Aiming for a satiny finish on that
woodworking project? Before you stain it, first sand it down to a silky
smoothness, using successively finer grades of sandpaper. Once it seems perfect,
soak a rag in turpentine and rub it into the wood. As the turpentine dries, the
wood's grain will rise. Sand this down with super-fine grit, making sure never
to sand against the grain, then stain away.