General Finishes Gel Stain is a great way to upcycle furniture and cabinets. The Gel Stain is very thick and resists runs and drips so you can easily stain existing cabinetry.  Gel stain can go on top of existing top coats so there is no need to completely strip old finishes. 

Gel wood stains are heavy-bodied and do not penetrate as deeply into the wood as liquid oil-based wipe-on stains do, providing the deepest, richest colors of any oil-based stain available. Color swatches shown on Maple.

The following materials will be needed to prep and refinish cabinetry with Gel Stain:

• A cleaning product, such as dish soap
• 50:50 mix of water and denatured alcohol
• Green
• 400 grit or 220 grit foam
• Non-sticky tac cloth to remove dust from sanding or water dampened rag
• (2)
• Blue Shop Towels
• Painters Tape
• A top coat (such as )

Also available in .

Don't forget your  and !

Note: Colors shown are for reference only. Your results may vary based on species, grain, sanding, etc.

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Specs

Base Type: Oil
Interior or Exterior: Interior only
Type: Oil Based Stain
Coats: 1 coats
Application Method: Brush, Roll, Wipe On with Clean Rag
Usable over existing finishes: Yes
Sprayable: No
Topcoat Required: Yes
Dry Time - Touch: Raw Wood (8 hrs.), Existing Finish wipe-off (12-24 hrs.)
Dry Time - Recoat: Raw Wood (12-24 hrs.), Existing Finish wipe-off (72 hrs.)
Dry Time - Recoat - Applied Over Water Based Product: 72 hrs.
Coverage: 75-100 sq. ft.
Viscosity: Very Thick

Preparation

Raw wood

1. Prep sand with 120-grit sandpaper followed by 150-grit sandpaper. Do not over-sand with fine-grit sandpapers; this will close and seal the wood grain, preventing ideal color absorption.
2. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, a tack cloth or a water-dampened rag.
3. Let dry completely before applying General Finishes product. 

Sealed surface

1. Scuff clean with a green stripping pad or maroon synthetic steel wool and a 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water. 
2. Dry 1-2 hours.
3. Sand lightly with a 220-320-grit foam sanding sponge.
4. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, a tack cloth or a water-dampened rag.
5. Let dry completely before applying General Finishes product.

Directions

Dry Brushing Over an Existing Finish

1. Test your complete finishing process before starting. The stain color is affected by variances in wood and deepened with the application of topcoat.
2. Apply stain with a natural bristle brush or foam brush. Go in the direction of the grain.
3. Feather out uneven areas and pull excess stain from corners using a bristle brush. Discharge accumulated stain from the brush onto a paper towel soaked with mineral spirits as you work.
4. Let the stain dry 72 hours in ideal conditions: 70°F/20°C, 50% humidity. You can tell if an oil-based finish is dry if it is no longer tacky, and cool to the touch.
5. Optional: Apply a second coat to deepen the color. Apply no more than 2 coats.

Video

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