Craig, it's hard to keep a stained finish even if you wet sand after applying stain. I try to get an even finish and the pores filled before staining. The Laurel Mtn stain seems to penetrate the finish that's in the wood. The final coats of Ben Matt will temporarily soften the finish and so need to be gently wiped off with a paper towel. A bit of stain will come off, but lots of it remains.

Bill Ferguson