- Thick gel stain for use on vertical surfaces to apply rich color
- Sticks to wood, metal and fiberglass to prevent drips or runs
- Easy to use stain covers up to 200 sq. ft. per quart
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How to Get It
Product Overview
Varathane 1 qt. Hickory Wood Interior Gel Stain is a convenient and easy to use stain that provides deep, rich color to enhance the natural grain of the wood. Rich, thick stain formula provides twice the coverage of traditional oil-based stains. Thicker consistency prevents drips and runs.
- Gel Stain designed to enhance natural grain of wood surfaces, works especially well for doors, molding, windows, trim, paneling and other vertical surfaces
- Covers up to 200 sq. ft., most surfaces require only 1 coat
- Semi-transparent formula provides a natural color that allows wood grain to come through
- Easy to use gel formula provides ultimate control during vertical application
- Will not leave lap marks or grain raise on surfaces
- Use to create a natural wood look on metal, fiberglass and composite doors
- Cleans up with mineral spirits
- Works on interior or exterior surfaces, protect with appropriate polyurethane following use
- Allow a minimum 8 hours before applying oil-based poly and 24 hours before water based poly
- Dry times may be longer on finished wood or non-wood surfaces and may be affected by temperature or humidity
- Browse Available Floor Refinishing Tool Rental Options
- Online price includes PaintCare fee in the following states: CA, CO, CT, DC, ME, MN, OR, RI, VT, WA
- California residents
Compare Similar Interior Wood Stains
 |  |  |  | |
| Brand | Varathane | Varathane | Varathane | Varathane |
| Name | 1 qt. Hickory Wood Interior Gel Stain | 1 qt. Mahogany Wood Interior Gel Stain | 1 qt. Aged Barrel Premium Fast Dry Interior Wood Stain (2-Pack) | 1 qt. Weathered Gray Semi-Transparent Wood Interior Gel Stain (2-Pack) |
| Price | $2398 | $2398 | $2696 | $4656 |
| Ratings | (387) | (387) | (4294) | (212) |
| Container Size | 1 Quart | 1 Quart | 1 Quart | 1 Quart |
| Base Material | Oil Based | Oil Based | Oil Based | Oil Based |
| Paint/Stain Features | No Drip | No Drip | Fast Drying,Top Coat Required | No Drip |
| Transparency | Semi-Transparent | Semi-Transparent | Semi-Transparent | Semi-Transparent |
| Wood Effects | No Additional Effect | No Additional Effect | No Additional Effect | No Additional Effect |
| Product Form | Gel | Gel | Liquid | Liquid |
| Number of coats recommended | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Coverage Area (sq. ft.) | 200 ft² | 200 ft² | 275 ft² | 200 ft² |
| Surface Material Use | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood |
| Dry to touch (min.) | 120 min | 120 min | 60 min | 120 min |
| View Product | View Product | View Product | View Product |
Specifications
Dimensions
| Container Size | 1 Quart | Coverage Area (sq. ft.) | 200 ft² |
|---|
Details
| Application Method | Brush,Wipe On | Base Material | Oil Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color Family | Brown | Color/Finish | Hickory |
| Dry to touch (min.) | 120 min | Interior/Exterior | Interior |
| Number of coats recommended | 1 | Number per Package | 1 |
| Paint/Stain Clean Up | Mineral Spirits | Paint/Stain Features | No Drip |
| Paint/Stain/Waterproofer Product Type | General Purpose | Product Form | Gel |
| Substrate Condition | Bare Wood,Finished Wood,Old/Reclaimed Wood,Stained Wood,Unfinished Wood | Surface Material Use | Wood |
| Time before recoating (hours) | 2 | Transparency | Semi-Transparent |
| Vertical/Horizontal | Vertical / Horizontal | Wood Effects | No Additional Effect |
Warranty / Certifications
| Manufacturer Warranty | Satisfaction guaranteed for full refund of purchase price |
|---|
Questions & Answers
Typical questions asked about products:
- Is the product durable?
- Is the product easy to use?
