You can end up with a huge mess of blotchy stained wood in seconds unless you know what to do and take all the steps ...

Professionals go to great lengths to sand the bare wood until it resembles glass. You want the wood as smooth as possible before applying stain. This sanding is also a requirement for the final clear ...

but it'll look bad unless you paint your door. For a nice-looking job, choose wood of the same species with a grain and color that closely matches the door. A first-rate job requires a table saw ...