Top Coat Gel Stain
Think of stain as the color and top coat as the sealer and protectant.
Top coat gel stain. This is a water based top coat so you have to wait 3 days after doing the oil gel stain. Gel stain works on most surfaces from wooden to metal and even painted surfaces can be gel stained. Our gel stain and topcoat is a one step combination product which is a little bit of stain mixed into a durable topcoat. General finishes focuses on state of the art water base finishes and waterbourne coatings and is the country s leader in waterbased finish technology offering wood stains dye stains top coats gel stains exterior wood finishes liquid oilbase stains water based lacquers furniture paint.
On the downside gel stain is not available in as many color options as traditional stains. The beauty of gel stain comes from the thick urethane which can carry a lot of color to any surface but that color must be sealed in with. This was the gel stain top coat i chose to finish my kitchen and bathroom cabinets. It also has a uv stabilizer which helps protect the finish from breaking down in the sun.
Wet or tacky gel stain can be removed easily with a rag moistened with mineral spirits. Multiple coats will create a more opaque finish but the sheen will remain matte. To complete the graining process wait until the first coat of minwax gel stain is completely dry 24 48 hours then apply a second coat of gel stain with a natural bristle brush in the direction of the grain pattern created. Some of the colours can be a thick gel or a thin consistency.
Unlike traditional oil and water based stains gel stain is very easy to apply by wiping it on with a brush versus having to rub it in like most stains. Appropriate for mill work furniture cabinets garage doors windows decks and more.