How To Remove Gel Stain

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but the offset fourth dimension I tried gel stain was concluding summer. Information technology took me years to progress from traditional oil-based stain to the gel stain multifariousness. And guess what? Gel stain is so much better! But what exactly is it?

Gel stain is an oil-based varnish (similar polyurethane) with a colorant added. It is significantly thicker than traditional wood stain, and is designed to sit on superlative of the woods instead of soaking in. This reduces blotching, a problem common with traditional stain.

Gel stain has many useful applications, so lets accept a wait at why information technology'due south my favorite type of stain!

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When to Utilise Gel Stain

Because gel stain is a thick, colored varnish, when it'due south applied to wood it more often than not sits on top of the slice. It will soak in a little bit if y'all're working with unfinished wood, but not anywhere near the amount traditional stain does considering it's so thick.

Softwoods blotch when traditional stain is practical because the pores soak stain in unevenly. Some pores accept a lot of stain, some accept less, which creates the blotchy appearance.

Because gel stain only soaks in a little bit, this is less of an event. All the pores of the wood just have access to a modest amount of stain, and then therefore they have a more even advent.

Therefore, it's best to use gel stain when you're staining softwoods similar pino or common boards that you purchase at the home improvement store. Gel stain means you lot don't accept to employ wood conditioner or other methods to go a nice appearance on those types of boards.

Because it'southward a varnish, gel stain also has the ability to dry on top of wood. Therefore, dissimilar traditional stains, it can be practical on height of prior finishes.

There are a few caveats: you tin can't brand the piece whatsoever lighter, the coats must be thin, and also many coats will obscure the woods. But it is a valid refinishing choice if you only demand to impact up the wood or make the shade a lilliputian darker, and is much easier than sanding downwardly the piece and refinishing.

Gel Stain Vs Regular Stain

	Gel Stain	Traditional Stain
Pros	– Can be used on top of existing finishes – Best for staining softwoods – Good for vertical surfaces	– Best for staining hardwoods – Less expensive – Multiple coats can be applied
Cons	– More Expensive – Multiple coats obscure the wood	– Produces blotching in softwoods

When asked to cull betwixt gel stain and traditional forest stain, I almost e'er pick gel stain. The reason? Gel stain is best for staining softwoods, and the majority of my budget-friendly projects use cheap pino or "whitewood."

It'due south also great for vertical surfaces, since gel stain is thicker and won't run downwardly the surface like regular wood stain would.

Additionally, gel stain tin can exist used on top of prior finishes, which is fantastic when refinishing furniture pieces. These three things brand it a lot more versatile to me, which is why it's my become-to stain choice.

However, gel stain is more expensive; this quart of gel stain is effectually $16, while this quart of traditional stain past the same manufacturer is around $7. I do recall gel stain goes further because you tin apply less of it at a time, notwithstanding I haven't actually tested this. Also, gel stain negates the demand to purchase forest conditioner, so mayhap that helps make upwardly the difference.

And there are times when gel stain isn't the right choice. If yous're mostly staining hardwoods like oak, traditional stain is probably the way to go. It's cheaper, and because it soaks into the wood, information technology really allows the wood to shine, even with multiple coats.

When multiple coats of gel stain are practical (typically to attempt and deepen the color) the forest eventually gets obscured by the stain, since the stain is not soaking in. If you're working with expensive hardwoods, or worried almost getting a deep look, traditional oil-based stain is the fashion to go.

Both gel stain and traditional wood stain require 2 hours of dry-time, so that shouldn't be a factor when deciding between them.

How to Apply Gel Stain to Unfinished Woods

Footstep 1: Prep the Woods

I always sand wood before staining. Always. You lot may call back this is unnecessary, but there'southward typically at least some saw marks from manufacturing that are invisible until you stain the wood. Sanding eliminates those. I take a whole process for this, which you tin read about here.

Additionally, if you lot demand to apply wood filler to any holes, now is the time. I don't know if I really recommend this unless y'all accept no choice – I tested a bunch of different wood conditioners to see how they took stain (see the experiment here,) and while some were better so others, all of them stood out from the residuum of the wood at least a little.

Finally, I recommend testing your stain on either scrap wood or an inconspicuous role of your piece before starting. That way, if something goes dramatically wrong, you'll know before you utilise the stain to the entire piece. I know yous might be tempted to skip this pace. Don't.

Pace 2: Apply the Gel Stain

Applying gel stain to unfinished wood is actually pretty similar to applying traditional wood stain.

Using a rag or a foam brush, apply the stain. Offset past going against the grain of the woods, in lodge to button the stain into the pores. So go dorsum over the stain, brushing with the grain.

The order matters here, since the stain ultimately sits on pinnacle of the wood. You want the 2nd laissez passer to go with the grain, so that any staining marks blend into the grain.

When staining unfinished wood, nosotros'll wipe the excess stain off with a fabric in the next pace. That means it doesn't actually matter if you use thick or sparse coats (since it'll all go wiped off anyhow,) but y'all'll salvage on stain and therefore money if you utilize thin coats.

Step 3: Wipe Off Remaining Stain

Once the gel stain has sat for 5-ish minutes, wipe the backlog off with a rag. Be sure to wipe in the management of the grain, so that whatsoever marks blend in with grain of the wood.

Let the stain dry for 2 hours.

Step 4: Reapply as Necessary

Once the stain has dried (2 hours!) reapply if y'all'd like to deepen the color. Withal, note that the more layers of gel stain that are applied, the more the woods gets obscured.

I wouldn't recommend applying more than than two layers of gel stain. If you're worried the colour isn't night enough, selection a darker stain for your 2d coat.

