General Finishes Oil Based Gel Gel Stain - 1 Quart - Java

This is my second time ordering this product. I used it first on a banister then on a pantry door. It has held up so well I plan to use I on all our door frames in my home. A little goes a long way.

Even though this product is more expensive than its competitors AND it takes time and effort to apply, the finished product looks like a professional did it. I've used it on my bannisters, and because I liked the look so much, then redid my hall and bathroom cabinets with it.

Amazing product. Used on tired old 70s kitchen cabinets for a miraculous transformation. Two coats was perfect. It leaves a very shiny finish, so we used a FLAT MATTE polyurethane on top which turned out great.

I absolutely love the results I got from this product. Easy to use, just watch all the YouTube videos about it. It dries with a very flat finish, which is good, in that it allows you to choose whatever finish you want in your top coat. I personally finished it with a satin latex polyurethane topcoat. The company ships extremely quickly!

Awesome coverage!! Tested 3 ways to apply. First with cotton cloth. Had to do 4 coats to get uniform color. Then tried a brush. It became more uniform after 2 coats-much faster than a cloth. Then we used a brush followed by a smooth sponge roller. The third way worked perfectly and took much less time. Be sure to clean cabinets with TSP, rinse and allow them to dry over 24 hours before applying. May need a light sanding if you have a really uneven finish. 1 quart is amazingly enough for many coats!

This product is the consistency of chocolate pudding which makes it super easy to work with! It is not runny and doesn't streak like a normal stain. I applied it with a sock with rubber gloves underneath because it will stain your hands! Very easy to use… Almost goof proof!

Stained an old honey oak corner cabinet. This product was easy to work with. I had to do five(!) coats to finally get rid of the honey undertone. But the darker stain on the cabinet makes it look like a new piece of furniture.

I had read about this on Pinterest. No sanding needed, applies easily with a foam brush. It went right on and looks great. Easy to work with. Dries tacky in 24 hours.

LOVE Java gel stain by general finishes, my whole house has been stained with this, all my baseboards, shelving, cabinets etc., easy to use, no sanding even over polyurethaned items, nice finish, great color, makes everything look brand new.

I've read hundreds of 5 Star reviews, I finally decided to purchase it. At $58 a quart. I was very disappointed regardless, if you're using a sponge or a brush, it leaves brushstrokes I followed the videos on their website. The only way I could eliminate the brushstrokes was to thin the product with mineral spirits. It took two coats, and the color came out black. I was really hoping for more of a deep chocolate brown, but that was the best I could do. It's very hard to work with. If you're looking for a black cabinet, it did come out nicely after many trial and errors. I really was hoping for more of a natural wood finish, I would recommend going with stain that actually sinks into the wood. This just lays on top like paint and your brush or sponge will just move it around. Varathane sells a similar gel stain and you can get a half pint for $10. Try it out first to see if you like the product.