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May 11, 2020 by Bre

Helpful Gel Stain Tips & Tricks for a Perfect Finish

Over the years I’ve used gel stain on many home maintenance and furniture makeover projects, and I’ve learned a lot!  Gel stain is an amazing tool for reviving wood, but it can be tricky to use if you’re not prepared.  Because of that, I am sharing my most helpful gel stain tips and tricks that will make a difference in the quality of your gel stain projects.

Gel stain is an awesome product for furniture refinishing and for refinishing wood surfaces in the home. It can be tricky to use though! Read this post to learn some helpful gel stain tips and tricks that will help you get the perfect finish on your next project!

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

What is Gel Stain?

Since you’re visiting this post, you probably already know what gel stain is.  But, just in case you don’t, gel stain is a thick stain that sits on top of the wood finish instead of penetrating the wood like regular stain does.

It is awesome to use on previously-stained wood, as it allows you to change the color of the wood and refinish it without stripping it to bare wood.  For example, at my old house, I refinished my front door with gel stain, and in my new house, I’ve refinished stair railings, stair treads, and a china cabinet top.  Most recently, I painted my front door with gel stain to make it look like wood!

Gel stain can also be used on raw wood or unfinished wood, but you’ll need to take some extra steps, which I’ll fill you in on below!

Why Use Gel Stain?

In my opinion, the main reason why you would use gel stain instead of traditional stain is if you’re changing the color of wood that’s previously been stained.  It is easy to re-stain wood with gel stain, but requires a lot more work to re-stain wood with traditional penetrating wood stain.

If you are staining raw wood, I personally would use penetrating stain as it is less expensive than gel stain and gives a better finish on raw wood than gel stain. I personally do not like how dark gel stain looks on raw wood.Gel stain is an amazing product that lets you easily restain wood. Get some helpful gel stain tips and tricks in this post.

Gel Stain Tips and Tricks

OK, enough of the background info!  Let’s get down to the best gel stain tips and tricks, which I’ve compiled over the last several years of working with gel stain on various projects.

Wear gloves while working with gel stain.

You do not want to get gel stain on your hands.  I repeat, you do not want to get gel stain on your hands!  It is sticky and difficult to get off of your skin.  Because of that, make sure to wear rubber gloves or disposable latex gloves while applying gel stain!  

What is the best way to apply gel stain?

For large swaths of wood (like a tabletop), I like to use stain pads to apply gel stain.  Stain pads allow you to cover a large area of wood while maintaining a lot of control over the application.

For smaller areas, foam brushes are my gel stain applicator of choice.  Foam brushes are great because they’re disposable, and gel stained brushes are a mess I personally would not want to clean up.  Foam brushes also apply gel stain evenly and don’t leave brushstrokes in the finish.

How long do I leave gel stain on before wiping off excess?

Make sure to read the directions on the gel stain can, as it will tell you how long to leave on the gel stain before wiping off.

Gel stain is wiped off after a certain amount of time. It's important to leave it long enough to achieve desired color, but not too long that it doesn't wipe off.

Generally, I wait around 3 minutes before wiping off.

If you wipe off too soon, you will not see a difference in wood color.

If you wait too long to wipe off, the gel stain will start to dry and will become very difficult to remove.

How do I get the right shade or color of gel stain?

Generally speaking, it is MUCH easier to use gel stain to achieve a darker wood color on a previously finished piece of wood than it is to get a lighter color.

Layering coats of gel stain (per manufacturer directions), will result in a more opaque finish that is darker and shows less of the woodgrain.  This type of finish looks more like paint than stain.

Also, you can layer different colors of gel stain, or mix different colors of gel stain, to achieve custom shades.  This is especially useful if you’re trying to color match an existing wood tone.

How do I fix areas of gel stain that have dried too quickly?

If you have gel stain that has started to get tacky before you were able to wipe it off, dip a rag in mineral spirits and apply a little bit to the problem area.  The excess gel stain should come up easily.  Once the area has dried, recoat with gel stain and wipe off within the proper timeframe.

Be careful not to apply gel stain to areas where the gel stain was not removed with mineral spirits or you will create an uneven finish.

If the gel stain has totally dried, sand it off and start the process over again.

Do I need to sand before applying gel stain?

