<p>I have crossed this situation where clients want to stain their banisters and paint the spindles. In such cases, we stain first, then tape off the banister and paint the spindles.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/l4Mr7.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/l4Mr7.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<strong>Note:</strong> You can stain (light colors / not solid) over paint and it will adhere, giving it an antique look. Example photo below of stain over paint.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/auB5p.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/auB5p.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T04:04:17.487Z
2016-09-08T04:11:30.710Z
2016-09-08T04:11:30.710Z
norcal johnny
<p>I have a small wood pencil holder that I want to paint on the bottom with blue and then stain and varnish the top.  </p>

<p>My question is how do I go about the varnish?  Can I varnish over the paint or do I use blue tape to block off the painted portion and varnish after I've painted then remove the blue tape (which will ruin the varnish right?)?  Or do I just varnish very carefully?  Or do I paint after I varnish and possible paint over the bottom of the varnish?</p>

<paint><varnish>
How to add paint to the bottom and stain/varnish to the top of a wood project?
binarylegit
# How to add paint to the bottom and stain/varnish to the top of a wood project?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-01)

I have a small wood pencil holder that I want to paint on the bottom with blue and then stain and varnish the top.

My question is how do I go about the varnish? Can I varnish over the paint or do I use blue tape to block off the painted portion and varnish after I've painted then remove the blue tape (which will ruin the varnish right?)? Or do I just varnish very carefully? Or do I paint after I varnish and possible paint over the bottom of the varnish?

**Tags:** paint, varnish


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-08. Score: 3

I have crossed this situation where clients want to stain their banisters and paint the spindles. In such cases, we stain first, then tape off the banister and paint the spindles.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/l4Mr7.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/l4Mr7.jpg)
**Note:** You can stain (light colors / not solid) over paint and it will adhere, giving it an antique look. Example photo below of stain over paint.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/auB5p.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/auB5p.jpg)


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