Customer Reviews for Varathane 1 Quart Wood Conditioner (2-Pack)

rating is high but I really have nothing to compare it too. It worked as far as I could tell.

Didn’t seem to do much for the pine I used it on. For the money verses the benefit I’d keep the money.

Was not really happy with it

What can I say about this wood conditioner, it works great as well it should because it’s a Varathane product.

It worked well with the butchers block

Works well and as expected. Have used it to condition multiple trim boards in our house.

This product was super helpful in building our bunkbed and refinishing some cabinets!

This is a must for staining your wood table. Thanks for the great stuff. -hla

It looks good, works well, and is easy to apply. Oil-based means it’s pain to clean up, but there’s no getting around that, I suppose. It’s important to use it outdoors, or have a strong fan blowing the intense, toxic fumes out a window.

Prepared the wood well for the stain

Wish I'd researched and read all the 1 star reviews first. It did the exact opposite of what it's supposed to do: cause blotchiness. I kept thinking none of my stains were good or there was something off about the wood, but then I ran out of the conditioner and ended up staining the last piece of baseboard without using pre stain conditioner. It's the only piece that finally looks right. Not only does the pre stain cause blotchiness and uneveness, it apparently PREVENTS the stain from absorbing. The piece without any is actually a nice deep color like the stain that was applied. I only used oil based stains as instructed. Maybe this is only for a certain type of wood? If so, I wish that had been made clear.

Followed instructions and my stain did go on well but it does change the color of your stain. Would recommend trying on a scrap and leaving it to dry before deciding.

This product wiped on easily and dried fairly quickly. However, if the main purpose of a prestain is even out the stained finish, it didn't do that very well. After staining, the wood had areas that looked blotchy. Also, the prestain greatly inhibited the absorption of the stain. I applied two coats of stain, and the overall finish was still lighter than other wood I've stained without a prestain. Personally, I wouldn't use this prestain again.

Varathane is always a good choice!