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Gel Stains

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A few words about the three brands we tried

As the photo above reveals, the three gel stains we tried varied considerably in thickness. The Minwax product was just slightly thicker than the Bartley product, and the Wood-Kote stain was considerably thicker than the other two. So, the Wood-Kote product possessed all of the qualities-and drawbacks-of a gel stain to a greater degree than the others.

For example, the Wood-Kote did the best job of masking uneven wood coloration and graining, but it was also the hardest to apply and wipe off. Removing it from crevices was a chore.

If you're a novice and you like the goof-proof nature of gel stains, you can use the Bartley and Minwax products for all of your staining work. Regardless of your skill level, the Wood-Kote seemed best suited to the tasks described in the previous section.

So go ahead and give gel stains a try. Just remember to always test your stain on a sample piece before applying it to your project.

Where to call for more information

Minwax
10 Mountainview Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458-1934
homepage: http://www.minwax.com

Bartley Collection
65 Engerman Ave.
Denton Industrial Park
Denton, MD 21629
Call: 800/787-2800

Wood-Kote
P.O. Box 17192
Portland, OR 97217
Call: 800/843-7666
homepage: http://www.woodkote.com

For more indepth information on finishing, visit the Finishing and Refinishing Techniques section within the WOOD Store.

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Comments (4)

dagwat wrote:

These thick gel stains are HORRIBLE! I tried MinWax which IMHO is worthless. It is beyond gel, it is a PASTE and although supposedly oak, it was BLACK. The gel stains I've used which were Very Good was Olympic brand, especially Colonial Oak. Beautiful, great thinner consistency yet gelled for use over paint or metal. Works wonderfully, looks great. Unfortunately I can't find it anymore. It appears to have been replaced on everyone's shelves by Min Wax.

3/13/2013 04:03:09 PM Report Abuse

dchellis wrote:

Do not care for the gel stain, I have only tried the Min Wax product, but I always go back to the oil base stain. I would be willing to try from another manufacture.

3/7/2013 12:43:09 PM Report Abuse

harrywoodfinish wrote:

The gel wood stain can in the photo on the first page is Wood Kote's Jel'd Stain. I have used their wood stain many times before, it is a very high quality product.

7/7/2010 10:49:30 AM Report Abuse

jfoliveri wrote:

General Finishes is an outstanding gel stain and has a great wiping gel varnish

5/8/2010 07:55:28 PM Report Abuse