How To Gel Stain Cabinets
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- čas přidán 22. 11. 2019
- Rachelle of Originally Worn shows you how to stain over an existing finish on cabinetry using General Finishes Gel Stain. This method works great for furniture too. It is a way to update an outdated finish to one you will love for years to come.
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Thanks, Rachelle! You explain your process very well.
Rhonda Johnson thank you!
How perfect. I was actually wondering how antique walnut would look over my orangey oak cabinets. Your step by step is great
Thank you! Glad it helped!
I LOOOOOVE your channel and instructions!
You definitely dispel any confusion on how to do projects properly!
Thank you❣️
Aww thank you so much! I always strive to share what tips and tricks I have discovered to make projects easier ❤️
Awesome tutorial. Thanks! I love watching your brush technique btw. Its very fluid and calming.
❤️❤️❤️ thank you!!
You do a beautiful job and explain the steps + techniques clearly. Very helpful video. So glad to find your channel.
Thank you so much for that! I hope you find inspiration ❤️
Great video explaining your process. I'm following the steps you outline pretty closely. I found my golden oak cabinets have become very dirty over the years and really needed some serious cleaning. I found a couple gnarly slivers in some spots that nailed me in my fingers through the rag but it's all good.
Thanks for taking the time to share your skills at doing this task. I've learned a lot and saved a lot as a result!
Ken B hey! Thank you for your kind words! Oh yeah I’ve had that happen a couple time with slivers, and dang you’re right, it does hurt! They always seem to go right in between the fingers or underneath the fingernail. LOL
I am so happy I found this video!! I have been looking to do this exact thing to my cabinets, I just had no idea where to begin. I thank you for the step by step process. I also found it extremely helpful that you repeated to paint in the direction of the grain😁
I am so glad I could help with this! Beware it is a long a process ;) but as far as I know I have never had unhappy clients with this finish (or any others, lol)
Wow!! Finally, the finish I'm looking for! Thank you!
Glad to help ❤️❤️
Exactly what I've been looking for , great job!
Wonderful! Thank you
EXCELLENT! just what I needed> i am giving my old kitchen a renovation. I bought gel stain for the cabinets so i will follow your process. Thank you very much>
Wonderful! Good luck with it, it’s a long process! Also, be sure to check out General Finishes youtube, they too have great instructional videos on this.
Great video. I like how you give an explanation to every little detail of the cause and effects, of procedures. very educational, Amazing work
Thank you so very much!!
Most detailed video I've found great job!
Keah Monique thank you ❤️
Yes, thank you, your video is awesome! I am putting waaaaay too much stain on my cabinets! “Dry brush”, PERFECT!! 😍❤️ Thanks for helping me to improve my technique! 👍
So happy that I could help!!! Thank you ❤️
Great instructions and explanation of why she does what she does in each step.
Thank you very much!
Holy cow. THAT is a lot of work. Very nice final product.
Thank you! And yes!! It’s a ton of work! Definitely not my favorite thing to do. lol
Boy that’s a long process! Always wondered how to do Gel stain. Thanks for great instruction! New sub here.
Thanks so much and yes, it is very long! Staining is not my favorite that’s for sure ;)
Excellent job! You take your time to do the job properly.
Thank you very much!
Great video, you are great at staying on topic while explaining each step for all to understand. Great teacher beautiful product!
colleen ballantine thank you so much! I always joke that I could never be a teacher, but it seems I may have found a situation where it is possible... kids school work, not so much 🤪😘
I so agree with her. Trying to learn and your a great teacher. I have done the stain thing but want ti change up to Annie Sloan for cabinets. Watched a million different videos but yours are really really good!!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you so much! Hope you saw my Annie Sloan ones too! I love Annie Sloan! I have it on lots of surfaces around my home (including different colors on different cabinets) and it has held up for years.
wondering if you lightly sand between all coats of Annie sloan?? some say to but I never saw you do it to the cupboard door.
I have sometimes, others not. Really just depends on how smooth you want your final finish to be.
What a beautiful job!
Thank you!
Excellent tutorial! Easy to understand. Thanks
Thank you!
With this process l figure it will take me close to 3 years to refinish my kitchen cabinets!
