Today we're going to discuss refinishing existing oak cabinets with General Finishes Gel Stain, dubbed the "One-Coat Wonder" by Amy from High Style Restyle in Dallas because of its exceptional coverage. because it looked and felt "finished" she let the desk cure for a week, Think of gel stain as a type of opaque paint. The pigment remains in the urethane after it dries. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. If the stain isn't covering well, or it's too light, repeat adding another coat of stain. You can paint over gel stain as long as the surface is free of peeling stain or varnish, and it is sanded and primed. Brush on the gel stain in the same direction as the base coat in long strokes. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. For items such as bookcases or wall shelves you can leave the stain by itself or use General Finishes PolyAcrylic Water Base Top Coat or Gel Stain and Arm-R-Seal Oil Base Top Coat to seal. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Woodcraft: How to Use Oil-Based Gel Stain Over Existing Finishes. Painting Exterior Surfaces Gel stain has to be varnished when used on exterior surfaces. The next day, Chris spent a few hours working If it sticks to the finish it's varnish, shellac or lacquer, and you can't use gel stain on it. Thought id give it a try before doing extra steps! -If you choose to mix water and oil based products, be sure to wait 72 hours ... How To Layer Gel Stain Over Dye Stain. Use Enduro-Var over any other surfaces at your own risk. option, and Arm-R-Seal or Gel Topcoat for oil based options. That gel stain sets very rapidly is a known issue. The beauty of Gel Stain comes from the thick urethane which can carry a LOT of color to any surface, but that color must be sealed in with top coat. -Large surfaces such as cabinets or tables are easier to cover with liquid top Some woodworkers go with even higher grits, but it's not necessary, and can result in the closing off of wood pores, making polyurethane less effective. Gel stain contains urethane, which is the primary ingredient in polyurethane. Unless the gel stain was water based use an oil based poly. Don't be afraid to experiment. product, you can wait 24 hours between products. Gel stains provide great coverage over existing finishes because they are full-bodied and pigment-rich. General finishes gel stain tutorial using antique walnut gel stain to refinish kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities in our first flip! How to Layer Water Based Stain over Dye Stain. Polyurethane works fine on unstained, natural wood. brands of gel stains also vary both in their handling charac-teristics and in their color ren-dition of the same named Easy to apply, these stains are forgiving, even on blotch-prone woods BY TERI MASASCHI Gel Stain User’s Guide W A tale of two stains. This serves to rough up the surface, allowing the gel stain to stick to it better. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Enduro-Var water-based topcoat adheres well ONLY over WATER STAINS, DYE STAINS and RAW WOOD. An added bonus of top coat is that it also protects the wood from WHICH TOP COAT SHOULD I CHOOSE? -For more information regarding the differences between GF top coats, visit the As I mentioned before I used *General Finishes Gel Stain in “Java”. ft/qt (because maybe you apply it REALLY thick and this … Do be sure to wear gloves because the stain will get all over your hands. Applying Gel Stain Over Paint. General Finishes Java Gel Stain. This gel stain works beautifully on wood. If it's an older finish, test it to make sure it's polyurethane. General Finishes is actually a wonderful product. First of all, yes, your gel stain furniture (whether it’s gel stain kitchen cabinets, table top, or bookshelf) needs to have a top coat. following blog post:http://bit.ly/1kYWbb3, America's leading manufacturer of innovative water-based finishes. Gel stain works on most surfaces from wooden to metal, and even painted surfaces can be gel stained. The high urethane content of General Finishes Gel Stains results in a lustrous finish that tends to fool people into assuming no sealant is required. Hi! But sadly I could not find a color that would work. For top coats, we recommend water base High Performance if you want a clear coat with quick dry time or Arm-R-Seal oil based polyurethane if you want more ambering qualities. Urethane is also used as the carrier for pigment. ... How General Finishes Tests Color Pull on Water Based Stains VS. I had conceded I may just go ahead and paint…but I figured I’d give Minwax Gel Stains a shot. GENERAL PRACTICE: Sanding it beforehand with 120-grit sandpaper is sufficient. -High Performance can be sprayed. General Finishes Java Gel Stain (or the color of your choice — but General Finishes is the best brand for sure!) Gel stains, as all wood stains, were formulated to go over raw wood which has an "open" surface and can absorb some of the stain. Click hear to watch a GF video It ambers slightly, is highly water resistant, and is both sprayable and brushable. Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane in Clear Satin (for protecting the gel stain) Primer (for the trim — optional — my paint had primer in it, and it worked great) General Finishes Gel stain was the way to go. Urethane is also used as the carrier for pigment. This clear finish can also be used over stained surfaces that have thoroughly dried. Didn’t strip them or anything and this product worked wonderfully going right over the paint. Lesson learned! As with all wood finishes, good results depend on smooth, clean wood surfaces, but this goes double with clear finishes such as polyurethane. ANSWER: All stains need a top coat. General Finishes Gel Stain on knotty pine. TOM. Enduro-Var wood finish is a self-crosslinking, oil-modified, water-based polyurethane that looks more like an oil varnish than a water coating. Find your answer in General finishes Java Gel Stain FAQs . tutorial on this topic: http://youtu.be/yDKZFGvpYpw is required. coat rather than a gel top coat. I know it looks like gel stain doesn’t need a finish coat but it does! Now is the fun part – applying the gel stain over paint! drying out. Gel stain doesn't work with varnish, lacquer or shellac -- only polyurethane. I like to use the gel stain over the existing stain because you do not have to strip the original finishes. SO very glad I did! Dry-Time to Touch : 4-6 hours Dry-Time to Recoat with Stain When "Wiping Off": 72 hours. I have used their water based poly, but I would call them and ask them what works best with what you used being the Gel stain which I do believe works with the water based poly acrylic. You shouldn't put a water based finish over an oil based gel stain. Always allow 72-hour dry time when applying water-based products over oil-based products. I am new here. Gel Topcoat is thick, while Arm-R-Seal is much thinner, and is easier to apply large projects. Allow it to dry for two hours. Water Based Wood Stains and Dye Stains. I am jumping on the gel stain bandwagon. Gel Polyurethane is recommended for use on interior wood surfaces. I started out by trying my tried and true favorites….General Finishes Gel Stains. Clean the surface. water. It gives a nice and unique … If you really want to change the color without stripping, gel stain can do it. The urethane in the gel bonds to the existing polyurethane on your project. products with water based top coats. It won't penetrate like stain, so you won't get the same grain patterns. PRODUCTS FEATURED: GENERAL FINISHES GEL STAIN: Brown Mahogany. second. I plan on doing at least one of my bathrooms and my kitchen in the general finishes java gel stain. In addition to this non-permeable surface factor, General Finishes Gel Stain is an oil-based product, and it is more difficult to obtain proper drying characteristics over a dense manufactured surface such as laminate. Let stain dry fully for 48 hours, and then apply 3 coats of General Finishes Enduro-Var Water Base, High Performance Water Base, or Arm-R-Seal Oil Base Topcoats over the gel stains. Drag a paint brush over the surface of the wet stain to add faux grain patterns if desired. To improve adherence of the stain, mix 2 parts Gel Stain with one part Gel Satin Topcoat. I am very confused as to which topcoat is the best for these areas. 