I'm no expert but I used gel stain on a solid metal door. It was workable enough that I could make it look like wood. Gel stains cover really well so to use gel stain on your table would probably make it look like all one stain.

I have a table that belonged to my husbands grandmother. I think it's a sofa table. It's got the same legs and bottom piece that your table has.

ooh you have done so much sanding it seems a waste to not try staining it so the beauty of the walnut grain shows. I have never used gelstains on a horizontal surface nor one for eating. The gel finishes are paintlike so the darker you go the less grain is shown it also does not absorb into the wood just sits on top so you will need a very strong top coat for maintance on a table surface for gelstain does chip like paint can. The other thing about gel stains is that the can be applied over an existing finish so maybe try staining the surface first to see if it looks nice that way, than if not, try the gel finish over that.

So, a gel stain will cover up the wood grain? I thought there was someone who used it on her walnut table, lukkiirish, but now that I look at her post, she says that she used Minwax walnut and then General Finish varnish.

So, it looks like I need to use a regular stain and then a matte varnish? Or is there any alternative for the varnish? Since I think that the top is veneer, but very thick, I suppose a Tung oil is out, right?

I have java gel stained two vanities. The java ends up covering the wood fairly solidly.

I used walnut gel stain on my fireplace mantle, a flat wood panel and some linen cupboard doors. The walnut did not cover completely and left some of a lighter color showing through. All the items I gel stained were originally pine with golden oak stain and I did minimal prep or sanding. The walnut shows brush marks, so you must brush to mimic woodgrain. I would suggest sanding down your whole table and finishing it traditionally, using regular stain. General finishes makes a great rub on poly as a topcoat. If you are eating on the table I'd use poly.

I am definitely not an expert, but I just started experimenting with 'brown mahogany' gel stain on spare leaves of my dining room table (a sentimental piece, which was my grandmother's, but is not a valuable antique). The table has an oak color veneer, with graining that is much more subtle than true oak; I'm not sure what wood is under the veneer. I had trouble achieving the degree of coverage that I wanted applying the gel stain with a foam brush (too heavy, & showed lines where the brush strokes were) or a rag (too light). After some trial and error (and removing my unsatisfactory attempts before the gel stain dried), I found that using a foam roller gave me the color change that I wanted, without completely covering the grain. With one coat applied using the foam roller, the gel stain changed the table leaf to a darker mahogany color to coordinate better with my chairs. I haven't yet sealed it, as I will probably add a second coat.

The general finishes website has a video, in the gel stain product category, that shows its use with a piece that has been sanded down. They first applied a dye stain, and topped it with a gel stain to achieve the color they wanted. That video may help you decide what to do with your table.

I hope you are keeping track of the answers ...

I know I answered this elsewhere, but don't remember where.

Lol, I thought this was a laundry thread!

Yes, I'm keeping track of the answers. I watched the video you suggested, and that's probably the way to go. Will make a trip to the store that sells GF stains this weekend.

depends how thick you put the gel stain on the wood. I usually just apply a thin coat, and buff it in like shoe polish.

The heavier you apply it the more like paint it is.

Make sure that you call the store first to find out if they carry the gel stain there. I had checked out General Finishes website and got the name of a store in my area that carries their products, but they did not carry the gel stain. I had to order it. I haven't used mine yet, so I can't offer any tips.