Michael Z quality things take time 🤪
you want to be under 30 years old to use this method or you may not see the final product
Airless spray gun more faster and done in one day 😁
I better get started then, I got lots of cabinets lol I’m excited to use the same exact gel stain
Thanks so much for this. I was struggling because I was wiping my 2nd and 3rd coats and experience exactly what you said. I will do the dry brush technique and see how it turns out. Fortunately I was practicing on a spare door.
So happy I could help! Restaining previously finished surfaces are kinda a pain!! Good luck ❤️
Well done! thanks for sharing your expertise.
Lord Hytro thank you!
This was the best tutorial I’ve seen on this subject. Thank you so much!!
Thank you so very much ❤️
You all prolly dont give a shit but does someone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account??
I was stupid lost the account password. I love any assistance you can give me.
@Griffin Cody instablaster :)
@Isaias Joe I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im trying it out atm.
Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Isaias Joe it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thank you so much you saved my account :D
Excellent video!!! You explain everything so thoroughly!
I need to write every video you have down in a notebook by topic so I'll know what all you have.
Susan Crowe awww thank you so much for your continued support 😘😘😘😘
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Grated video I’m going to trying on these coming winter we got winter for 7 months plus all these COVI19 nothing Nothing else to do I choose to stay home safety and do something and thank you again for your videos
Thanks!! It’s a big task, but hopefully you love the after ❤️
Thank you. this is a great help.
Wonderful ❤️❤️❤️
Great Video!
Chuck F thanks 😘😘
Great video thanks for your time
Thank you for your kind words!
Great job
L pattenaude thank you
Thanks….some good inspiration here!
Thank you ❤️
Watching this video for the first time as of May 2024. You did a wonderful job and it looks beautiful, but the process involves too steps for me personally! Being this is 2024, I am hoping there is another process with much fewer steps on CZcams. ❤😊
Thank you so much! It certainly is a big process and not one of my favorites! I don’t know of another method, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t :) you could also check into surfprepsanding.com/ get one of their formable sanders and go the traditional route. If I were to do this kitchen again, I would consider that route.
Nope
Hi! Omg so glad I found this vid! I tried gel staining my island cabinets and thought it was a complete fail because apparently i only did the first coat process. (According to your vid) None of the other tutorials I watched talked about building the color with the dry brush technique. Thank you! 🙏🏽Not sure what to do with the sides and back tho because they're made from that fake veneer stuff that doesn't take color. I'm thinking I will replace that part.
Hey! So glad to help! I hope this me this works for you. Think of it as more of a paint, then stain on those veneer areas. Just build it up with thin layers that don’t really get wiped off. Hopefully that will help. They may not match perfect, but I bet you can get them darn close.
Thanks so much!!!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What a great idea to use a lazy susan!
Thank you ❤️
Love your video. I’m using your technique on my cabinets. How long do you wait to put back the cabinets doors in the frame ? Thanks
I am sorry, I do not remember exactly how long I waited, the longer the better. I would suggest at least 2 days.
Wonderful video! I’m about to refinish my 1980s honey oak cabinets. They were made using 3/4” ash plywood and finished with a spray-on tinted varnish. I plan on using GF gel stain and Arm-R-Seal topcoat using the methods you presented in this video.
In high traffic areas some of the varnish has chipped off and a few dents have occurred. I suspect I may need to fill some dents and do some leveling. Have you ever used Aqua Coat wood filler beneath GF gel stain? Is there a better filler? Will a wood filler help close the porous grains and give the cabinets a more polished look? What quality of brushes should I use for the dry brush method? Thanks in advance for helping me.
