Spraying water proof stain

My dad made a set of patio furniture for me, which is in need of a waterproof stain before I put it out on the patio. I finished the bench with a brush, but I wasn't happy with it. So I tried out my HVLP sprayer on one of the chairs.

First, I'm not accustomed to spraying, so that is probably a major factor in my difficulties. Some practice sprays came out okay, but those were smaller pieces. On the first coat, things worked out okay. Unfortunately on later coatings the water repellent nature of the finish made the second coat very uneven. It beaded on the surface, so there are lots of small little color spots.

So what's next? First, I need to learn more about spraying. I really bought the sprayer to spray paint on desk tops, so I should practice with thinned latex paint on MDF or hardboard. Second, if I do spray any more stains, I need to work with one designed for spraying. I like the speed of spraying, so the investment in time and materials will pay off.

Finally, I need to wipe the finish on the last chair. Wiped finishes have always given me the best results, so I need to perfect the technique that has worked the best for me.