Yes, you should condition wood before staining, particularly softwood and porous woods like pine, maple, and birch, to prevent blotchiness and ensure an even stain color. A pre-stain wood conditioner works by sealing the wood’s surface, which then prevents the stain from penetrating too deeply and too quickly in certain areas, leading to a uniform finish. Here we are using @myoldmasters wood conditioner. We will use the wiping stain next! | Pro Image Painting