Thanks so much! To be honest, I am more of a painter then a stainer so your questions could go to general finishes for the best answers, but I’ll give you my opinion ;) I have never use aqua coat, just standard wood filler. But I don’t see that putting that all over first would help, although I could be wrong. As for a brush quality, typically I go with very nice high end brushes, but in the instance of oil staining sometime people go with throw away ones. I honestly don’t remember what I did in this particular video as it was long ago.. like I said staining isn’t my favorite thing to do ;)
Fantastic video that really made me more confident to tackle redoing my kitchen cabinets! I am concerned that the Antique Walnut will be too dark for what I want after 3 coats (based on examples I have found on General Finishes website, etc.) What do you think about doing the first coat in Nutmeg and then the next 2 coats in Antique Walnut? Do you think it will be hard to get a consistent color? Also, I have a really large kitchen. Thinking about doing start to finish in chunks so I don't have the entire kitchen torn apart for months. Is there any concern with getting the color consistent when doing it in chunks or would you recommend just biting the bullet and doing it all at once? Sorry, for the multiple questions. Nervous/excited to take the leap and get started.
Megan Macy hello!! You can do this 👏👏👏👏👏👏 it is a tedious task, especially with a large kitchen, although not a hard one. I do not see any issues with doing the process in small chunks. The only thing that would concern me (and it may not even be an issue) is the color changing formula over the year (would be a freak thing, but till) so I would buy all that I thought I would need at once. Hoping that keeps the batch colors consistent. As for consistence with color, as long as you do the same process over and over, no matter how or what you layer, it should be just fine. I would test out your color combos until you get one that you like. Then start :) hope that helps. You got this!
I want to change the color of some cabinets, but I don't want them very much darker-- golden oak to pecan or cherry. I wish you had shown a comparison of the new and old finishes after each coat. Other than that, a really good tutorial! Also, how many doors do your brushes last through?
You will probably just need a coat or two to change then. I would definitely test it out on a small extra area if possible first. I am sorry, I don't remember how many brushes I went through for this kitchen. Not a huge amount but a few.
Loved this tutorial. I have alder wood cabinets very orange tone want a grayish brown. What would you recommend?
Thanks! I would test out Ash Grey from General Finishes. But test it first, it is always easier to go darker then to change tones.
This was the best video I have seen on this topic. Do you complete a side all the way through before you flip the door over or do you rotate back and forth between each step? Thanks
Thank you! I typically rotate back and forth, but you could complete a side first if you wanted. Either way should work fine
I have laminate kitchen cabinets. Do you think itd be possible to achieve a similar end result by applying gel stain over a bonding primer?
I am sorry, I do not know. I am sure you could achieve a faux wood finish somehow, but not sure the exact method to tell you what to do. If they are laminate "wood" then you could achieve this without the bonding primer. You many just need more layers to build up to your desired color.
Excellent tutorial, we plan to use your method. If I want the doors to be a lighter color
, can I stop at the second dry brush coat or do you always need to do 3 coats?
Thanks! You stop whenever you get the look you want :)
Thank you! I was going to ask the same question. I love the antique look at 17:20 rather than the darker finish. Your tutorial was excellent 😊
I'm going to do this to my barheight table and 8 chairs how much appx would I need? Also can I do as many coats as I want of both the color and top coat?
Gomez I would guess you would need about a quart of each... depending on coats. You can do as many of the stain as you want, you need to do at least 3 of the topcoat.
Any suggestions on removing stain off cabinets. I applied some and no longer like the color I applied?
Stacy Ours you will probably have to sand it off.
Hi Rachelle, I really appreciate the lesson. This is a very long process but the end product shows that it’s worth it. Was 1 quart of the stain gel and polyurethane enough for this particular project? My kitchen is similar size and I will be trying it this weekend.
Thank you
Hello. Thank you for your kind words. Honestly I don’t remember how much this kitchen took. I would say 2 quarts of each probably. 🤔
Great video, thanks so much. Is it possible to use a gel stain that is lighter than the existing finish to lighten the color of darkly stained wood that has a topcoat finish over the stain?
Church Carvers hello. Not really. You would have to sand all that topcoat and previous stain off to lighten it.
@@OriginallyWorn Okay, I was afraid of that, but I do thank you sincerely for taking the time to write back.
Church Carvers you’re very welcome 😘
Light cabinets will be a regret
Great job! That is ALOT OF WORK!!!
I think I just need to buy the new cabinets
Heheh thanks! It was a lot of work!
Considering my age, buying new cabinets would be a practical choice for me!
@@marthamurphy3913 it may be, restaining isn't an easy job. :)
Thank you.. how does the varathane with the stain mixed work? Is it any good over old stain?
