I Don't Think You're Ready For This Gelly...

Gel Stain that is :)

Okay, maybe you are ready.  Gel stain is one stain that I've never tried until this past weekend.  Sure, I've read up on it several times, but never saw the value in using it over a regular wipe-off stain.  Well, now that I tried it, I'm really kicking myself for not using it on EVERYTHING I've stained in the past. 

So, here's the scoop on Gel Stain (from my point of view):

- Gel stain is still stain, but it's almost like a mixture of paint and stain.  It gives a thicker, more consistent appearance with less coats than a stain, but is more transparent than paint and will still allow wood to look like stained wood and bring out some of the grain, but not as well as liquid stains. (I know that's a run-on sentence - and I'm not changing it).
- Gel stain does not soak into wood.  It sits on top.  So you can actually stain pieces that aren't even porous! 
- It's a great solution for staining vertical pieces, like trim and doors. Thanks to it's thick consistency it won't run.
- Doesn't have to be wiped off - which means that applying thin, even layers are very important!
- It works very similar to stain; the surface should still be (lightly) prepped, and a poly coat should always be used to protect the surface (if it's being stored indoors). You'll want to use a polyurethane formulated for exterior if you plan to use it outdoors

While gel stain is pretty versatile, I wouldn't use it in situations where the wood has very intricate detail.  It tended to gather in valleys and tight areas.

Because gel stain doesn't actually penetrate the wood, it would be a perfect solution for those wood staining projects where the wood isn't penetrating evenly. That sounds dirty. Let's try that again...This would work great for projects that don't absorb the stain the evenly. Remember the chair I reupholstered back here? Well, the stain did NOT take well. Gel stain would've been a great option! Oh, and that kitchen island I restored? Gel stain would've been a much better option that painting it. This makes me sad. (Yes, Amy, I remember you telling me to use gel stain on it...)

I received an oak mirror from my parents that had been sitting in my basement collecting dust for the past year. So when I was looking for a mirror to hang above the mantle (and help bring more light into the dining room) I'm glad I remembered I had this sitting around. I brought it up a few weeks back and hung it on the wall (did I dust it off before hanging it? Absolutely not).

I knew the oak finish wasn't going to fit in my house. But I was torn between painting it and staining it. So, what to do in this situation? Let it hang out in the space for a few weeks until I make a decision. Here's my theory - it's easier to stain it first and paint it second if you don't like it rather than painting it and having to sand it later. I knew (from past experience) that I wouldn't get the coverage I was looking for with a regular liquid stain so I set out to find those gel stains that I've read so much about in the past years.

Minwax makes a gel stain that is sold at Lowe's and Home Depot - except there are only 4 color choices and none of what I was looking for. General Finishes makes a dark stain I want, but had to hunt down since it's not carried at the large box stores. I did a quick google shopping search and found that Rockler Woodworking (less than a mile from my house) carries this stuff...and it's only $8!

Here is what I used to stain the mirror:

First, I lightly roughed up the finish with 100 grit sandpaper, then wiped down the wood to remove all sanding dust.  I did a quick sanding, because the stain doesn't penetrate the wood you don't need to fully sand!

Then I taped off the mirror portion making sure only the wood was visible.

I used rubber gloves when staining.  The stain isn't good for your skin and it's also really tough to remove from nails (especially when it gets under your nails).  So it's best to make sure you keep plenty of rubber gloves around for staining.

I used an old, clean sock to stain.  Cotton socks don't shed fibers and also provide a clean finish (this is why I wouldn't recommend using a towel).  I applied a thin, even coat of the stain using the sock.  And cleaned off any clumps with a second clean sock.

I did not wipe the stain off! Remember that gel stain sits on top of the wood?  This is why you don't want to wipe it off.  I don't care what the can says.  Don't wipe it off.

 I gave it a good 10 hours to dry (in a well ventilated space on a warm, dry day) before adding a second coat. 

It took 2 thin coats of gel stain to get the look I wanted.  I felt like another coat would've been too much.  There was still a little variation in the color (you can see it in the picture above) and another coat would've made it so there was no variation.  After applying the second coat, I allowed the stain to dry a full 18 hours.   

Then I applied a regular liquid polyurethane coat in satin (you do not need to use a gel poly - regular poly works just fine) and let dry another few hours until no longer tacky.

It's not visible in these pictures, but the ashy, dark stain really complements the rest of the dining room (I have another project going on across the room...). 

I think the cedar surround in the fireplace will have to be lightly stained.  I'm thinking a very light, transparent coat to make it look weathered.  We'll see!

 

I'm liking the dark stain and how it carries on the darkness in the rest of the dining room (and living room). 

There are still a few more things I'm looking to do in the dining room before I can call this room "done for now."  Like install a gallery wall, shorten the too-long drapes, and build that farmhouse table.  But don't get me wrong. You might walk in one day and see that I've painted the mirror white. Or maybe it's a different mirror altogether. 

 

Note: I used quite a bit more gel stain for a little mirror than I would've using a liquid stain. I went through 1/2 the can of the 1/2 pint, so for any large project I would definitely suggest getting the quart.

 

Mary