For previously finished wood, yes, you need to sand before applying 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.

Some sanding is required prior to applying gel stain.

For raw wood, yes, you also need to sand before applying gel stain.  This will open up the grain and allow the gel stain to create an even richer and more even color.

Do I need to use Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner with Gel Stain?

If you’re applying gel stain to previously stained wood, you probably do not need to use pre-stain wood conditioner.  You may consider it if your wood piece, once sanded, seems uneven or damaged.  The wood conditioner will not hurt anything but can only help.

If you’re applying gel stain to raw wood, you absolutely need to use pre-stain wood conditioner!  Pre-stain conditioner helps prevent blotchy absorption and/or patchy spots in your finish.  As I said earlier, I wouldn’t use gel stain on raw wood, but if you are doing it for some reason, make sure to use a pre-stain conditioner first!

You must use pre-stain conditioner before applying gel stain to raw or unfinished wood.

Should I seal or topcoat gel stain?

Yes! You should definitely seal or topcoat gel stain projects.

Once dry, gel stain has a naturally “glossed” look, which may lead some to believe it does not need to have a topcoat applied.  However, it really must be protected with polyurethane or some other “tough coat” or “performance topcoat,” in order to give it the protection it needs.  

Make sure to seal gel stain with a topcoat like polyurethane.

I like to use fast-drying polyurethane or this performance topcoat for indoor surfaces, and Spar Urethane for outdoor surfaces like doors.

***

Those are my top gel stain tips and tricks, and I hope they help you achieve a finish that you love!  Let me know if you have any to add.  I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

-Bre

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Comments

  1. Julia says

    July 5, 2020 at 1:26 pm

    I am currently researching stains and sealants for my front door refinishing project. I have really appreciated your findings and recommendations! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bre says

      July 7, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      Hi, Julia – that’s awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know. Best of luck with your project!

  2. Joanna says

    July 10, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    Using gel stain for the first time on floating shelves. I’m a total rookie and wish I would have come across your post before I started. First I applied wood conditioner then applied my first coat with a paper towel thinking it would be similar process as regular wood stain. I was totally wrong about that, I know now! All four shelves are different colors and have streaks. It’s been 2 hours since I’ve finished, would you recommend me just sanding them
    all down and starting over again?

    Reply
    • Bre says

      July 11, 2020 at 9:11 am

      Hi, Joanna! Oh man, I’m sorry! I know that’s frustrating but they will turn out great in the end! Before you sand them all down, you could try applying another coat of gel stain to one of the shelves to see if that evens out the colors and streaks. Sometimes you can do some good blending with gel stain, but it could result in a more opaque finish than you’re looking for. If you try one one and don’t like it, you could sand all and start over. If you’re pressed for time and don’t want to wait to see how that works, your best bet probably is to sand and repeat the conditioning and staining process. GOOD LUCK!!! 🙂

  3. Carol says

    July 28, 2020 at 1:02 pm

    Wish I would have read this years ago before I started using Gel stain. I love gel stain! Have used it on
    Dining tables, kitchen cabinets and consoles. Yes gloves are a must!
    It’s extremely difficult to get it off your hands or anything! Lesson learned the hard way. Sponge brushes are best and just throw them away. (Get a Dollar stores)
    I put the gel I’m using in a small Tupperware and close up when done or take a break. Find that gel stain
    doesn’t store very well unless in the can and tightly sealed. Can’t store in the Tupperware for a long
    period of time.

    Reply
    • Bre says

      August 25, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      Carol – I’m glad you agree with the tips! Also good to know that it should definitely be stored in the can. Thanks!

  4. Anne says

    October 3, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Used gel stain on nightstand. 2 wks later applied Polycrylic & it goes on like water on glass. Not adhering properly? Dried quickly but looks the same. Both are Minwax. Please advise.

    Reply
    • Bre says

      October 12, 2020 at 10:03 am

      Anne, I’m so sorry you’re having this problem! That is something I’m not familiar with. I think you should call Minwax’s customer service to see if they can help. I am really sorry!

  5. carlene atkins says

    December 29, 2020 at 11:54 am

    Anne i applied one coat of gel stain, looks great. I have found a few rough places do i need to sand over before i use topcoat.

    Reply

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