Staining Birch..Need some advice.

A glue size works so so , a 1/2 lb cut of shellac works well on end grain , and it quick

Charles’ recommendation for shellac is a good one that I routinely use. Another method of limiting the amount of stain that end grain will absorb is to sand the end grain to a higher grit. If I stop at 150 grit on a project I will sand the end grain to 220.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Thank you for the quick response. I will get some shellac prior to completing the rest of the order. Do I have to spray the shellac or can I brush it on?

-- When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.

ust use a cloth and a index finger to wipe the shellac on the end grain, the suggestion from Scott is also an excellent idea, always sand end grain much finer than flat grain , a quick burnishing after the 220 with some 600 helps alot as well

Charles nailed it .. Shellac the endgrain, you might try dye instead of stain, since the birch doesn’t stain real dark and/or use gel stain.
I’m a big fan of waterbased stain for getting color, then the stain is more for contrast in the grain.

-- “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

Meant to say I like water soluble dyes…either powder or transtint

I actually don’t like waterbased stains, mostly lack of experience with them, but also laziness, once I know how to get to the color I want with trans tint and oil based stain, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel ‘Just to see’ how to do it with the latest Waterbased finishes from Mohawk or General Finishes.

-- “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

So I took some advice from this forum and another and tried the shellac. Worked pretty well. Thanks for the help. I’ll also sand the end grain to a higher grit.

-- When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.

shellac advice was excellent. Purchase Zinnser’s “SEAL COAT” for pure shellac then thin it down. I’m sure you “Nailed” this project. KB1

-- KB1KnoB

Scott Bryan pretty well gave my suggestion, except I always used 280. Seals that end grain smooth as a baby’s butt.

-- You can't trust a dog to guard your food.

It turned out great but..

-- When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.