Additionally, note that oil-based stain is better at getting a deep stain from the get-go. If you know you want a really deep color, you might consider using an oil-based stain so yous won't obscure the wood with multiple layers of gel stain.

How to Use Gel Stain Over Finished Wood

Step 1: Prep the Finish

I know I'm probably about to brand someone unhappy when I say this, but yes, you need to sand the finish. Otherwise, the gel stain won't have anything to stick to.

If yous're one the people who hates this footstep, do y'all have a good orbital sander? It makes everything easier. I have and love this Dewalt one, and you can read more about my experience with it here.

Since yous're just scratching up the surface a little, 180 grit sandpaper should work well.

I as well recommend testing your stain on an obscure part of the wood earlier putting it on the whole slice. That'll help you make up one's mind how information technology will look in-accelerate, before you lot apply it everywhere and have a disaster on your hands.

Footstep 2: Employ a Thin Coat of Gel Stain

Since you lot won't be wiping off the stain afterward, it is absolutely crucial that you apply thin coats. Whenever I apply gel stain on top of onetime finishes, I ever use a rag, because it ensure my coats are thin.

Rub the stain onto the slice, applying the stain confronting the grain at starting time, then with the grain second. If in that location are whatsoever exposed wood pores, this procedure volition assistance the wood stain reach these pores, while still making sure the last swipe is in the management of the grain so whatever stain marks alloy in.

Step three: Wait for the Gel Stain to Dry

The gel stain indicates it tin be recoated in ii hours, and with unfinished wood, this is typically the instance. However, when using gel stain on finished forest, you're going to desire to make sure it's no longer tacky before applying some other coat or finish.

When working on this cedar breast makeover, that took 6 hours. It was a specially hot and humid twenty-four hours, which probably contributed to the dry time.

Step 4: Recoat

Every bit I mentioned to a higher place, I but utilize a maximum of two coats of gel stain, otherwise the wood grain gets obscured. On finished wood, this will alter the look of the woods a little, but information technology's probably not going to make a drastic modify to your piece.

The cedar chest makeover (full tutorial here) is a great case of that. Here'due south how it started:

The color and stop were worn in the front, and my primary goal was to even out the look of the chest, and darken it a bit. I applied 2 coats of gel stain, and some wood finish, and hither's what information technology looked similar after:

Information technology looks corking, simply I would have been disappointed if I'd been going for a deep expresso await, because that just wasn't going to happen in ii coats.

Have realistic expectations for what your gel stain can practise, and it'll await not bad!

Finishing Woods Over Gel Stain

Oil-based polyurethane, varnish, and shellac are all great choices for finishing gel-stained wood, given the gel stain has dried for at least 24 hours.

I wouldn't employ h2o-based polyurethane directly over gel stain. This is because gel stain is oil-based and oil-based stain and h2o-based polyurethane don't e'er play dainty. Sometimes it works, simply it ofttimes leads to issues.

If you lot desire to use a water-based topcoat over gel stain, I'd apply a coat or two of Zinsser's Shellac Sealcoat starting time. That volition seal the gel stain in the woods, and prevent the water-based polyurethane from interacting with information technology.

In fact, Zinsser'south Shellac Sealcoat is a great finish in general (I love it then, so much,) because it dries super-fast and can be recoated in 2 hours, unlike oil-based products. Information technology'southward what I used on the cedar chest in a higher place.

Other shellacs also dry apace, however Zinsser's Shellac Sealcoat is the merely wax-free, pre-mixed shellac on the market, which is why I recommend it so much. Other shellacs come up in bit course, and have to be mixed with denatured alcohol before use, which is simply complicated.

Troubleshooting Gel Stain

The well-nigh common issue with gel stain is that it never dries, and is withal sticky a few hours later. This problem is caused by ii things:

1. Humidity is high, and therefore the stain is taking a while to dry.
2. The coats applied were too thick.

Extra dry out time might assistance the humidity situation, but if the coats were too thick, there's not really anything that can make information technology dry.

Instead, take hold of some mineral spirits and apply it to the stain with a rag. That should help dissolve the stain and so that it can be wiped off the piece and reapplied in thinner coats.

If you're looking on more than data on troubleshooting wood finishing, check out my Fabulously Finished Reference Bundle. Information technology walks you through exactly how to stain, end, and troubleshoot your projection, so that you lot'll have a flawless finish everytime!

Other Gel Stain FAQs

What is the best gel stain?

I've had good luck with Varathane's Interior Gel Stains. They're readily bachelor at the big box stores, easy to utilize, and look bang-up.

Is gel stain oil-based?

Just like regular forest stain, gel stain is an oil-based stain, and should not be combined with water-based products.

Can you paint over gel stain?

Given the gel stain is fully cured, it tin exist painted over with latex paint. If one is particularly concerned virtually adhesion, a quality oil-based bonding primer can help, although it's not truly necessary.

Can you employ gel stain on veneer or laminate?

Gel stain tin exist used on both laminate article of furniture and wood veneers. Lightly sand the surface with 180 grit sandpaper, then use very thin coats of the gel stain, allowing at least 2 hours of dry time between coats.

See the section above on applying gel stain on finished forest for more detailed instructions.

Tin yous thin gel stain?

Gel stain tin can exist thinned with mineral spirits. This volition dilute the stain (resulting in a lighter colour) and create a glaze, which can be used either for staining or adding a unique antiquing appearance on top of paint.

Volition mineral spirits remove gel stain?

Mineral spirits will remove wet or tacky gel stain. However, once the gel stain is fully cured, the mineral spirits will have no affect. In that situation, the nigh effective fashion to remove gel stain is by standing.

Source: https://abutterflyhouse.com/gel-stain/

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