Gel stain how long to wait?
#8
How long do you wait to wipe off the excess gel stain?
The General Finishes web site seems to indicate 12-24 hours before wiping off excess. Is that right?
Ray
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#9
(12-12-2019, 08:37 PM)DogwoodTales Wrote: How long do you wait to wipe off the excess gel stain?
The General Finishes web site seems to indicate 12-24 hours before wiping off excess. Is that right?

Ummm. No.  You apply then wipe off before it drys. Watch this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGMJWz3mnEo

I think you are thinking about the drying time before you can seal the stain with a clear coat.
Telling a man he has too many tools,
is like telling a woman she has too many shoes.
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#10
Thanks! Idk why I didn’t find that video in my searches.
Ray
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#11
I wipe it on and then wipe off as much as I want to immediately.  The amount wiped off is determined by the shade I want to achieve.

It is important to let it fully dry prior to top-coating however.

After seeing the worn areas on the displays at Barnes and Noble, which show up  as nearly white, I now use a penetrating stain then a gel to achieve the right color on pieces that will receive hard wear.

The penetrating stain ensures that the worn areas will remain a brown color rather than showing up as white.
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#12
(12-12-2019, 08:37 PM)DogwoodTales Wrote: How long do you wait to wipe off the excess gel stain?
The General Finishes web site seems to indicate 12-24 hours before wiping off excess. Is that right?
mmm! Over 30 years of ww and I didn't know gel top coat existed. 
Blush Guess I gota get out more. I do prefer gel stain though.
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#13
You need to seal the gel stain with a top coat. It doesn't have to be a special gel stain topcoat, although they do market a gel topcoat.
You can also use a good polyurethane. I've had good results with both Minwax poly and General Finishes Arm-R-Seal.
Telling a man he has too many tools,
is like telling a woman she has too many shoes.
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#14
FYI, GF's Gel Urethane Topcoat is one of their poorest products in terms of chemical durability.  Even water left on it for several hours will leave a white ring that can't easily be removed.  Arm-R-Seal would be a much better choice for a wipe on finish where good durability is needed, like on a table top, etc.  

John
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