Why would you not want to sticker them in the pile? It's common practice.
Casey

Casey, it may be common practice but I have no clue as to what you are speaking of: "Sticker them in the pile"?
Could you say it another way? Thanks.

Stickers are thin wood strips laid between layers of wood to facilitate airflow, and thus curing of the paint.
You can usually get your stickers for free if you are ripping wood, as the drop-offs can be squared up into nice stickers.
Casey

Thank you for the explanation. I have only the trimmings from the 2x4s, not enough to work as stickers. I think I'll just end up staining them on the fence.

I started staining the pickets and found that if I let them set by themselves for a while to absorb the stain, they can be stored close together vertically.
The Sikkens Cetol SRD Teak is a sweet color. I did the frame, posts and 50 pickets today and I'm totally bushed, painting is hard work.