Wood stain or wood dye?

[SBP]

Hi

We have had a bit of nightmare trying to stain our stairs. We wanted to stain the stairs a dark natural wood colour that allowed the grain of the wood to show through.

The stairs have been stripped of old paint and sanded. We have already tried a water based dye (though did not like the effect as too thin) and an oil based varnish (that just peeled off exposing the original wood).

What is the best type of product to use that:
stains the wood and provides a deep enough stain to cover any inperfections (e.g. holes filled by wood filler), whilst allowing the natural beauty of the wood to come through?

There are different types of stains and dye and just do not know which one can provide the type of cover we want.....if anyone can advise that would be great

 

[foxhole]

You need a wood dye, spirit based [some dyes are now water based] it soaks into timber where woodstain sits on the surface. You can add it to Danish oil which makes it easier to get an even finish but does dilute the colour, so for a light oak finish you would need to add dark oak dye to oil.
Practice on a scrap of timber, very difficult to remedy dye mistakes.

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

What sort of wood is it

 

[SBP]

Thanks Foxhole

Harbourwoodwork: I am not 100% sure - the floor is pine and the stairs look very similiar to pine in terms of the grain and the knots in the wood, however a slightly more ash colour

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

Another alternatve is wax finish coloured wax range from clear to black through shades of brown , Method ;sanding sealer snot off with wire wool apply wax then buff up,done