Do I need to sand between coats of General Finishes Gel Stain?
Several thin coats give the best result. Buff lightly between each top coat with a super fine sanding pad or #320 sand paper. Do not buff the final topcoat.
Do you have to wipe off General Finishes Gel Stain?
Here are General Finishes recommended dry times for applying multiple coats of Gel Stain and Gel Topcoat over an existing finish. Dry-Time to Recoat with Stain When “Wiping Off”: 72 hours. Do not recoat until you are sure the stain is dry. If in doubt, wait longer.
Do you sand after gel stain?
Generally, you need to sand enough to scuff up the existing finish and make the surface even. You DO NOT need to sand down to bare wood. This is what makes using gel stain an advantage on previously finished wood. This will open up the grain and allow the gel stain to create an even richer and more even color.
Do gel stains need a top coat?
ANSWER: All stains need a top coat. 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. An added bonus of top coat is that it also protects the wood from drying out.
How long do you let gel stain sit before wiping off?
Let the stain dry for 5-10 minutes before wiping off for a medium color shade. Let the stain dry for 20-30 minutes before wiping off for a dark color shade.
How do you prepare furniture for General Finishes gel stain?
Step 1: Preparation for Gel Stain Do not over-sand with fine-grit sandpapers; this will close and seal the wood grain, preventing ideal color absorption. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, a tack cloth or a water-dampened rag. Let dry completely before applying General Finishes product.
How long do I have to wait between coats of gel stain?
6-8 hours
General Finishes recommends 6-8 hours of dry time between coats. A top coat is not necessary due to the high amount of urethane in the gel stain that will provide protection.
How long should gel stain dry before polyurethane?
In general, you should wait between 24-48 hours for the stain to dry before polyurethane. If you don’t want to take any chances or think the stain might not be dry enough, wait an extra day before applying poly.
Is gel stain better than liquid stain?
Gel stain works well on nonporous wood such as Masonite and hardboard because it doesn’t enhance the wood grain. Liquid stains are best for furniture, cabinets, moldings, wood floors, doors and porous surfaces where you want to enhance the wood grain.
Should I use oil or water based stain for dining table?
Because of its quick drying time, water-based stains are perfect for small projects. They do not penetrate the wood as deeply as oil-based stains which result in softer colors, but you can obtain a darker color with successive coats. Water-based wood stains also have a tendency to raise the grain of the wood.
How do you remove gel stain from a table?
This is an important step even though this is a gel stain and bonds well to most pre-finished surfaces. There was a lot of poly on this table so I needed to sand it off to make sure the stain had something to bond to. I applied a generous amount of gel stain with a foam brush. Then using a lint free rag I removed the excess.
How do you prepare the wood for gel stain?
Visit the General Finishes Design Center or Pinterest Board for gel stain ideas. All raw wood projects require preparation sanding before applying stain, and all existing finishes require prep cleaning and sanding. If you skip this critical step, your finish may fail. Prep sand with 120-grit sandpaper followed by 150-grit sandpaper.
Can I use milk paint instead of gel stain?
Tip: If you are using General Finishes Java Gel Stain, General Finishes recommends using General Finishes Dark Chocolate Milk Pain t instead of painting on Gel Stain. This Milk Paint color matches a solid application of Java Gel Stain, is much faster to apply, and offers easy water clean-up.
What is the difference between gel stain and wipe on stain?
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. Need some inspiration? Visit the General Finishes Design Center or Pinterest Board for gel stain ideas.