Bill Tindall, E.TN
>I stain most wood and at my level of expertise with planing and scraping I can't control stain take-up with a scraped or planed surface. However, properly sanded that place that stained dark would not have stained dark. I sand till the surface has a uniform luster. Places where there are grain reversals are prone to tearing and even on a micro scale they become stain absorbers. Also, they become sanding dust trappers. Until all this torn partial end grain is removed (and maybe burnished besides) it will trap sanding dust and appear dull. Hence, I sand till these places are the same luster as ever where else. Ditto for end grain edges. Again, properly sanded end grain stains just like the flat edges and faces.

When I finish cherry these grain variations appear as highlights, not blotches.

I expect that planed and scraped surfaces will need to be wash-coated to control "colorant" take up for surfaces with grain variations, whether the colorant is oil or stain. I had to wash coat the mahogany crotch I finished or the end grain portions would have turned almost black with oil. Veneer is nothing but micro-torn grain.