DIY General Finishes Gel Stain Table

Have a table top that wont take the stain evenly or is just a veneer with MDF underneath? This DIY will help you fix that! We used General Finishes Java Gel Stain on the two table tops shown in this video. Most Gel Stains take 6-8 hours to dry, it may take longer in cold or humid climates. Make sure to always follow manufacturer safetly recomendations when using any type of stain or polyurethane.

[RayShellz]

Thank you so much for this video... I youtubed about 100 videos on how to stain a table and failed just about on every single one of them... the original stain of my coffee table would not come off... but the corners were all chipped in a very light color... this covered all the light spots... wish this was my first video

[Three_little_pinecones]

Would you suggest adding a wood conditioner on raw wood before applying gel stain? Thank-you

[breakingbadheisenberg]

I know this video is 5 years old but I'm hoping your still active, I tried gel staining a wood spice rack, had problems from the start, literally had no time to wipe off after applying? I live in the high desert, extremely dry weather but the day I started staining it was in the mid 70s and my gel stain dried before I could wipe ? I had to re-sand to get the over dark spotted stain off, tried again to stain still having problems getting uniform stain ? Any thoughts or advice you could give me ? Would very much appreciate it, thanks

[jerrypeltier]

I did my first project this past week . I have a large oak table that I stripped down then put layer of Poly on it and sanded with 220. I started putting on my coats of Java but it looks a little streaky? I want to still see the wood grain but want it a little lighter then gow yours turned out.
Do i have to sand all the way down and start over? Should i just sand lightly and then put more coats on?

[sandieneitzel]

How do you apply gel stain and poly over a starburst table top? Do you have a tutorial on it? Thanks!

[CT-qevk]

Great video, thank you! I used gel stain to refinish my kitchen table after accidentally spraying it with bleach cleaner. I used the same stain you used in this video and it came out great. When I apply the general finishes water based top coat, do I sand it before the first coat or just in between coats? Please advise. Thank you!

[melindaschermerhorn]

I love this video. I found the same table and chairs. I’m looking for information about the dining table and chairs, could you give me any information that you know about the style?

[dionysuspapadopolous]

Thank you for taking the tine to respond to my challenge. I also tried sanding it to bare wood and tried lightly applying del stain abd it still looks like brown with all the grain covered. I am waiting for the weather in Chicago to warm up a bit and then will completely strip tbe door. I really like gel stain but have not had much success. If you live in Chicagoland i will pay you to refinish the door.

[susancrumb]

Hello. I’m considering a gel stain for my kitchen cupboards. They are stained an oak color with Polly over them and are made of tongue and groove pine. What do you think ? I would like either a light gray. Or white wash ? Suggestions please

[truthhurts]

I LOVE java! Redoing my kitchen table with it.

[joshdevos]

So I’m preparing a medium golden oak desktop for gel stain and used 320 grit sandpaper for the top. Is that to fine and should I go over the surface again with a lower grit like 120 or 220? I found that there is quite a bit of dust in the grain from the 320 so was going to use some tsp to clean before staining. Thanks for your help. Nicki

[innerscentbeauty]

Did you not wipe the gel stain off after applying it? Do we not have to, or did you miss that in the video?

[mariehernandez]

Can I use jell stain on white paint. What to stain the stairs hand rails.

[babycakes]

I love the plastic bag💝I like to use what I have👍The table looks awesome👍

[nicoleshupe]

I’ve never used a gel before. I have just sanded an old oak table top down to bare wood. I would like a dark black but can’t find black stain anywhere. If I use several coats of a dark or black gel will the wood grain still show. I live the grain on the oak top.

[dionysuspapadopolous]

I have tried gel stain on several projects all with limited success. In all cases they were prefinished pieces that I sanded with 200 grit sandpaper and followed up with 400 grit sandpaper. I did use shellac before applying the gel stain as I wanted an even color. I tried three different color s from American finished and in all cases it looked like a painted surface when it was finished. I sanded in between coats and used either your gloss or statin finish. I like the concept and everything I see in the videos looks great. in practical application I get very different results. I am open to any suggestions, please.

[TheArbanFamTravels]

That Gel, looks like it realy works well, much better then the oil that I have used!!

[momofblessingsfaithhopelo]

Love this! I just picked up some of the java gel, also found out my table I bought is mdf with a pine vineer. Do I need to use stripper to get the top layer of urathane off bc I’m afraid if I sand to much it will take veneer “wood look” off. I’m so worried I’ll mess it up. Also redoing my hutch and the top part has a trim which matches my table except prob satin coat. Do I need to sand this or can I just clean it or strip and then add the gel stain. Please help! Thanks

[NotTooShabbyPatti]

I have two end tables that I was originally going to do a dark stain on top with a white base. Then when I saw your bleached wood video I thought I would try that. After sanding, the top of one of them has several dark stains and I also accidentally chipped some of the veneer with the sander. I used a little wood putty and decided to try my original plan and use the Java gel stain. Will it cover over wood filler or will I need to paint the whole thing? A while back you said you couldn't stain wood filler or Bondo but I noticed in one of the answers here you said it would cover Bondo so maybe gel stain is the exception.

[MM-pwwb]

Great teacher, awesome job! Thank you