Staining end grain
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
Some find it difficult to stain end grain edges and keep the shade the same as the flat grain edges. As seen in Picture 1 it is possible and easily achieved.
What must be done is to sand the end grain until it shines with NO dull spots. Depending on the blade that cut this edge it may take considerable sanding to achieve this result. Dull spots indicate torn end grain that has captured sanding dust. If the edge captures sanding dust it will capture stain and excessively darken.
Picture 2 shows an edge sanded with 100 grit. Already it has acquired a shine. All that remains is to remove the 100 grit scratches by sanding with 120 and then 180 grit aluminum oxide paper. I estimate that 90% of the sanding time is spent at 100 grit.