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I just finished building a new mantel, however the stain came out pretty blotchy (https://imgur.com/q73eTzU). I used the same wood (Appalachian Red Oak), stain (Minwax Dark Walnut), and technique (wiping with a cloth) for custom flooring thresholds and a bar topper with no problem. The top and bottom of the mantel came out fine; it is only the face that has an issue. I did not notice this issue before applying a thin coat of Minwax Polycrylic, but after that dried the blotchiness became obvious.

What are my options for correcting this? I would prefer to not have to sand and start over if possible. Would applying a tinted poly coat help? Can I strip the polycrylic only and apply more or a darker stain? Any advice is appreciated.