Java Gel

Have you heard about Java Gel?  It’s the latest rage in cabinet makeovers.  If you are tired of your cabinets, wood trim or wood furniture you can redo them without having to completely strip the old finish.  I’m told this technique was first introduced on Pinterest and has been spreading like wildfire.

Java Gel is a stain made by General Finishes.   It is a deep coffee color and you can use it almost like paint to cover old stain and dramatically change the look of tired wood.  If your cabinets have deep grain showing, the texture will still show through.  All of the posts I’ve seen on this process insist that it has to be General Finishes Java Gel for this to work.

The good news is that the process is easy, inexpensive and requires no experience or special skills.

Here’s how you make it happen:

1. Remove the cabinet doors and hardware.  Mark everything so you can be sure to get all the parts back together later.  Clean all the surfaces to remove any grease and grime.
2. Protect the area around your cabinets.  The stain is very effective so you need to mask everything you like the way it is.  Use plastic under drop cloths or heavy kraft paper to be sure the stain won’t get on your walls or floors.
3. Lightly sand all the areas to be stained with 220 grit sandpaper.  You’re not trying remove the finish – just take the sheen off and rough it up enough for the stain to adhere.   Be sure to get into the cracks and crevices.   Vacuum up the dust and use a tack cloth to get all the particles off before you stain.
4. Use a rag or a brush to apply the stain.  If, like me, you have an aversion to cleaning brushes, you will
5. want to stick to foam brushes or rags.  Be sure if you use a rag that it’s lint free.  One easy solution is to wear a rubber glove and then pull an old sock over it.  That way you can avoid having coffee colored cuticles for weeks.
6. Apply the gel stain in light, even coats.   Wipe it on with the grain and remove any excess with an old t-shirt.  Your first coat will probably not look very good – expect it to be streaky.  Plan on two to three coats – just keep going until you have an even color you are happy with.  Let each coat dry thoroughly, overnight or longer and if you see any bumps in the stain you can sand it lightly with 400 grit sandpaper to remove them.
7. Finish.  Put on one or two coats of polyurethane top coat like General Finishes PolyAcrylic.  Satin or semi-gloss will give you a subdued, elegant look.

This is an easy project and rumor has it that dark cabinets are “in” right now.  If you are ready for a new look you should give it a try.