How to get a consistent stain on pine?

We're trying to stain some blocks of pine wood to act as plinths for my daughter's art project. Using a water-based maple stain, following the instructions. I tested on an offcut, brushing it on, waiting a few minutes and rubbing it off. I'm finding it gives and uneven finish, especially around the edges. The end grain is very deeply coloured, as I expected would happen. Also tried applying it with a rag instead of brush, and that was more uneven.

Any advice as to how to stain it more evenly/control the staining? And have the end grain (which will be most noticeable in the art work) be closer to the sides in colour? Should I use oil-based instead of water-based? Do I need to finish it

There will be at least a dozen of these, so the prospect of shellacking them all, waiting for them to dry, refinishing etc is daunting.

Thank you for any advice!

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You will need to seal the end grain as that’s the nature of the beast. Shellac will dry within minutes so there’s not a lot of time between shellac coats and then a finishing coat.

What Lappa said.

What I’ve done successfully before is to first use sanding sealer on the timber and then to use a stained varnish.

The Wood Whisperer recently did a video comparing different anti-blotch methods to provide prevent blotching when applying stain - and he used pine for his examples.
Definitely worth checking out his processes and results at Make Stains Look Better! | DIY Blotch Prevention Formula - YouTube

My experience is to sand to at least 250 grit if not higher, then do not touch it with your bare hands (avoid raising the grain) then use an oil based stain. End grain always takes up more but sanding finely reduces this effect.

there is a sanding sealer that bunnings sells (feast and watson) that i found works well. I was getting blotches as well untill i applied it, after that the staining came up fine.

Feast Watson 250ml Sanding Sealer - Bunnings Australia

The best way to get a even stain is to spray a lacquer stain with a spray gun.
It makes it so even that I don't like it usually, kind of hides the grain.
But you can make it as dark as you want by just adding coats or even
highlight edges like on a tabletop.

Thank you all very much for your replies!

I tried the DIY PVA-based sealer based on @mpot's link, and it worked a treat! Really helped attain evenness of stain, especially for the end grain.

At the end of it, however, my daughter decided to go in a different direction and we then worked with limewash just on the end grain and left the sides natural, which works well for her artwork.