Gel stain

[Tom Gi]

I am thinking of staining a few pieces and there are so many small cuts and crevices if I was to use a gel stain how do you deal with getting the gel in and out of all the little openings

[OCtoolguy]

Following

[jollyred]

I have heard of using air blowers to push finishes to push finishes into and out of small areas.  Sound like it may work for gel stains.  I think I would put down lots of newspaper to catch of the blown finish.  I normally use an airbrush to apply thinned stain on this type of cut.

Tom

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

May I ask why you want to use a gel stain? To me an oil stain is the way to go and just dip in a container and then pour rest back into the container. My opinion only. I think I used a gel stain once in my life time on some pine furniture I was restoring. 

[Tom Gi]

11 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

May I ask why you want to use a gel stain? To me an oil stain is the way to go and just dip in a container and then pour rest back into the container. My opinion only. I think I used a gel stain once in my life time on some pine furniture I was restoring. 

Gel stain is not supposed to be blotchy on plywood 

and oil would need to have lacquer over it or the oil bleeds out onto whatever it is touching 

[Bill WIlson]

I've never used gel stain on fretwork, but my gut tells me that it isn't necessarily the best option in your case.

If there are a lot of inside cuts, then blotchiness is less of an issue, because theoretically, you don't have large surface areas where the blotchiness would be noticeable.  Gel stain is still an oil based product and the reason it blotches less is because the pigment doesn't absorb into the grain as deeply as regular stain.  I would think it would have the same tendency to bleed, if not more so.  In either case it's best to topcoat with a clear finish.

Have you considered trying a dye rather than a stain?  

[BadBob]

I would never stain fretwork. If I want it to be a different color, I make it from the appropriate wood.

 

[Scrappile]

I used pipe cleaners to put stain in small places.  It's time-consuming, but it works.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

4 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

I've never used gel stain on fretwork, but my gut tells me that it isn't necessarily the best option in your case.

If there are a lot of inside cuts, then blotchiness is less of an issue, because theoretically, you don't have large surface areas where the blotchiness would be noticeable.  Gel stain is still an oil based product and the reason it blotches less is because the pigment doesn't absorb into the grain as deeply as regular stain.  I would think it would have the same tendency to bleed, if not more so.  In either case it's best to topcoat with a clear finish.

Have you considered trying a dye rather than a stain?  

I totally agree what Bill has said. 

[rash_powder]

I've used oil stain on ornaments I make.  I usually put it in a zipper bag, put the part in, and then massage it around everywhere.  Parts come out, blot them dry with paper towels and hang to dry the rest of the way.  Once dry, wipe them off again with a paper towel and they are good to go.  

I don't seal ornaments as I feel they don't need to be since they aren't meant to be handled a lot.  I imagine them to go from box to christmas tree and back to box; so no need.  

No one has ever said anything about residue coming off them.  

[dgman]

I’m with everyone else. Gel stain is not appropriate for fret work. I do not use BB ply for most of my work especially ornaments. I use strictly hard woods. Gel stain is oil based and may seep out over time, and most certainly needs a top coat even if it doesn’t get handled often. Standard oil based stain would be best to use because gel stain will fill the frets with the gel and you will be cleaning it out for a long time. If you choose to use it, let us know how it works out for you.

[Scrappile]

I guess I disagree.  I think it depends, but do say it is not appropriate for fret work.  I have used it many times.   I use it in every military emblem I have made to give contrast to the middle ring.  I used a jell stain and a pipe cleaner.  No one has complained yet. Sure, I could use contrasting wood, but it would be a huge waste of wood, and I give these away for free.  Now, if I wanted to stain a detailed fret piece, I would do the dipping method, which is no different than using the dipping method to apply a finish like tongue oil or something.  I put a wood conditioner on the wood before staining.  Help eliminate most of the parts that would block.

Edited 5 hours ago by Scrappile

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

4 hours ago, Scrappile said:

I guess I disagree.  I think it depends, but do say it is not appropriate for fret work.  I have used it many times.   I use it in every military emblem I have made to give contrast to the middle ring.  I used a jell stain and a pipe cleaner.  No one has complained yet. Sure, I could use contrasting wood, but it would be a huge waste of wood, and I give these away for free.  Now, if I wanted to stain a detailed fret piece, I would do the dipping method, which is no different than using the dipping method to apply a finish like tongue oil or something.  I put a wood conditioner on the wood before staining.  Help eliminate most of the parts that would block.

Paul  that is very very nice!!! I bought that book many years ago and wanted to do the same. Just make to give away but never got to it. Life is too short. Keep up the good work.