Unlike a regular oil stain that is thin and watery the gel stain gives you time to work with it to get the exact finish you want before you let it dry.
Will gel stain work on laminate.
To test apply gel stain let dry for 48 hours and then try to scratch it off.
With the oak cabinets the grain was very evident post staining.
Yes it was perfect for a 12 year old girl s bedroom.
Though how to paint and stain laminate was not one i considered.
I was determined to make it work with what i had.
Many diy projects were on the horizon wish i d had this home design completion plan back then.
I love two tone mcm furniture.
Lightly sand the laminate with 150 grit sandpaper.
Power clean by scrubbing with a solution of water and a strong detergent such as dawn or spic span using a scotch brite pad.
It matches the general finishes java gel stain and will cover in two coats.
To preserve the look of the wood grain on laminated furniture try using a tinted polyurethane stain.
Apply gel stain easily to any surface.
Gel stain over existing stained surfaces.
Open your can of gel stain.
Then follow with a second scrubbing with a 50 50 mix of denatured alcohol and water also using a scotch brite pad.
If it looks like a gloopy mess that.
If you want to give your floors a reddish tint for example choose a mahogany colored laminate floor finish.
Yes i said bedroom suite.
Stain laminate metal and even plastic.
My bedroom suite was currently white and wood laminate.
Although traditional wood stains don t work on laminate laminate floor finishes can provide a similar color.
It does stick to some and not to others.
You could choose to use minwax polyshades to stain laminate or a similar brand.
Power clean by scrubbing with a solution of water and a strong detergent such as dawn or spic span using a scotch brite pad.
Applying gel stain directly to laminate.
The gel stain is thick like pudding not a liquid.
Laminate is very smooth and shiny so you must sand or the paint and the gel stain won t stick.
Then follow with a second scrubbing with a 50 50 mix of denatured alcohol and water also using a scotch brite pad.
I decided to stain the drawers and paint the body to match the dresser in my room.
Gel stains occasionally work on laminate as this type of stain doesn t need to penetrate the material as deeply as traditional stain but gel stain manufacturers typically advise against it.
Fortunately for those with laminate cabinets gel stain works well on a variety of surfaces other than real wood allowing you to stain your cabinets without leaving them a streaky splotchy mess.
While gel stain does go on thick and sit on the surface of the wood i found that you can still see and feel the natural wood grain beneath unlike paint.
Applying gel stain directly to laminate.
Many ask if the gels can be used on laminate or plastic non wood surfaces.