How to get over DIY disappointments!

[ABN]

I suffer with the same problem with higher expectations than I can achieve.

I point though. Understanding the materials and knowing your working with is important. I mention this because of your example

weeks sanding stairs and surfaces to what I think is a good fine finish only to get a slightly patchy result with hard wax oil

. The absorbency of pine, assuming a pine staircase, varies a lot and this can produce a blotchy finish.

More noticeable when staining but the oil in the hard wax oil finish does produce a similar effect. Google blotchy pine.

Having said that, know that you not going to get that perfect finish, even though no fault of your own, doesn’t ease the disappointment.