#javagelstain

[mustardseedocala-blog]

#Enjoythejourney #handpainted #custombuilt #sign using #Generalfinishes #javagelstain, #chalkcouturetransfer and #chalkpaste, then sealed with #flatoutflat all on #oldpalletwood! Came out very cute! $25 (at The Mustard Seed Collection)

[crazy1too-blog]

Custom piece already to head back home finished in Dixie Belle drop Cloth dark wax and java gel stain ... #dixiebellepaint #bestpaintonplanetearth #dropcloth #darkwax #generalfinishes #javagelstain #creativemoments1 #customwork #clingonbrushes

[crazy1too-blog]

Custom piece already to head back home finished in Dixie Belle drop Cloth dark wax and java gel stain ... #dixiebellepaint #bestpaintonplanetearth #dropcloth #darkwax #generalfinishes #javagelstain #creativemoments1 #customwork (at Strathmore, Alberta)

[debuysere07]

While I wasn't able to salvage the original veneer the wood underneath was gorgeous and in fabulous condition! #1930s #waterfalldresser #waterfallfurniture #furniturerestoration #furnituremakeover #forsale #wahm #oneofakind #antique #furniture #refinishedfurniture #paintedfurniture #chalkpaint #chalkpaintedfurniture #generalfinishes #javagel #javagelstain

[lilmissmortgage]

Gel Staining Stairs

When we first moved into our little fixer upper the stairs leading to the basement were raw, unfinished wood with years of dirt ground into them. It makes sense not to spend too much time prettying stairs that only lead to work/storage space but they drove me nuts. 

After a little bit of light sanding with my trusty hand sander to get the dirt out I applied a coat of Jacobean stain. 

Unfortunately my sanding missed bits of glue along the bottom edges and I’m way too lazy to sand all over again.

So, I waited until the coat of stain dried, then I took out the same can of Java gel stain I use for everything and went over all the stairs with it, using a thicker line to cover the old glue spots. And tada! Here they are after java gel stain with a layer of satin poly.

[lilmissmortgage]

Deliciously Dark Doors

Gel stain is deceptively named, it's not really a stain, just a very thin paint that sits on top of the wood, it does not sink in. This is actually a good thing though because in order to use real stain I would have had to sand like a mother in order to get off all the old polyurethane and - as proven by past experience - I always manage to miss a spot. After a light sanding, literally just giving the door a once over with a sanding block to rough the surface up enough so that the gel would stick to it, I started in with General Finishes Java Gel Stain.

Before:

I used disposable plastic gloves with a sock over them to give the doors their first coat. A little dab of gel paint goes a long way & if you want the grain of the wood to be visible do multiple light coats rather than one thick one. 1st Coat:

The sock could not get into every crevice though & I had to use a paint brush for the angles (check out that terrible carpet).

I waited ten hours between coats to allow proper drying & after my third and final coat was dry I used General Finishes Satin Polyurethane to complete the project. I'm not a big fan of shiny finishes so be warned that Satin Poly only gives off a very faint sheen. Also, one quart of Java Gel Stain was enough for me to do my kitchen cabinets, stairs, a table, 5 doors and countless other projects so don't feel pressured to over order.

Completed Gel Stained Door:

Sooo much better! It's no wonder I'm obsessed with Gel Stain.