You can use to refurbish your old furnishings to make it look fresh and new. The thickness of the gel makes it hard to work with, unlike thin paint stains where they can easily work their way into tight locations. A successful DIY paint job requires you to go through several phases including sanding to finishing. Think of stain as the color and top coat as the sealer and protectant. The directions on the Minwax Gel Stain can clearly say to stir until creamy (did that), do not thin (didn’t do that), apply liberally with a brush or clean cloth (did that) and wait 3 … It works on various surfaces and is resistant to harmful UV rays. It doesn’t require any sanding. If you’re weighing your options for what to do with the bare-wood build or a recently stripped wooden table, consider this finish. With kitchen renovations costing thousands of dollars, this gel stain is about $30 for a quart (a quart goes a long way). It dries off quickly so by the time you finish staining your furniture you can quickly touch up other areas. I plan on doing at least one of my bathrooms and my kitchen in the general finishes java gel stain. This is a more detailed video than my last one on "How to gel stain your kitchen cabinets". Use with a foam brush or brush. It takes more than one coating to see the effect. Its ease of use and simplicity makes it a good choice for both beginners and advanced painters. The resulting finish achieves a compromise between a transparent stain and an opaque paint, which to some DIY enthusiasts means the best of both worlds without as much hassle. Plus, it doesn’t drip so you can work on your staining job comfortably and faster. Apply its thick consistency to horizontal tabletops or vertical cabinet framework, fine woods or those notoriously difficult to cover evenly. I’m talking specifically about General Finishes Gel Stain (there are other gel stain products out there, but I haven’t used them – and I think General Finishes Gel Stain is the best! This milk paint is versatile and can be used for both interior and exterior applications. Removing it from crevices was a chore. If you want to easily update the look of your wooden furnishings, the General Finishes Antique Gel Stain can do the job for you. This is very simple and easy to use. Clean your cabinets. If you are staining smaller items, it may appear a bit clumpy. Best Sheer Gel Nail Polish. My only complaint is the strong smell, but a well-ventilated area solves this. Some gel stains require multiple thin coatings while others are okay with just one coating. The gel stays in place once you apply it. Thus, we’ve gathered a list of reviews featuring the best gel stain available in the market along with their pros and cons. Always refer to the instructions given by your stain’s manufacturer, and be sure to take humidity and temperature levels into account since extreme heat, cold, or moisture can lengthen the time it takes any stain (or paint, for that matter) to dry. It goes a long way and the results were fantastic. Here are some of the differences of using a gel stain: Gel Stains are easy to work with. Old Masters Gel Stain is a highly pigmented, oil-based stain designed to achieve intense colors on interior and exterior wood, fiberglass, primed metal, and composition surfaces. However, if gel stain is applied improperly, it can create a noticeable and unattractive raised texture. This Antique Gel Stain gives off a lustrous finish making any painting job look beautiful. This is very easy to apply with a cloth or foam brush and doesn’t create any spills. The gel has a nice consistency making it easy to smoothen and even out. Gel Stain . I am jumping on the gel stain bandwagon. Stain pads allow you to cover a large area of wood while maintaining a lot of control over the application. However, you can use it to stain lightly sanded items. I just used a polyurethane top coat for a finished look. On the downside, gel stain is not available in as many color options as traditional stains. It gives a nice and unique espresso colored finish. You don’t need to sand in between coating. Be careful in choosing light-colored stains as it may leave brush strokes. I was able to use it in various applications including a number of doors, cabinets, and drawers without using up the entire can. General Finishes Golden Pine Gel Stain Pint. It is easy to clean up using mineral spirits. You can use it to paint on your entire kitchen area. Before you apply the stain, test it out first on a sample piece of wood to give you an idea on how it will look like. 1. Find more information about Oil Based Gel Stains here . Based on the five products featured on this list, I highly recommend the Minwax Gel Stain. Gel Stain | Gel Stain is a highly pigmented stain designed to have intense colors on interior wood,exterior wood, fiberglass, metal and composition surfaces. **SMOOTHEST APPLICATION AND SO EASY! I had a really hard time getting the stain to go on evenly in those little crevices. Always allow 72-hour dry time when applying water-based products over oil-based products. This is why I recommended you use a top coat to protect it. This may feel a little bit like spreading thick ketchup and will appear very uneven, which … Furniture Clinic Wood Stain (250ml, Walnut) - Fast, Effective Wood Stain for all Indoor and Outdoor Wood. Gel stain works on most surfaces from wooden to metal, and even painted surfaces can be gel stained. Gel staining is an important step if you want to achieve a flawless finish. Pre-installed cabinets will suffer fewer drips, drops, and messes when you’re working with the peanut-buttery consistency of gel stain, as opposed to the thin liquid you’d be dealing with otherwise. If you’re working with a particularly gnarly piece of live-edge wood or an intricate set of custom shelves with lots of extreme angles, for example, a traditional stain might be the wiser option. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. You can use a soft cloth to apply it on various surfaces. But, I was nervous to get started. It doesn’t need much prepping compared to other staining kits. That’s because in spots like these, gel stain can accumulate and appear much darker than it does across the rest of the surface you’re covering, leaving you with less-than-perfect results. Applying three or more light coats works better compared to heavy coats. Aug 4, 2016 - Explore Kimberly Merck's board "Gel stain over Golden oak " on Pinterest. In fact, just a little light sanding will do the trick, and then you’re ready to begin the application process with a lint-free cloth. The coating may be thick but you can still see the natural wood grain underneath unlike a traditional paint stain. This gel stain works beautifully on wood. The General Finishes Driftwood Milk Paint provides a nice touch and coverage to your old furniture. Gel stain is best for staining softwoods, and the majority of my budget-friendly projects use cheap pine or “whitewood.” It’s also great for vertical surfaces, since gel stain is thicker and won’t run down the surface like regular wood stain would. The General Finishes Gel Paint can cover large staining projects. Start off by cleaning and sanding the surface. The clear coat brings out the natural beauty of the wood grain. I think the thickness of the stain (the gel factor) made it really hard to make the coverage even. The Minwax Interior Gel Stain is easy to apply. This works great on furniture, cabinets, doors, trims, and moldings. Wipe off the residue in the direction of the grain. This makes it suitable for vertical surfaces. Update stairs with gel stain….it’s a no brainer really! Gel stain will not require you to sand the product to a raw wood finish. The amount of gel stain you need to use also depends on what type you are using. Gel Stain Woodwork, doors, cabinets, furniture, molding, trim, accessories and non-wood surfaces such as metal, veneer and fiberglass - not recommended for floors: Natural bristle brush, foam applicator, cloth: Minwax® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (oil-based) 1-2 coats depending on the surface. When you are applying a gel stain to the wood, you don’t have to rub it in like traditional paint stains. Gel Topcoat is thick, while Arm-R-Seal is much thinner, and is easier to apply large projects. With the oak cabinets, the grain was very evident post-staining. The milk paint glides on smoothly over my kitchen cabinets. You do NOT wipe it off as you would with a paint. To get the best-looking finish, go for a gel stain. I am new here. Wiping will allow you to control the evenness and depth of color being applied, as the more you wipe away, the lighter the color level of the stain. Alternatively, you can use a natural bristle paintbrush if you want a more textured, painterly finish; just be sure to choose a size relative to the project you’re working on (three-inch-wide for a broad surface, but smaller for chair legs) and paint with the grain to mimic its general pattern. Between the handrails, posts and 72 (yes, 72) spindles, there would be a LOT of nooks and crannies to clean, sand and paint. It also works great on hard wood surfaces such as pine and aspen. One area in which gel stain is tied neck and neck with its traditional counterparts its drying time: although it’s easier to prep and apply, it doesn’t dry any quicker than its thinner, oil- and varnish-based competitors. By Amy Lynch and Bob Vila. 10 Best Gel Stain Tips for Kitchen Cabinets. What is the best way to apply gel stain? I applied Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner so the stain would go on evenly. 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. It is a good choice if you want to hide scratches on your furnishings. Try one of these 10 best gel nail polishes for your next DIY manicure to see for yourself. Cleaning them with TSP Cleaner usually is sufficient to remove dirt and grime. Some painters recommend using a protective topcoat over it such as varnishes and polyurethane. The best part is that I didn’t even have to buy any more gel stain. You can even use it for creative decorating. Much like other stains, it typically needs anywhere from 8 to 24 hours to dry between coats—of which you might need several, depending on the level of opacity you want to achieve. 00 £7.41 £7.41. Brushing is typically reserved for when you want a dark stained appearance. PREP . One quart of a can go a long way. Some gel stains require at least eight hours before recoating. If you want to achieve a darker color, you need to do multiple coatings. This wood stain covers around 150 square feet per quart, and you can recoat it in two hours to build up the color to your desired richness—the brand recommends at least two coasts for best results. Gel stains provide professional-looking results on furniture, or wood, fiberglass, and steel surfaces.Unlike oil stains, this coating sits on top of the material, forming a protective barrier.Interior gel stain is translucent enough to allow the natural beauty of wood grain to show through. Since it is water-based, it has a quick drying time. Most of the time wiping the gel stain is the common way that the stain will be applied. THIS METHOD - is painting using a sock. Gel stain is particularly forgiving with splotch-prone woods like birch, cherry, maple, and pine. Another perk, still, is gel stain’s ease of use in vertical projects. If you want to keep and maintain the natural appearance of your wooden furniture, a gel stain is a good solution. You will find this stain working comfortably with some of the hardest woods to stain, like pine … However, professionals don’t recommended it if you are painting into tight areas and corners. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. A thickening agent added in the manufacturing process, however, gives it the easy application and concentration of color. Stocked alongside its classic counterparts at almost any hardware store, gel stain is rather similar in formula to most pigment-based traditional stains. But the good news doesn’t stop there—arguably, the best reason to choose gel stain is its ease of use. Popular manufacturers of gel stain include Minwax (view on Amazon) and Old Masters (view on Amazon). I tried applying it on my kitchen doors and the color stain significantly enhanced the look. For large swaths of wood (like a tabletop), I like to use stain pads to apply gel stain. Compared to the other four stains, the Minwax shines through with its functionality and ease of use. Easy-to-use, General Finishes gel stain is undoubtedly the best gel stain brand, as it involves little prep, and produces high-quality results. Apply the gel stain with a foam brush or pad, then wipe the excess away after 30 seconds. Use a clean rag or brush to apply a generous layer to the surface being stained. Since gel stains don’t splatter, it makes it handy especially when you’re using it on vertical applications. It seems everyone has used something different. It works well with different types of surfaces providing more value for your money. If you want the very best stain for pine, then the General Finishes Gel Stain is the answer. It provides great coverage and holds up really well. List of The Best Stain for Pine 1. I was able to achieve the color, texture, and depth I was trying for. This product is versatile because I was able to use it to cover scratches on my exterior door and it worked like a charm. Its thick formula allows easy application and superior color control, necessary to achieve a rich and uniform color on most surfaces in a single application. I am very confused as to which topcoat is the best for these areas. This product just needs two to three hours. FREE Delivery. Of course, no stain is perfect. You can apply these stains without sanding, which makes this product a convenient time saver. Make sure you use drop cloths to avoid running your floors. For smaller areas, foam brushes are my gel stain applicator of choice. A successful DIY paint job requires you to go through several phases including sanding to finishing. It colors evenly on different materials including wood, metal, fiberglass, and other surfaces. The primary difference between gel and a traditional stain is that gel stain sits on top of the wood while a traditional stain sinks in; as a result, it lets some of the wood’s unique markings and texture shine through while delivering a crisp, consistent finish not dissimilar to paint. However, you must check the compatibility of your gel stain before deciding to use one. Gel stain and some white paint would definitely be the most cost-effective way to go. Gel stain is used on many materials, including fiberglass and wood, to provide a clean finish with a slight sheen. When you’re ready to get started, pick up with Step 1 of this helpful tutorial for staining wood. There is no way you could do just one coat of gel stain. By coating the surface rather than seeping into the wood grain, a gel stain creates a professional-looking finish on even these most stubborn wood surfaces. Hi! Make sure you wait for each coating to dry before you apply another layer. Here are five gel stain products to help you pick the most suitable gel stain for your painting job. A gel stain can also be used in various applications such as an exterior door, fiberglass doors, kitchen cabinets, and other surfaces around your home. Applying three coats can do wonders to your old furnishings. Gel staining is an important step if you want to achieve a flawless finish. See more ideas about gel stain, stain, staining wood. Best Seller in Stain. Gel stains offers a great option for DIYers who can’t quite decide between staining and painting, since it offers something in between. The gel goes evenly on the surface, unlike liquid stains. The only way to fix raised gel stain after it has dried is stripping. Since it has a thicker substance, it prevents drips while you are working. Gel Stain | English Walnut | Thick Water Based Gel Stain for Wood | 16 oz | Acts as Wood Stain and Glaze | Amy Howard Home 5.0 out of 5 stars 1 $32.00 $ 32 . You have to apply it evenly especially since a smaller surface makes it harder to flatten, which is why it is more suitable for larger surfaces. So simple, so quick and not much prep to speak of. You don’t have to sand the surface you are painting on. The stain has the tendency to drip. It stains both porous and nonporous surfaces making your painting job easier with less room for mistakes. It doesn’t require you to sand the wood all the way down to its raw state for best adhesion the way you would with a typical stain. You’ll see for yourself how gel stain combines the uniformity of paint and the depth options of stain—all in one small can. Since the stain may fade over time, you can opt to use a poly top coat to protect the finish. Putting It to the Test Having earned its user-friendly reputation, gel stain is quite the attractive option for whatever wooden DIY project you’ve got lined up, promising a rich color without sacrificing the unique character of its grain. When it comes to application, gel stain requires less preparation in advance than regular stains and paints. 1. Some woods, like oak, are attractive either stained or unstained. It also helps protect the stain the surface. It is easy to control which allows you to complete your work faster. This gel stain works well with steel and fiberglass doors. While gel stain does go on thick and sit on the surface of the wood, I found that you can still see and feel the natural wood grain beneath, unlike paint. Beech, birch, poplar, ash, gum, and new pine are usually stained before finishing. Information about Oil Based gel stains are an oil-based product, I like to use and simplicity it! 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