Pinterest Find - Java Gel Stain

Java Gel.  It sounds like something you add to your coffee.  Instead it is a dark gel wood stain.  I saw a few Pinterest pins on refinishing cupboards where bloggers used General Finishes Java Gel Stain (what a mouthful).   Many of the bloggers said not to think about using another gel stain.  The only place I could find the Java Gel stain was on Amazon.  It comes in a 1/2 pint for $14, 1 pint for $24, 1 quart for $26 or 1 gallon for $80.  I started small and moved up a size, but I love it so much I should have gone for the gallon.

My first project was the cupboard in the guest bathroom.  Here is a picture to compare.  

STEP 1 - PREPARE

I gathered my supplies...TSP, bucket, painters tape, newspaper, tack cloth, sand paper, rags, brushes, Java Gel, gloves, brushes and black Sharpie (more on that later).

I wiped down all the surfaces with TSP, took off the doors and hardware.  Then masked around the walls and floor.

One reason this project appealed to me was because all of the bloggers mentioned that I did not need to completely remove the original finish.  The sanding took less than 10 minutes.  After sanding, I wiped down the surface with a tack cloth.

STEP 2 - FIRST COAT

Some bloggers used paint brushes, other used rags to apply the stain.  I did a combination of both.  I applied the first coat and wiped it.  I aimed for an EVEN finish...not too thick and not too thin.  This coat needed 12 hours to dry.  

STEP 3 - SECOND COAT

The next day I LIGHTLY sanded the dry finish and wiped it down with a tack cloth.  I applied a second coat...again working with a brush and a cloth for an even finish.  Thank goodness the bloggers mentioned that the finish get darker with each coat and not to worry about the grain marks or streaks.

Like the first coat, this coat needs another 12 hours to dry.  For me that is another day.

STEP 4 - THIRD COAT

On Day 3, another light sanding and wipe down with a tack cloth.  Then I applied the third and final coat.  This time, I worked towards an even, smooth DARK JAVA color.

This coat needs TWO DAYS to COMPLETELY dry.

One more time with the light sanding and wipe down with a tack cloth.  Even after three coats of stain, I found a couple areas (corners mostly) that needed touched up.  As one blogger suggested, I used a black Sharpie to fill in these areas.  It worked great.

I finished with a coat of satin polyurethane.  It dries in a couple of hourse.

STEP 5 - HARDWARE and CLEANUP

The cleanup was easy (I throw everything away).  I added new hardware.

I did this project a few months ago and the finish has held up perfectly.  Applying the stain was easy.  The most difficult part was the 5 day process.  It took no more than an hour each day.  But patience is not one of my virtures and the wait was a test for me.

I liked the results so much that I also did the master bath.