Birch doesn't take some stains evenly because of the variation in grain, hardness and softness of some of the wood or plys. It depends on the color or stain. It does take a translucent white stain pretty well which gives you a nice blond color. You can brush the stain on with a foam brush and then wipe it down with a rag before sanding and sealing and finishing with a clear or satin coat. You could try ash plywood if you want a nice even finish color, but it's probably more expensive per sheet.