How to use wood conditioner. If the wood has scratches or any deep cuts then it should be filled and sanded well. How to use wood conditioner. While some companies manufacture wood conditioner with a large concentration of solvents this may be too complicated to mix yourself. Buy oil based wood conditioner.
Wood conditioner is used to partially seal the grain of porous wood. You should sand your surface to make it smooth and even a smooth surface ensures that the finish is excellent. Buy water based wood conditioner. I also perform a small test on a scrap piece of wood so you can see the difference a conditioner makes.
Instead you can make your own pre stain wood conditioner by thinning a solvent based finish. Follow these steps to use wood conditioner properly.