Thanks for the additional input, sombreuil_mongrel and projectsneverend! More good information. UPDATE: I called General Finishes today to discuss the problems I was having with their gel top coat. He informed me that even though I sanded my cabinets, due to the fact that they had previously been finished, there would still have been some wood sealant on the surface of the cabinets, which would hinder absorption and drying. He said I should have waited 4 to 5 days before applying the top coat, but then at another time in our conversation he said that since I was working inside my home (dining room, northern climate w/low humidity, furnace running nearly non stop) that it should have been dry when I applied the top coat. I told him I was too afraid to try the top coat in a few days as it had ruined my stain job before, and I just didn't trust it anymore. I asked why their instructions didn't address this type of situation, and he said their instructions are for raw wood only. Ultimately, I have to give a lot of credit to General Finishes, because they stepped up and offered to send me another top coat recommended for my situation: High Performance Polyurethane Water Based Top Coat along with a "kit" to get the job done (which I believe includes a foam brush and I don't know what all.) He recommended 3-4 coats, and with drying time being just a few hours, I can do 2 coats a day. KUDOS TO GENERAL FINISHES. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. Here's a before & after pic (minus the top coat)

Thanks for all your advice. I'm so glad that I didn't just rush in and start this. From the sounds of it, I WOULD HAVE ruined them . . . :^0 . . . OMGosh! I need to run all this by DH. He's been encouraging me to call up and order a set I like that I saw in Phoenix Home & Garden magazine spread. I can't imagine ordering anything that big and expensive sight unseen, though. Hmmmmmm, there may be a weekend trip to Scottsdale in the offing ;^) In the mean time, I need to decide whether I want to paint the set a brown first and them give the Gel Stain a go or just leave it as is until I get a new set. BTW, I haven't looked into having it professionally stripped and redone. I probably should. I can't imagine a red or blue table in our dining room, though. I'll have to think about that one.

Stirring wasn't the problem...I stirred it 100x one direction, then 100x the other direction, and then 15-20 times in between.... And the doors dried for a week before applying the stain.....I perhaps put it on too thick....but it's so tricky to get the "flatteners" to go on without streaks... Have you used the product with success?

Ok- here is what I have, and what I've done.. 1- On a bathroom vanity that was standard oak. I used GF Georgia Cherry 4 coats 24+ hours dry time between each coat. Appling with sponge/foam brush- waiting just a few minutes then wiping.. then 3 ( 4-6 hour between coats)of GF high performance top coat.. I love love love them!!! (pic included) 2) mast bath vanity. the Mr. decided he wanted the java on first and then go back to our Georgia Cherry. No problems at all with the java coat - or the first coat of GA cherry on 1/2 the vanity.. Then the spots started showing up - and areas that looked like I wiped off too much.. After reading all the above comments. I now think it is because I didn't let the areas dry that I touched up... will sand a little and retouch