Hey! Gel stain like shown in this video needs a top coat. What your talking about is a two in one and I believe it is a penetrating stain typically which means it wouldn’t work over old stain not sanded away.
Hi, I have bleached maple (imagine light pink/peach) cabinets. Will this same darken process apply for this wood and finish? Thanks, great looking finish
Hello! I believe that process would be the same. You can go lighter to darker with this, you just can not go darker to lighter with this approach. So your light cabinets should be a great starting spot if you want to go darker.
Ceruse....I’d love to see a cerusing on an old oak cabinet
Can I use this product to refinish my cabinets from an Oak finish to Pickled White finish?
Al Salerno you would need to sand off the existing finish totally to do that, but then you could
Can you gelstain a small wooden floor area similar to the cabinet here?
jennifer wilkes possibly. I haven’t done it before. 😬
Did you use an oil stain or do you prefer water? How do you figure on how much stain you will need? I can't figure out if I need a quart or a gallon?
Linda Rohde this is oil gel stain. If you use this product you will probably need about 2 quarts for an average sized kitchen.
Hello, I really like the way you gel stained then cabinets and how nice they came out. I just started the backside of 2 of my cabinet doors and I am having an issue. On my first door ,I put the first coat on and waited 3 minutes as per instruction on the can but it seemed too tacky and was hard to wipe off but did get it off. I waited a day to put the second coat on with the dry brush technique and when I did that ,it seemed to be too much in some spots when I applied it and I was not able to brush the excess off cause in some spots cause it got tacky very fast. I did the dry brush technique you showed but I think I may not have kept the brush dry enough and blotched it in some spots. Do you have any advice that may help me cause I am a little nervous continuing forward on this . I am using mini wax gel stain and the color is hickory. Again nice work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
steve hall Thank you for your kind words! I have never used that brand of stain so I cannot tell you specifically much about it. Only other advice I have for you is that this process is difficult, it does take some practice and some experience. Also the more you sand on your door to start the easier the first layer goes on evenly.
@@OriginallyWorn ohh yes....we redid our golden oak cabinets into a Kona color, gel stain. We literally stripped and sanded them down the best we could. Ours had a thick coat of topcoat as well so we worked our hands off. We have lots of cabinets and It took DAYS but they turned out beautiful and the money we saved on doing these ourselves (vs tearing out and replacing), we bought granite counter tops with! We also used his technique for the golden oak bannisters and baseboards! We hate golden oak! It turned almost orange over the years. ugh.
@@donnab.7194 oh my gosh! The work that you guys put in was a ton!!! But I am sure it has been worth it!! Sounds beautiful!
i stained my kitchen cabinets the night before yesterday.. I wiped it nicely.. And im happy with a shade after the first coat..But its 36 hrs now.. It looks dry but on touching a light residue of the stain is coming on my finger.. Should I go ahead with the top coat now?
Srijita Dey hummm I would say not if it is tacky at all or clingy on your hand, but if it is smooth and slick, yes.
Super cool!
Question: why do you wipe off the top coat? And lastly do you wipe off the final top coat too?
Thanks! That type of poly is formulated to be wiped off. They have other types that are a brush on and leave. And yes you wipe off the final topcoat too
I like my golden oak cabinets don’t want to change color but bring life back to them . So what color can I use ?
I’m not sure, they may be a better way to do that, but I am not as knowledgeable in staining as I am in painting. I would check with your local stain store.
Do you recommend a coat of lacquer before the stain if there is some wear on the original stain?
You could go that route, but I would instead sand the other areas down to match the Worn area.
@@OriginallyWorn ok thanks!
Great video!
And have you ever used liquid sandpaper? Or do you find the real paper to be better?
@@MsMMorrell I haven’t, but not because of any real reason. Just not something I have ever tried.
Questions...if you clean the old cabinets and once dry, some areas appear to be void of stain and polyurethane, if you then apply gel stain will the areas with no stain end up darker than the areas still having the old finish intact, once the first coat dries? I'm scared I then won't be able to even out the color and blend it to match. I am tackling all my cabinets! God help me.
