your project
                    after issues with three different projects now all of them preconditioned there seems to be a common theme. The wood conditioner saturates the wood to a level that it doesn't absorb as much stain as it should and resulting in a tacky residue left over when the stain dries. to test the theory I stained a fourth project without putting any conditioner on it and had no issues at all. conditioner leaves the wood exactly the way it says it's not supposed to, incredibly blotchy.
                    by
                    Response from Rust-OleumSupportJul 27, 2020
                    Oh no, we understand your frustration! Please keep in mind that any excess of the Rust-Oleum Varathane Wood Conditioner needs to be wiped away to ensure proper drying and absorption. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 5 Rustoleum
                      Showing 1-10 of 417 reviews

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