- What are the dimensions of the product?
Customer Reviews
Aug 6, 2022
Great product!
So easy to use to achieve the Look I wanted. Minimal effort if you follow the directions. I painted the base coat rosewood color and used a sponge stain applicator and brush to get the wood look.
Paint it with the grain of the wood and direction of the boards. Vertical board get stained vertical. Pretty easy.
Took my plain boring white wooden door to stunning! Stained before the driveway was installed but this product doesn’t drip.
by
Jun 8, 2022
Best result
I used 3 big cans of this stain to transform all yellow oak we had in house from stairs to door frames and window frames. You have to get experience to know how and how much to apply and how to clean. The image shows only one coat of it. I get used to how get result in only one coat. Very nice and easy to apply just don’t wait to dry and clean because it will be extremely hard. Apply and very gently clean the extra and remove line of brush or rag and leave it to dry. I used rag
by
Oct 29, 2021
Great color retention.
Used it on Halloween props. Easy to use and great color.
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Jun 10, 2021
Best color ever!
Great to work with for vertical surfaces or a finishing location as mess is very limited. If you want this product to be a bit thinner to more easily get into the cracks of doors etc. I put about 1/2 cup of the left over premium stain into the gel stain mixed well with wood stirrer. It thinned it up and stained just as well without the splattering mess of the non gel stain. For best results stain remover to desired stain darkness with lint free cloth (old socks work the best on you hands like mittens) let dry overnight before top coat as the gel takes more time to dry in the cracks.
by
May 18, 2021
I have used several different colors of varathane gel stain, and I get perfect results every time...
I have used several different colors of varathane gel stain, and I get perfect results every time. You don't even need to use wood conditioner... Just wipe it on, wait a few minutes, and wipe it off. It looks exactly like it is supposed to.
by
Mar 18, 2021
Stained the entryway table beautifully and was easy to apply...
Stained the entryway table beautifully and was easy to apply
by
Dec 17, 2020
I love the dark stain it gives pine wood...
I love the dark stain it gives pine wood
by
Nov 11, 2020
Love it! So easy to use. Really covers. I...
Love it! So easy to use. Really covers. I used it on a cabinet with a veneer finish.
by
Nov 2, 2020
Should have left the cabinet's an ugly golden oak
Rust-oleum keeps stating something is amiss, their product is A Miss. I used deglosser, Krud Kutter degreaser, TSP, sanded, wiped down, washed with soap and dried. It's been 54 hours and still tacky/wet/wipes off. Waited 3min 42sec after applying 1st coat to wipe down excess gel stain. Am I supposed to wipe some of the product off or part of it or all of it? When I lightly wipe it most of the gel stain comes off and leaves the oak with a slight tan. I think after a year of staining and drying, my cabinets should be almost Kona color light. Is this normal?
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Response from Rust-OleumSupportNov 3, 2020
Happy to help! To prep the surface for Rust-Oleum Varathane Wood Gel Stain, any existing coating must be removed by sanding or with a stripper. The bare wood should then be prepped by sanding in the direction of the grain. Begin with #120 grit sandpaper and progress through #150, #180 and #220 grits. Remove all sanding dust with a vacuum or clean rag dampened with mineral spirits. This will ensure the pores are properly opened in the wood and promote proper penetration of the stain. The first coat should be applied going against the grain. You will then work with the grain to even out the color. After a few minutes, all excess stain needs to be wiped off with a clean soft cloth. Additional coats can then be applied as needed to darken the color.
- Rust-Oleum Product Support 3
- Rust-Oleum Product Support 3
Oct 14, 2020
Awesome stain!
I absolutely love this stain. I used it to paint a white fiberglass garage door. The consistency is thick and doesn’t drip. The color is like espresso, dark, deep brown. It took 2 coats to get the desired look. First coat was really streaky looking. Gel stain did take about 18 hours for the first coat to dry. This could be because it was cooler out. Highly recommend. First picture is the before. Second picture is after one coat. Third picture is right after I finished(top still looks wet).
by
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