Hello! You are correct, You need to have a mostly uniform type of surface to work on. You will either need to sand the other areas closer to the rough areas or shellac to the rough areas so they are closer to the shiny spots :)
What color of stain do I need to use in order to get dark oak from honey oak?
Check out their website and see what color you like :) generalfinishes.com/wood-finishes-retail/oil-based-wood-stains-sealers/gel-stains
How long would you estimate this would take, if you could complete each step for all doors and surround in the same day. Including drying time, what would you estimate?
Really hard to give an estimate, but I would say at least a week. This stuff is much pickier then something like Chalk Paint. It requires lots of dry/cure time between layers and optimal conditions.
The sides of my cabinet are not hard wood, more like a paneling or veneer. I want to stain everything, but I'm concerned about the non-hardwood sides. Any recommendations?
buy thin oak or maple panels, most big box stores have them
Hummm that could be hard. You could go with what another person suggested as buying the panels or try to not do any deep Sanding on any of the kitchen in hope it will help it be even.
Such a awesome tutorial. Could you tell me the color you used and brand. I'd appreciate it very much 🙂
Cade Peavy thank you. This is Antique walnut gel stain from general finishes.
Antique Walnut as said in the video
I have ( General Finishes, Java Gel Stain ). I just realized that the ( General Finishes Top Coat ) is a Oil Based Top Coat. Can I use them together? They told me that’s what you use to stain my KITCHEN CABINETS. I’m a bit nervous about it. Is this what you use when staining cabinets? Thanks
Java Gel Stain is also oil based. So is the Arm-R-Seal I use in this video. You can certainly use that stain and topcoat for cabinets. It is what is made to go together.
be careful using an oil based topcoat! It has an ambering (yellowing) effect which is exactly what I didn't want after having golden oak cabinets! I let the freshly gel painted cabinets cure for a week then applied a waterbased Premium Varathane Diamond topcoat, crystal clear , non yellowing. I did 3 coats.
Thank you for the great video. Was wondering why you wouldn't just leave the first coat on longer prior to wiping off? That way you wouldn't have to do as many coats, right?
You could certainly do it that way. I found I didnt like the way it looked as it didnt show the grain color change, but whatever you like :)
Can I use this on the parts that aren't real wood? That part has the stuff peeling off
You can use this on non real wood, although it may look different as it will take the stain different. You need to peel anything off that needs to be peeled and sand probably
Hi Rachelle! This was a very informative video! I am curious to know if you have used General Finishes Gel Stain in White. I am thinking of doing my bathroom cabinets in this. Currently, they are oak and are looking terrible. I am not sure how well the coverage is with the white color and wanted to ask for your insight. Thanks so much!
Candi Baker hey! I have not, but in my experience I have found it is hard to go lighter on a prefinished surface.
Well that is not very encouraging news 😂 I’m still going to give it a shot. I don’t have anything to lose at this point. If I don’t do the Gel Stain, what would you recommend? I’ve heard so many people have had terrible experiences painting cabinets because they peel. Suggestions?
Candi Baker Sorry, hehe. I paint cabinets professional and if they are peeling it is because of improper product or prep. For the easiest, fool proof cabinet painting, check this video out. It’s about painting with Annie Sloan, which physically can not peel (it can scratch like any surface) czcams.com/video/j09UR-QNmbw/video.html
Ok Rachelle...you may be changing my mind from the gel stain. This seems too easy....maybe I will try this Annie Sloan on my coffee and end tables first. They are stained and are very glossy. Should I sand these maybe? Also, for a distressed look, do you have a video for that?
Also, I watched the video where you used Annie Sloan on the kitchen cabinets but you used GF top coat (3 coats). What is the difference between the GF too coat vs the AS wax? Which is better for kitchen cabinets or tables?
The General Finishes website says that the Extender is used with water-based products. Did you mean to thin the gel stain with mineral spirits instead? They suggest 5%-15%. Thanks. Excellent video.
