NO GALLONS CAN SHIP TO THE FOLLOWING STATES
California, Utah, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Hampshire, and New Jersey
Please keep in mind when placing your order that only quarts of the gel stain can be sent to the above states. If gallons are purchased we will contact you with cancellation information.
Gel Stain from General Finishes is home of the popular Java Gel Stain featured across the nation’s social media for upcycling furniture and cabinets. 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.
Please click the below headers to reveal the instructional info for this product.
General Finishes Pre-Stain Conditioner Natural to improve color uniformity. Gel Stain is loaded with pigments that provide deep uniform coverage.
-
Hand-Application over Raw Wood:
- Optional: Apply a slip coat of mineral spirits over the raw wood immediately before application to facilitate the flow of stain on the surface and reduce lap marks. (This is not a conditioner.)
- Working quickly, apply a LIBERAL coat with smooth, even strokes using a natural bristle brush, foam brush, staining pad, pad applicator or foam roller.
- Gel Stain dries quickly for all the reasons customers love it: it is loaded with colorants and solids. If not enough stain is used, the surface may dry too quickly, causing an uneven appearance.
- On large surfaces, leave a wet edge between passes to prevent lap marks. We recommend getting a buddy to help apply the stain.
- Stain one section at a time, leaving a wet edge between sections.
- Wipe off the excess evenly with the grain using high-quality absorbent paper towels, shop towels or open-weave cloths, such as cotton terry towels for larger projects.
- Check for missed spots and lap marks before moving to the next section.
- Do NOT use cotton t-shirts to wipe away stain because they will “push” the stain around and not absorb it.
- Immediately correct lap marks by rewetting the entire working area with stain and wiping off the excess.
- Pull excess stain out of corners and details with a natural bristle brush.
- Let the stain dry 12-24 hours in ideal conditions: 70°F/20°C, 50-70% humidity. Inadequate dry time is one of the top reasons for Gel Stain finish failure. If in doubt, wait longer. Increase dry time if:
- Humidity is over 80%
- 3+ coats are applied (not recommended)
- Thick coats are applied
- Layering General Finishes water- and oil-based products:
- Water over oil: Let oil-based products dry 72+hr before applying water-based products
- Oil over water: Let water-based products dry 24+hr before applying oil-based products
- If Gel Stain is tacky after 5 days, dry time requirements have not been met and it may never dry. The only alternative is to strip off the finish and start over.
- Optional: apply a second coat to deepen the color. Apply no more than 2 coats.
- Finish with 3 coats of General Finishes topcoat, letting each coat dry 72 hours.
-
Dry Brushing Over an Existing Finish
- Finishes dry in two directions: upwards the air side and absorption in raw wood. When finishes are applied over an existing finish, dry times must be increased.
- Prep cleaning and sanding is essential. See “Step 1: Preparation for Gel Stain.”
- Test your complete finishing process before starting. The stain color is affected by variances in wood and deepened with the application of topcoat.
- Apply stain with a natural bristle brush or foam brush. 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.
- Let the stain dry 72+ hours in ideal conditions: 70°F/20°C, 50-70% humidity. You can tell if an oil-based finish is dry if it is no longer tacky, and cool to the touch. If in doubt, wait longer. Increase dry time if:
- Humidity is over 80%
- 3+ coats are applied
- Thick coats are applied
- Applying over products from other brands
- Layering General Finishes water- and oil-based products:
- Water over oil: Let oil-based products dry 72+hr before applying water-based products
- Oil over water: Let water-based products dry 24+hr before applying oil-based products
- If Gel Stain is tacky after 5 days, dry time requirements have not been met and it may never dry. The only alternative is to strip the finish off and start over.
- Optional: apply a second coat to deepen the color. Apply no more than 2 coats.
- Finish with 3 coats of General Finishes topcoat. See “Step 3: Topcoat Over Oil-Based Stain.”
-
Painting on Stain Without Wiping Away (raw wood or existing finish):
- When painting on Gel Stain without wiping away, let the stain dry 72+ hours between coats in ideal conditions: 70°F/20°C; 50-70% humidity.
- Layering General Finishes water- and oil-based products:
- Water over oil: Let oil-based products dry 72+hr before applying water-based products
- Oil over water: Let water-based products dry 24+hr before applying oil-based products
- Tip: If you are using General Finishes Java Gel Stain, General Finishes recommends using General Finishes Dark Chocolate Milk Paint 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.
General Finishes Enduro-Var Topcoat with oil-based products.
General Finishes Arm-R-Seal
- Thinner consistency.
- Oil-based.
- Ambers.
- Available in Satin, Semi-Gloss and Gloss sheens.
- Because of its thinner consistency, Arm-R-Seal is easier to apply over large and detailed surfaces, such as kitchen cabinets.
- General Finishes most durable retail topcoat and suitable for high-use areas.
General Finishes Gel Topcoat
- Thick consistency.
- Oil-based.
- Ambers.
- Available in Satin sheen. This satin is shinier than Arm-R-Seal satin.
- Durable and suitable for high-use areas.
General Finishes High Performance or General Finishes Flat Out Flat Water BAsed Topcoat
- Looks “white” in the can.
- Drys clear.
- Water cleanup.
- Brush or spray.
- High Performance is very durable and suitable for high-use areas.
- Flat Out Flat is designed to look and feel like a wax finish; it is recommended for low-use projects.