Review: General Finishes Gel Stains for Wood

I seldom rave about any product, but General Finish's Gel Stain is a dream product for the DIY crowd. The stain is a yogurt-textured gel you wipe on with a lint-free cloth, and wipe off. It doesn't drip, doesn't run, and doesn't stink up your house. It works fine on new wood, however I'm impressed because the stain can be applied over most old finishes to refresh or darken the color with no stripping or sanding. I'm using it on all my faded walnut cabinets instead of replacing them.

The stain comes in 11 shades, ranging from pale golden pine through brown walnut, red mahogany or cherry, to a dark chocolate brown. Gel stain colors of special interest for refreshing wood color: Colonial Maple (neutral light brown), Candlelite (light reddish brown), Antique Walnut (neutral medium brown), Brown Mahogany (medium reddish brown), Georgian Cherry (very red, use with caution), and Java (dark, neutral brown like the trendy "Pottery Barn" style finish). The shades can be mixed to get an intermediate shade.

To refresh a wood color you like, pick a gel stain color that is between the lightest and darkest shades of the current color. A color change with gel stain can only go darker or redder, or both. If you want a lighter color, you are into strip and sand territory and I don't usually go there.

General Finishes does not sell its products in the "big box" chain stores. Use their store locator, or order online from their approved outlets.

General Refreshing Tips:
* When you are cleaning old wood before applying a stain, keep changing cloths. You want to remove the dirt, not spread it around.
* Rub the stain on with a circular motion to make sure it gets into all the scratches. Then wipe it off with smooth straight strokes following the grain of the wood.
* Several thin coats of stain are better than one thick one. Use a topcoat to protect the stain.
* I use General Finish's Gel Topcoat for a wipe-on satin finish.

Furniture Refreshing Tips: Wipe the furniture thoroughly with mineral spirits first to remove old wax and silicone-based polishes.

Kitchen and Bath Cabinet Refreshing Tips:
* As well as removing old layers of polish, you have to scrub off the grease and crud from years of use.
* Start by scrubbing the doors and cabinet frames with a de-greasing detergent, such as Dawn or Formula 409.
* Wipe the cabinets with mineral spirits, then stain them.

Floor Refreshing Tips: A worn and lightly scuffed hardwood floor can get a refreshed finish with a gel stain. Don't expect total newness, but you can easily get the appearance of a floor that has been cared for by granny for years. Protect your work by applying a urethane finish meant for floors after you refresh the color with the gel stain.