How To Paint Over Java Gel Stain

Java Gel is a pop stain has been featured widely on blogs and social media pages dedicated to re-purposing and upcycling furniture and cabinets.

Interested in learning more? Watch the video below and continue reading for instructions on how to apply this Gel Stain, plus get tips and project inspiration!

Watch This Live In-Studio Demonstration

Side Tabular array Makeover

When we finally got our hands on some, the wonderful, furniture-restyling ninja, Kerri documented her first experience with the highly anticipated production.

Working with General Finishes Gel Stain Over Finished Wood

Full general Finishes Gel Stain is an oil-based stain that tin can easily create a lustrous finish. Initially, it was formulated to enhance raw woods, allowing a layering of colours but tin as well exist used over existing finishes. Gel stains are thicker in consistency than liquid oil-based stains. This ways no drips, runs or spills!

There are two methods for using gel stain over existing finishes:

Apply On/Wipe Off Method: Work on i section at a time. Apply gel stain liberally and wipe off excess stain with a material or high quality paper towels. Wipe with the grain, blending any bordering areas. Additional coats will darken the initial coat.

Painting Stain On: This method is unremarkably used if a very nighttime painted look is desired. Dry castor on sparingly the first coat. Brush on the second coat heavily with a bristle or foam castor and and then dry-castor the excess stain off with a make clean brush. Using the flat role of a dry bristle brush (slightly angled) brush beyond and plume out in the management of the grain pattern. Additional coats will give a darker colour.

In the following photos, nosotros show yous how to accomplish a stained finish using the "use and wipe" method over an original scarlet end.

Start past ensuring your piece is free of dust. View our cleaning infographic here.

Lightly sand the slice only to scuff the surface, not to remove cease. Follow by wiping with a tack cloth or clammy rag to remove fine grit.

For this case, nosotros have selected "Java" Gel Stain, though we carry several other gel stain colours. Mix the gel stain well with stir stick. It is best to wear gloves and an apron or erstwhile wearing apparel every bit this product is difficult to remove from fabric.

Using a foam castor, apply a liberal amount of stain to the surface following the grain of the forest.

Once the surface is covered, lightly wipe away excess product with a soft cloth, similar a cheese material or high quality paper towels. Yous will see the original surface with this start application and you can choose to employ the original colour to assist create a grained effect.

You can use additional coats of the gel stain to achieve a darker, richer look that will wait layered instead of solid (equally achieved with the "painted on" technique). In this example, we used two coats of stain and allowed a bit of the original cherry finish to come through. Full general Finishes recommends 6-8 hours of dry out time between coats.

A top coat is non necessary due to the high amount of urethane in the gel stain that will provide protection. As an choice for maximum durability on high traffic pieces, yous tin use General Finishes Gel Topcoat or General Finishes water-based High Performance Acme Coat, merely yous need to wait 72 hours earlier applying when changing from oil to water-based finishes.

Nosotros completed our project by painting the remaining areas with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ Provence and finished with Annie Sloan Soft Clear Wax. Also note that General Finishes does non recommend the use of Gel Stain over laminates or high gloss surfaces.