I'm not much help on your question, but agree that a stain would hold up better than paint. But I wanted to tell you that I LOVE the lampshade you made!

Maddiemom if you go over to the woodworking forum they can give you great explanations. Based upon that advice I used a wiping stain when I redid all my woodwork. Perfect. Great control. I also used a wiping varnish. I did a table with regular stain in the past and if I had known about this wiping stuff I would have gone with it. I may redo that table after all since it's been several years and I will use the wiping stain.

Good luck!

Maddie, I am cutting/pasting/editing my gel stain info for doing kitchen cabinets. Your job will much be easier!!! I'd recommend you try just the Java coats alone. Be sure to put a number of Clear coats on for durability.

SHOPPING LIST:
> -mineral spirits to clean the years of gunk off the table
> -miracle cloths (optional)
> -fine sandpaper
> -box-o-disposable gloves from walgreens or the like
> -old socks or rags for wiping on coats
> -disposable small plastic bowls or plates, and plastic spoons or forks for
> stirring/dipping (optional)
> -General Finishes Java gel stain (poly based)
> -General Finishes clear top coat (poly based)
> -old sheets or plastic sheeting or newspaper
> > Rockler woodworking stores are a good place to find the General Finish
> products. Or some larger hardware stores. Quart of each was more than
> enough for my 60 doors and drawer fronts and goes for $12-14 at Rockler.
> There are smaller sizes if your project is small.
> >
> SETUP AND PLANNING:
> You will need a place to work and leave wet doors to dry overnight - I set
> up 2 spaces, garage for sanding/cleaning and basement for
> staining/sealing.
> Use newpaper or plastic to protect the surface and floor. Figure out how
> you
> will prop doors to dry.
> Plan blocks of 20-30-minutes for sanding/cleaning bundles of, say, 6
> doors at a time. Then just 10 minute sessions to wipe on coats. The coats
> will need to dry for about 24 hours, so figure that each section of the
> kitchen will be doorless for 4 or 5 days. Divide the job up into manageable chunks.
> >
> PREPARATION:
> Take off doors and drawer fronts. Use screw drill bits on an electric drill if you don't have an electric srewdriver. Remove all the hardware. *Mark
> alike things so you know what goes back where.*
> Clean the doors thoroughly. Not with TSP but with something pretty strong
> and scrub well. There's years of grease there.
> Sand LIGHTLY, just a scuffing really. Just enough to break the finish and
> give it some tooth, no more than a minute a door. A miracle cloth is good
> for getting most of the dust off. Then wipe well with mineral spirits to
> clean and get the last of the gunk off.
> .
> > STAINING:
> In order, we're gonna put on:

> -General Finishes Java gel stain (couple coats)
> -General Finishes Clear urethene gel topcoat in satin (couple coats)
> > But first put on work clothes, tie up your hair and pop your phone into a baggie nearby (you know it will ring).
> Glove up.
> *First do a trial on the back of a door
> Open and stir up the Java gel stain, then spoon some into a plastic bowl.
> Close the tin so it doesn't get contaminated. Slide a sock over your hand,
> grab a gob of Java and smear it on. Color is a rich dark blackish reddish brown. Wipe off the excess. Let it dry well- overnight is good.
> Repeat with more Java gel. Wait for the second coat to
> judge if the color is deep enough for you. I wanted a very deep dark
> color,
> like melted dark chocolate. So I went pretty heavy on these layers. *I did not sand between coats*.
> > Repeat with clear gel top coats. This will give you the strength you need in a kitchen.
> > Do the same process with the cabinet sides, face and toekick area. Might
> need to divide that up also, and stagger the work: doors/cabinets/doors/
> etc.
> > NOTE: The cloth or socks used for the gels are very flammable! Collect and
> store them in a bucket of water as you go and then dispose of them all properly.
> >
> FINISHING AND REASSEMBLY:
> I suggest you put the doors back up after one clear coat, then you can check
> everything over and darken an area with more Java if needed, followed by a
> clear coat. When it all looks right, go over it all again with another
> clear
> gel coat. Or two. Install your hardware.
> The feel of the finish should be wonderful, really smooth and satiny.
> Color
> deep and rich - way nicer than that faded, beat 80's oak color.
> >
> FINAL THOUGHTS:
> Definitely experiment first with the back of a door or drawer front to be
> sure it is the look you want. Front end patience is worth it.
> > This is a pretty easy project to do. Hard to screw it up. The worst is the
> prep - relative to that, smearing on the coats is cake. >(Add: I'm now (18 months later) seeing some wear near two pulls
>on the most used cabinets. Will add color with Java if it bugs me.

Good luck!

Java hu??.. ok I am willing to give it a go. Looks like I am going to have to order some since i can't find a local place. All things being even I would get rid of the table and I evn have the money to do so but for the life of me I can't find one I like!..

Maddie

Celticmoon, Thank you so much for sending this information in to the list since I would like to stain my oak cabinets to be richer and to fix the worn out areas. I wish I could just change out my cabinets but my expenses are already too high for the new floors I need in my two foyers areas, kitchen and three rooms downstairs due to the floors being 18.5 years old and really showing it as well as some water damage I had from an air conditioner central unit dying on me.

I want a medium to dark cherry wood color gel stain if can find it.

Sidebar to Lynn,

Go for it. The darker you aim, the easier. Much harder to get a medium tone to come out even.

Mine have held up well. Going on 2 years now.

Email me if you have questions. Happy to help.

Madddiemom, good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: more pix - before, during, after albums

I can vouch for the results of gel stain on cabinets - I had my painter do the job, since I am working 12 hour days I would never have finished - he prefers Old Master Gel stains - took yellowed pickled finish cabinets, and used a Dark Walnut, that looks like brown cherry, with a satin varnish finish. My cabinets just increased in value by 10K. I plan to use the same technique as described here to do an unstained tv console myself, Only difference, is , we used a brush, and a soft cloth. Dipped brush in cloth, wiped the excess off the brush, then applied. Went over with a second cloth to smooth lines.

terry

celticmoon, you just increased your kitchen's value by approximately $10,000 in my opinion! Thanks for sharing the amazing transformation. I think you are right, I will have to go darker to cover the grain and make the gel work better at giving the look of a darker wood and not just being painted. I wonder if there is a dark mahogany I could try?

Thank you bigdtc for letting me know that your painter did your kitchen cabinets with a gel stain also in a darker color and you are so pleased. This is what I must do. Any pics?