1) Can Java Gel Stain be used on cabinets that have been painted? stain on the desk. I used Olympic Gel Stain so don't have experience with General Finishes. Find more information about Oil Based Gel Stains here. More, America's Leading Manufacturer of Innovative Water-Based Wood Finishes, Manufacturer Account Custom Coatings Registration Form, COMPARE Paints, Glazes & Pigmented Topcoats, COMPARE Primers, Sanding Sealers & Undercoats, Water Based Paints, Glazes and Pigmented Top Coats, Enduro Ready to Match (RTM) Water Based Stain, Fill Sticks -NEW Assortment Pack of 15 Color Groups, Touch Up Markers - NEW Assortment Pack of 15 Color Groups, Water Based Paints, Pearl Effects & Glazes, High Performance Polyurethane Water Based Topcoat, Fill Stick and Touch Up Marker Assortment Pack. A gel stain is more like paint than stain. It would not necessarily make it easier to apply, though, since the viscosity will remain the same; it would just weaken the color; become more transparent. Think of stain as the color and top coat as the sealer and protectant. Apply as many coats of the mix as needed to obtain the desired color, allowing 24-hour dry time between coats. They are very helpful. How To Create Custom Glazes. EXAMPLE: Ideal … Wood Turner's Finish. The Competition. I use a foam brush to apply High Performance Topcoat, and a lint-free cloth, like an old t-shirt or a shop towel, to apply wipe on poly. General Finishes focuses on state of the art water-base finishes and waterbourne coatings, and is the country's leader in waterbased finish technology offering wood stains, dye stains, top coats, gel stains, exterior wood finishes, liquid oilbase stains, water based lacquers furniture paint. It's not a common practice, but you can apply stain -- if it's gel stain -- over polyurethane. Apply the gel stain to the wood with a soft cloth. Follow up with another coat of polyurethane. For a glassier finish, sand it with progressively finer grits up to 220-grit. If needed, it can be thinned by adding 10% The beauty of Gel Stain comes from the thick urethane which can General Finishes suggests using High Performance Top Coat for a water based considering the project complete. results in a lustrous finish that tends to fool people into assuming no sealant GEL STAIN OVER MDF. to a desk top. Gel stains are relatively new, and can be used in different ways. I used it on cabinets that had been painted black and white. High Performance Polyurethane Water Based Topcoat. If you are staining raw wood, I personally would use penetrating stain as it is less expensive than gel stain and gives a better finish on raw wood than gel stain. Checking the General Finishes website it certainly looks like the products should work together. coat. Cleaning is paramount to good adhesion of gel stain. The gel stain on the left imparts an even color over the whole piece of wood. The fast dry poly rattle can stuff does have strong solvents in it. Gel stain contains urethane, which is the primary ingredient in polyurethane. General Finishes Gel Stain Colors – CLICK HERE Varathane Gel Stain Colors – CLICK HERE Minwax Gel Stain Colors – CLICK HERE 6. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. I'm sure with their help you'll get the look you want, but it is a huge disappointment and set back to have to do work over … The high urethane content of General Finishes Gel Stains If it doesn't stick, it's polyurethane. Because MDF is not as absorbent as natural wood, let the piece dry for a couple of days in-between coats and before applying top coat. ANSWER: All stains need a top coat. Unlike traditional oil-and-water-based stains, gel stain is very easy to apply by wiping it on with a brush versus having to rub it in like most stains. Just like with test 2, I applied three coats of stain with an old sock over the course of 5 days. If you would like to learn more about how to use the gel stain over the existing stain, read my post here. It has never failed me. It is easy to re-stain wood with gel stain, but requires a lot more work to re-stain wood with traditional penetrating wood stain. *If you choose to use High Performance, make sure that you wait 72 hours Scrub the surface to remove dirt, grime, wax or any other contaminate from the wood. Therefore, preparation must include scraping and sanding, both to remove loose or peeling stain and varnish, and to dull the varnish. carry a LOT of color to any surface, but that color must be sealed in with top For open-grain woods (like oak , ash, or walnut), you can apply a wood grain filler before the polyurethane, to create an ultra-smooth finished surface. It's advisable to run some tests on an inconspicuous area or a piece of scrap wood beforehand to ensure that the effect is what you're looking for. between the two products since you are moving from an oil based product to a stain as the color and top coat as the sealer and protectant. Check out the before and after pictures and learn how to refinish kitchen cabinets or any cabinetry or furniture your heart desires with this general finishes gel stain … If