I would suggest going with what their website says :)
Hi! Question- I have honey or golden oak cabinets, and built ins - think media center. 80s look- now I want creamy white or ivory- to help with more decor options. I’m afraid painting will be both expensive and possibly peeling cracking in couple years. So my question regarding gel stain- Can you gel stain a golden oak to a light creamy white? Not paint I realize but with my concerns, is there a way to gel stain lighter? ? Thanks
Hello! Unfortunately there is no way to gel stain to a lighter tone. Not to say that you can’t stain lighter or with a white stain, but you would need to completely strip and sand every bit of stain off first. It would be a huge undertaking. If you want white, reconsider painting. There are so many different types of cabinet paint now, Chalk Paint is much different from the peeling chippy kind of the 70s. I think you would be pleasantly surprised for a long time. I have painted countless kitchens, bathrooms, furniture ect with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and have never had an issue in the last 10 years. Check out this video of mine. It talks about furniture and cabinets (and I have other cabinet specific ones) but it shows you the basics of chalk paint. Hope it helps.
Beginners Guide on How to Use Chalk Paint, Distress & Wax to Paint Furniture & Cabinets
czcams.com/video/7W2CIcMVBSI/video.html
@@OriginallyWorn thank you!! I definitely will watch all your videos on related topics. Much appreciate your timely response. Blessings.
I hope you have fun with it and create something you love ❤️
If I did lighter coats would it save on wasting so much gel and I can just apply few more coats later ..
Ms. lovely you could do lighter coats but you can’t apply more later unless you do the sanding and top coat process again.
@@OriginallyWorn thank you !! Working on my perfect today:)
Have fun ❤️
This looks so good!
I started staining my builder grade oak cabinets over the weekend and I am so disappointed with how it looks.
I used the paint on method with a foam brush and it's so streaky after each coat [I did 2 coats so far 24hrs apart in low humidity and cool environment] and I can't even see the wood grain. I prepped with krud kutter [bc I had some contact paper residue on there], sanded and cleaned off with tack cloth. Idk where I messed up, even after watching countless videos on CZcams and on GF website 😕
Hey! I understand your issue! Staining over something that has an existing stain is truly
No easy task and not one of my favorite things to do. And yes, the paint in method looks just like that, a thick layer of paint. Possibly try the dry brush method and hopefully you will get a finish closer to what you desire. Good luck!
@@OriginallyWorn I watched sooo many videos and was clearly overly optimistic about the outcome lol. I even started to second guess the can of Java gel stain, wondering if I got a bad can from amźn.
I think I'll finish the ones I started so far using paint on method... I only did the doors from 2 small bathrooms, so my kitchen and master bath are still intact lol.
I'm gonna def try the 220 grit sanding pad and dry brush method when my additional supplies get here later this week. I got some mineral spirits today!
@@rebekah1836 you can do it!! Staining is certainly tough, no matter the type! If you absolutely hate it you can always sand it off, wipe it off, or paint over it :)
@@OriginallyWorn Rochelle! I did ONE coat of dry brushing last night and WOW!! What a major difference!
I am using a 4inch deck brush and some mineral spirits.
@@rebekah1836 that comment sounds like it’s positive difference!!!! ;) Wooo hooo!! I hope you have found a method that creates a finish you love!
How do you clean this? Do you get spots in the stain if water gets on them?
Just as you would with any other poly finish. It is water resistant and you would not see spots.
My kitchen cabinets are 30 years old. The original seal is worn and some of the stain is missing. Can I still use gel stain without sanding the doors down completely?
Hello. You will need to even out the finish. Otherwise some area are going to absorb the stain much differently then others. You can try to not sand much, but it will be hard to keep it even. You could try a test spot on the back of a door.
Would this method work on a hardwood floor?
I am not sure, so sorry. I would check with the manufacturer, general finishes, and see what they recommend.
New subscribed
Thank you! I appreciate that!
Can you use gel stain over the top of painted bathroom cabinets and do you have a video on that?
Hey! I don’t have a video on that and have not done that. But I have seen that done in other videos. I would check to see if “general finishes” has anything on that. I believe it can be done but would hate to give you the wrong advise on how to best do that. Also depending on what type of paint was used on the existing finish may determine if it can work or not work well.
This is a silly question but how do you paint both sides and set it up to dry without damaging what you just applied? Thanks!
