I'm working with Gel Stain.

[LuckyCharms]

There is a learning curve involved when first using it.

Also, it takes a certain "technique" to use it correctly.

I dislike things involving a "learning curves" and "techniques".

[NJCher]

1. Post a sample?

Eom

[LuckyCharms]

2. Refinished table top sections.

Original 30 year old finish.

Comparison of original to stripped/sanded.

Stripped and sanded (And subsequently shellacked)

2 coats of gel stain. Top coat not yet applied. Waiting for stain to cure.

[MissB]

3. Looks great!

I just picked up a 6’ wide craftsman built-in dining room buffet. Want to come refinish it for me? Thanks!

Edited to add: I’m now haunting posts of random furniture for sale locally in an attempt to find some replacement hardware. Strangely, I found a piece that has four sets of hinges and three cabinet latches that I’d identified as the exact type I was planning on buying. The hinges are about $23 each ( ) so picking up a small case for $40 that has four sets of them saves me some coin.

[LuckyCharms]

4. Thanks! Well, I'd love to, but I've been working on this since June and I'm

no where near complete, so this is probably my last refinishing job for awhile.

Congrats on your buffet!

Here's a tip for you if you refinish it:

You may strip and sand it to perfection, apply the gel stain, and it might look like like total crap because of unseen silicone contamination from cleaning products.

Happened to me. Had to sand off the gel stain, put on 3 coats of unwaxed shellac, then re-apply the stain.

Save your self some angst if you do it yourself. Assume it is contaminated after you strip to bare wood, apply unwaxed shellac, apply gel stain as if applying it over a finished surface (instead of bare wood) because it now has a shellac finish on it.

[NJCher]

5. Stunning!

Wow, is that ever pretty!

I had one very similar to it and still miss it.

[CentralMass]

6. Nice work.

[Duncanpup]

7. Looks great