[alarants]

Gentlemen,

I have trouble with finishing wood panels from pine. Wood grain is tending to rise and makes surface uneven.
1. Ihave tried alkyd based stain and covered it with mate lacquer. This is the best method but stain stays mate only if I cover the wood once. Second covering makes it shine. Also alkyd based stain does not spread evenly on the surface and brush marks will be visible.
2. So I tried water based colored lacquer. It spreaded much beter but raised wood grain. I had to use sander between layers of lacquer. This made color uneven as raising of wood grain was uneven. I got nice surface but not so nice and even color.
3. I tried water based coloured stain and alkyd based mat lacquer. I sanded slightly after stain. Suface stayed uneven and I had to put at least three layers of lacquer to get satisfactory quality. But I am targeting of excellent quality. Color was spreaded evenly and there was not brush marks.
4. I tried to cover wood with oil before water based stain. Idea is that if wood is oiled the grain should not raise. Minimum effect.

Is there any technique to cover pine and get excellent results? I have tried almost every lacquer and stain locally available so please do not advice any special trademarks. My choise is pine (pain?) only because of it is on sales. I am not making my wood panels myself and have to satisfy what is available on stores. It is a small place I am from and that has unfortunatelly caused low variety. This forum has helped me before and I am seeking any suggestions on that topic.