Gel Stain Sample Boards

When I first started refinishing, all I knew about stain is that it is watery and messy. I did research and came across a gel stain created by General Finishes that was reviewed as “perfect for the DIY’er”. At the time, I hadn’t invested in an orbital sander and I was looking for a stain I could apply over an existing stain with just a scuff sand. I was so lucky that my local stockist (The Painted Bench) is one of their Canadian distributors. I truly love the General Finishes gel stain. It’s coverage is incredible and each colour has so much depth. With one coat or multiple, this stain provides great coverage. A little goes a long way! As someone who isn’t particularly the best at keeping my work tidy, I love how the stain doesn’t run all down the sides of a drawer I’m refinishing. It literally stays where I put it. Over the past several years, I have amassed quite a collection of a variety of gel stains. Recently when a friend was having trouble envisioning the perfect stain for her grandmother’s MCM dressers, I offered to do a sample board of all the colours I have on wood (maple) similar to the piece. It was so interesting to me how all the stains looked that I headed to my local Turkstra Lumber and purchased boards in pine, oak and poplar. They are always so helpful when I go there! It is amazing how different stains take to different woods. I’m heading to Exotic Woods in Burlington, ON soon to pick up boards in ash, mahogany, walnut and elm. A lot of Mid-century Modern furniture is constructed with these woods and since that’s what I tend to focus on, I want to have those boards available as well. I highly, highly recommend General Finishes Gel Stain! If you’re in Canada, The Painted Bench offers such a large selection and ships across the country!   *** Left to Right Pine, Poplar, Maple, Oak   Top to Bottom Hemp Oil White Gel Stain Winter White Glaze Carbon Gray Nutmeg Antique Walnut Java Candlelite Georgian Cherry Varathane Flagstone Ash Gray