Wood stain for new timber

[benners66]

Hi all,
I have just finished installing a new hemlock (an un-knotty type of pine I believe) stair & gallery landing handrails, newel posts, balusters etc and now want to finish it with a wood stain.

Can anyone help with:
1. Decent types of wood stains to look for
2. Best methods of application (for quite a large amount of timber, but in small parts ie. handrails, baserails etc)
3. Is a finishing varnish required (I don’t want a ‘shiny / gloss finish)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I haven’t got a clue where to start. I’ve found bits and pieces of information, but nothing that covers this exactly.

Thanks

Ben

 

[LJW61]

You could try some Rustins woodstain applied by cloth or brush followed by a clear or tinted matt or satin polyuerathane varnish, alternatively something likeDulux protective woodstain..
In any case stick to oil-based rather than any quick-drying water-based c**p !