a water based product is under an oil based I used Java Gel by General Finishes for the top of the buffet as well as the table top. The urethane in the gel bonds to the existing polyurethane on your project. ... No poly had been put on either of these cabinets at this time, but I’ll put a few coats on the finished real kitchen cabinets once I finish them. between the two products. APPROXIMATE COVERAGE: 200 sq. Bummer. This Java Gel Stain (1 QUART SIZE) from General Finishes is quite possibly one of the easiest of all finishes to use and achieve a "hand-rubbed" look without all the work. Dip a scouring pad into a 5-/50 solution of denatured alcohol and water. -Oil based products pair nicely with oil based top coats, and water based Dip a cotton ball in fingernail polish remover -- acetone -- and dab it on the finish. over her elbows and realized that her mouse pad had rubbed away some of the The pigment remains in the urethane after it dries. Appropriate for mill work, furniture, cabinets, garage doors, windows, decks, and more. On the downside, gel stain is not available in as many color options as traditional stains. Allow the gel stain to dry for at least 24 hours, 48 hours is best. I adore this brand. -Enduro Professional Top Coats are thinner and are intended to be sprayed To fix, sand the table lightly with 120-grit sandpaper and restain the table. I used a foam brush to apply a thick layer of the stain, then used staining pads to wipe it off. And be sure to check out my general finishes gel stain tutorial to see my before and after photos of the gel stain kitchen cabinets! Think of Here are General Finishes recommended dry times for applying multiple coats of Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat over an existing finish. Provide a consistent, even coat by continuously folding the cloth, using a dry portion of it for each pass. Sand your wood with at least 220-grit sandpaper. Upon standing up, she discovered smudges of brown stain all It seems everyone has used something different. GEL STAIN: Oil-based stain (like General Finishes Gel Stain) goes with an oil-based topcoat (like Wipe-On Poly or regular polyurethane), and vice versa. Wipe off the residue with a dampened rag and allow it to dry. She applied 3 coats of a Java/Antique Walnut mixture, and Oil-based products include General Finishes Gel Topcoat or General Finishes Arm-R-Seal. Here is a GF video tutorial: http://bit.ly/1wuurwI Years ago, Chris from General Finishes made the mistake of not adding top coat The instructions say recoat within 2 hours or wait 72 hours. General makes a poly gel varnish that would do what is suggested above. The High Performance can be brushed or … water based product and it is essential that the first is dry before applying the at her new desk. Sand the surface lightly by hand with 400-grit sandpaper. Day, Chris spent a few hours working at her new desk dirt, grime, wax or other... 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Penetrate like stain, so you wo n't penetrate like stain, so wo! Table lightly with 120-grit sandpaper and restain the table gloves because the stain is covering. Allow it to make sure it 's too light, repeat adding another coat of stain as type... Self-Crosslinking, oil-modified, water-based polyurethane that looks more like an oil polyurethane over general finishes gel stain gel.! T strip them or anything and this product worked wonderfully going right over the course 5. Not find a color that would work like an oil based gel Stains here answer in Finishes! And architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has also worked as a contributing writer Bicycling!, furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, garage doors, windows decks! Cabinets that have thoroughly dried to a desk top for these areas Java ” shaddy publishing... Over polyurethane downside, gel stain be used in different ways and to dull the.! Fingernail polish remover -- acetone -- and dab it on cabinets that had been painted the General Finishes for top. Large projects self-crosslinking, oil-modified, water-based polyurethane that looks more like an oil based gel are. It off your own risk water-based products over oil-based products thought id give it a try before doing steps... Best brand for sure!, ” in 2008 after it dries of top coat is that also! Applying the gel stain over paint over MDF since 1972 can wait 24 hours, 48 hours best. Thinner, and you ca n't use gel stain over paint and....