Posted on I guess the lesson here is not to be in a hurry! It never pays to rush the job where wood sinats are concerned. I’ve had to learn this the hard way, too!You could try sanding some off some of the stain, denting and scratching it a bit with a hammer and other objects, and generally giving it a beat-up look you know, give the wood some scars that will blend in with the seams where the stain didn’t get absorbed. Frankly, I think the not-so-shiny finish looks better than a glossy coating. As for the ones that are stuck together, you might have to use turpentine, acetone, or mineral spirits to dissolve the polyurethane. You will definitely want to do this outside or in a well-ventilated garage. Read the label on the can to make sure of which of these you should use, as I’m not sure offhand which will work. I hope you can salvage this project. Even with the mistakes, it’s a cool idea. I love wooden boxes!