Lindsey Marquardt hey :) you don’t 🤪 you do one side at a time. Let it dry good, then do the other.
Originally Worn haha oh! and drying usually means a good 24 hours period, right?
Lindsey Marquardt yeah, with this stuff it does. If it was annie Sloan paint, no, that is less time. But stain is fussy. They do make a system that allows you to spray both sides at a time for painting.. but not staining 😬
Originally Worn okay thank you!
@@OriginallyWorn yup,,,we did the backs first then the fronts.
Great video. However if you just wanted to stay with do first coat. Would that work as well.
Hey! Thank you! Yes, you could do only one layer of color, but you would still need to topcoat it with at least one layer of a top coat too
Thanks girl, you are totally the bomb!
❤️❤️❤️ glad to help
Looks nice. Better than the yellow oak.
Thanks!
how much will it cost to restain your kitchen cabinets? how much time did you spend?
Both depends on size. I would estimate that materials will cost under $100 but time will take you a few weeks.
I can't find denatured alcohol what is an alternative liquid that I can use to clean my cabinets before gel staining?
Im not sure. I would just make sure you have cleaned well with dish soap, water and vinegar and/or rinsed off any cleaner that you used.
Most hardware stores have denatured alcohol. It's typically in the isle near paint thinners, acetone, etc. Denatured alcohol isn't intended to clean the wood. I'll explain this the best I can. This method is called "water popping".
If you were to apply only water to (sanded) unfinished hardwood and let it soak in and air dry for roughly 2 or 3 hours, it opens the pores that closed up from sanding. This allows "real" stain to absorb in to the pores and create a darker, richer tone.
However, the side effect is that this raises the grain which gives the hardwood a rough surface. Denatured alcohol mixed with the H20 is used to stop the grain from raising which keeps the surface nice and smooth.
I don't find this step necessary because gel stain does not soak in to the woods pores like typical stain. It's more like an oil based semi-transparent paint.
@@markfothebeast According to a general finishes demo available on youtube, the 50/50 water/denatured alcohol mix is used to clean: they show it as the first step to prepare the surface. Next is sanding.
@@TG-zq6bq You are correct. I don't know why I said that. I must've been tired. But it does stop the grain from raising which is important to maintain the smooth surface of unfinished wood. Mineral spirits works great as well.
@@markfothebeast well, may be because here the lady cleans first, then sands, then uses the mix, which is may be too much. I think it matters to clean before sanding. I clean with alcohol+water first then sand and then do the gel staining. I also think it is ok to apply the first dry brush pass after the initial staining+wipe off without waiting 12 to 24hrs. Just until the surface feels dry when touched. I do wait overnight for the second dry brush run. Finally, keeping a cloth wet with mineral spirits handy is key as no matter how applied I am there are always areas with a bit of overlap that the dry brush can’t fix completely.
Can the cabinets be painted if you want a change later?
Yes 👍
Would you use the water based General Finishes stain on top of an existing finish? Would you apply it this same way?
sylvia seri I’m not a 100% sure but I would say no and no. But I would check out General finishes CZcams channel for more info on that kind (I don’t use it) as they have great tutorials :)
Originally Worn. Thanks. I just went to their website and they have a video on how to do it.
You said several times to go with the grain. But with a clear finish like poly shellac on existing cabinets, it should block the strain to reach the wood right?
Depends on how much you sanded yes, but it helps with the illusion that you restained things when really you just went on top.
@@OriginallyWorn we don't need to sand is the benefit of gel stain. We only scuff the top coat for the gel to bond no? I am confused because I hear "going with the grain" that in many videos and finish product has no grain right?
@@b3arwithm3 just depends on how much you sand and how thick you put on your gel stain. Ideally you still want to see the grain, otherwise you would just paint.
@@OriginallyWorn seeing the grain thru the clear coat is one thing. But is there a need to rub along the grain given the clear coat sealed the wood?
@@b3arwithm3 I still would, but I am sure you will find a process that works well for you :)
Hi, thanks for your video. I have a question: What can you use instead of mineral spirits and denatured alcohol?
Hello. That is what the company recommends. You could try washing with a dish soap and vinegar mix and then rinsing clean. But I would do a test door first.
