wood composite articles and methods of manufacturing wood composite articles that easily can be stained by a consumer that is inexperienced in staining wood articles , to consistently provide a wood composite article that has a look of natural wood having multiple coats of professionally applied stain . to manufacture a wood composite article that has a relatively lightly colored , unfinished surface that can be consistently stained with a desired color by an inexperienced wood finisher in a very forgiving process , with few steps , it has been found that a loose mat of cellulosic fibers and binder preferably should be first manufactured having a relatively lightly colored , non - fuzzy surface . further , the pressed article , using at least 40 % by weight , preferably 100 % by weight , softwood fibers , such as pine , redwood or fir , e . g ., southern pine , should not be post - press heat treated with a tempering oil , such as linseed oil , since after press heat treating with a tempering oil darkens the surface too much to allow for the subsequent application of one or more stain compositions that can be applied easily by an inexperienced consumer . also , it has been found that one or more coatings of a pigmented wax or pigmented polymeric film - forming agent , can be easily applied to the unfinished wood composite article preferably by first applying one or more base coats from a pigmented , relatively soft wax composition and then from top coat containing a pigmented or non - pigmented harder wax composition , to achieve a professional look that can be consistently applied by the inexperienced wood finisher .