Stain vs Paint Grade
What is the difference in material for paint vs. stain?
Material Quality Grading
Stain-grade uses "select" woods with consistent grain and color. Paint-grade uses "Refined MDF" or "tight-grain" woods like Poplar or Birch to ensure no grain texture shows through the finish.
The selection process between clear, high-character wood for staining versus smooth-grain, stable species for painting.