Can gel stain REALLY be a one can solution?

If you have never used gel stain I don’t recommend trying it now for just a quick finish. I use it from time to time but either go over it with a few coats of laquer or Poly. I gel stain sits on top of the wood and never actually penetrates it like an oil or water stain, so your basically just putting some protection over it not into it. Although it would probably work with that and nothing else gel stain is tricky and a little practice would be the way to go first. I personally prefer a little more protection on most projects.

-- Martin ....always count the number of fingers you have before, and after using the saw.

There are products with poly and stain all wrapped up in one. Minwax makes them and I think they’re called Polyshades. I have used these with good results on small projects. Buy a small can and experiment.

Wax is a wonderfully easy finish, reasonably durable (renew once a year), and there are some shades of the stuff out there. For ease of application, Watco Satin Wax wins. Available in Dark and Not Dark. : )

Shoe polish has been used, but I suspect that would run into $ on the scale I sense you’re talking about.

I hope I have answered your question enough to have earned the chance to comment: A nice piece of furniture can be ruined by a cheesy finish. We all would be wise to never say, “It’s done, now all I have to do is the finish!” The finish is an integral part of the overall project and your project—hand wrought from vintage wood found on the family farm or Crate and Barrel crate or barrel—deserves genuine attention.

Kindly,

Lee

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

I tried Polyshades ONE time. Never again.
Have ya sanded and prepped yet? What wood specie?
Projects sanded to 180/220, wiping stain of choice, seal with Zinsser SealCoat shellac, lightly sand, finish with 2/3 coats of wiping varnish (I use Modern Masters.)
Sounds more complicated than it really is. You can even get the SealCoat in rattle cans.
Don’t be afraid of finishing. It takes a bit of time, so don’t rush the project.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

I used a gel stain on a step stool and it turned out ok. I agree with Marty practice on something first, I had the last of the project work better than when I started.

-- two men walk into a bar the third one ducks, which are you??

For my money, the easiest solution for your needs is to wipe on a regular, oil-based stain with a rag, then come back when it dries with a couple of coats of wipe-on satin polyurethane. The whole process is pretty foolproof, will give you the protection you want, and is not a lot of work either.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Stain, and wipe on poly.

-- The mark of a good carpenter is not how few mistakes he makes, but rather how well he fixes them.

A third vote for stain followed by wipe on poly. It’s the most idiot proof finish I have found. I have mixed a small amount of stain in the wipe on poly and got along well doing window and door casings.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

GEL stains are NOT all created equal … and your choice of General Finishes is one of the best available. It is a gel stain + polyurethane all in one product. As such, the finish will build after 2-3 applications, but the color will not intensify by very much for the same reason … the poly in the finish seals the surface, preventing absorption of more color. It will darken slightly just because it acts more like a toner after the first coat.

Your question would be more to the point if you specifically asked if others have had experience with G.F. Gel Stain … as you can see, you’ve gotten responses referring to other brands which may have little, if any, bearing on your choice.

Stain colors wood … gel stain simply colors it to a lesser depth to reduce blotching … non gel stains don’t really go all that much deeper. Now, some stains (Minwax) actually call themselves a Wood Finish … that’s because they do contain some form of a clear finish to act as a binder that locks the finish into the wood, so you can’t remove it by casual contact after it has dried. In that context, the G.F. Gel Stain IS a thick, non-penetrating gel stain with the addition of a binder/sealer which they clearly state is a polyurethane.

My favorite gel stain, when I need one is WOOD KOTE, but, it is not readily available in all areas, so you would probably need to mail order it. Much would depend on the wood species you are dealing with, and the reason for using a gel stain in the first place. Myself, I much prefer dyes & regular stains sealed with a topcoat that is best for my project. I try to keep coloring & protection as two separate issues, but, it does sound like the G.F. Gel Stain might just be a good candidate for your project and your working environment.

-- - dabbling in sarcasm is foolish … if you’re not proficient at it, you end up looking stupid … ... ...

Gel stain will NOT offer any protection like a finish. You’ll always need a poly on top. Wipe on perhaps?

I’ve always been LOATHE to use a stain directly on wood, because what if you change your mind down the road? For me, water base finish, and color with water based stain. Practice to get the % right and the color you want.

Good luck!

-- Beer, Beer, Thank God for Beer. It's my way of keeping my mind fresh and clear...

Milo … if you look at the General Finishes GEL STAIN can … it clearly states GEL STAIN + POLYURETHANE … topcoating is not an absolute requirement. I think this setup creates as many problems as it solves, but, it is a viable option for this situation. The General Finishes version is similar to PolyShades, which I HATE … but the reviews I’ve seen on the Gen. Fin. product are quite good … so … as I first said GEL STAINS are NOT all created equal.

-- - dabbling in sarcasm is foolish … if you’re not proficient at it, you end up looking stupid … ... ...