@Originally Worn
They don't sell those in my state. I tried ordering online but still unable to buy. So I did some research, and they said I could use regular rubbing alcohol instead of denatured alcohol.
I've cleaned so far with water, cleaning vinegar and dawn dish soap.
@@jusscam1124 that’s what I assume. I’m sorry I don’t have a better answer. General finishes also has a great CZcams and Facebook group that you may ask there as I am guessing they have run into this issue before.
@Originally Worn ok. Thanks for responding so quickly.
Can you use a liquid sandpaper for this project?
I would imagine so, but I would check with the manufacturer first, General Finishes.
Thank you 😊
Hi so I am currently staining my honey oak cabinets with the gel stain walnut. I cleaned my cabinets very well with the denatured alcohol as I was told I did not have to sand if I did that. I applied my first coat with a stain brush & let sit, wiped but did completely wipe it all off. I liked the look it was giving. It wasn't extremely thick I just didn't rub it hard and get it completely off. So I let it dry & noticed my daughter hit the cabinet & I could see the previous stain so I scratched with my nail & it came right off. Do you think it will be okay after I apply the 3 top coats or do I need to completely redo & sand? 😮💨
Hey! Yes, I think it will be fine. All finishes need time to cure. Any fresh paint or stain can be scratched off. Plus, yes, the topcoats are truly what keeps it from scratching. It think you should be just fine :)
Can you use more of a walnut stain color?
Sure. General finishes has a wide variety of stain colors.
How do you do this when the end of cabinets are vebneer?
Gel stain sticks to a variety of surfaces, including veneer. Because you aren’t using a penetrating stain, it can sit in the surface. It make take a slightly different layering technique to get the veneer and solid wood area to match but it’s usually not that big of a deal.
how has the dark gel stain performed over very "orange-y" maple kitchen cabinets?
Gunnar Gash it works great!
it works as long as you sand a fair bit of that old stain off....or else the gel can appear blotchy and the dry brushing is harder to get it all even. Believe me,,,i've been there.
@@donnab.7194 i agree. The more you sand, the better it looks ❤️
What do you do on the inside of the cabinet?
There is a natural lip/edge on most cabinets that gives you a perfect stopping point. Typically I leave interiors the way they are unless instructed otherwise. You certainly can finish them, depending on the type of material, but even brand new cabinets aren’t always the same on the inside.
If you do a great job cleaning using a TSP substitute and the gel stain sits on top, what's the point of sanding?
You don’t have to at all. Just how I have found I like to do it.
Are you doing both sides in one day?
Squirrel Thrift not typically.
Can you use it on unfinished cabinets
Yes you can, but I would suggest a more penetrating stain given the opportunity. General finishes makes a bunch of other wonderful stain products.
How do you clean the cabinets after gel stain them? Thanks I’m afraid to mess up all the hard work 😓
I always try to clean by painted and stained pieces with a mixture of dish soap, vinegar, and hot water.
Can get lighter or can you only go darker
You can only go darker with this method. Do go lighter you will need to sand or strip the existing finish first. Or do a version of a wash with a lighter color (like a white paint)
I know you can mix different colors of gel stain to get a custom color. Im wondering what would happen if you mixed gel stain with regular stain. Maybe 75% gel and 25% regular. I feel like it might have issues drying. Really im just being lazy , not wanting to go back to the store AGAIN. Thinking about it as i write, doing reg stain first, with light gel over it, would be the correct way. Guess i could have just tried it on scrap wood, or asked the actual internet in the time i spent writing all this
Haha I love this! I feel this is exactly how my brain works. To be honest I have no idea (I am a more experienced painter than stainer) but I agree with what you already came up with. Two separate layers would probably be better when mixing. Hope you find a cool new method 🤞❤️
I appreciate all the hard work you've done. But this is way too many steps for me. You still have to do all the cabinet frame itself. I'm trying to find a solution to my 1990's honey oak cabinets that are not solid oak WITHOUT painting. Would appreciate any advice. Thanks :)
Hey. Sorry I do not have an easier solution then painting. And this is the “easy” way to stain. You may consider changing your wall color and hardware to be happy with your current cabinets 😬