Old Masters 81208 Gel Stain, Maple, 1 Pint, 16 Fl Oz

Beautiful rich color.

Great product and covers well and looks great.

We applied this white gel stain lightly with a cloth on alderwood. It was SO easy to apply - and was so accomplished quickly. After it dried (which was fast) we then applied just small amounts of black paint/stain (again using a small cloth) to control the lightness and darkness of the streaks wanted) in order to give the wood an old distressed look. It was easy to apply,and the results are a really lovely bookcase. Wish I'd known what could be done with alderwood and this gel stain years ago, I'd have done an entire room with it. We put a matte finishing sealer over it - really sharp effect. The alderwood was inexpensive compared to other unfinished woods, and has wonderful grain lines and knots for character. Great Gel Stain product, and VERY fast delivery from seller (well-packaged also).

I tried to use this stain on a restoration. I had sanded down to bare wood on very light (almost white) oak. While I love gel stains in general, I have to give this one a thumbs down as the result was far more yellow/amber than golden. Ended up using golden pecan from MinWax and was very pleased with the genuine golden glow that it gave to the oak.That said, it was a perfectly good stain, just not the tone or hue that I was after in a "golden" stain.

Because it’s gel, it gives you a lot more control on how deep you want the color to be. You can rub in for a long period of time for a deeper richer color.. I prefer gel stains over very liquid ones and old masters as my go to..

I refinished an old coat rack that was an orange tone (not appealing). I think it was pine that somebody stained an unknown color. Anyhow, I removed all hardware and sanded my piece because it had a significant amount of wax on it. Then, I cleaned it really well while removing the debris from sanding. Once everything was super clean and smooth, I noticed the wood was extremely porous. This had me slightly concerned so prior to staining, I used a combination of 3 parts denatured alcohol with 2 parts Zinsser Seal Coat 100% wax free shellac. This helps to condition the wood for a more uniform application. Anyhow, I am glad I took this additional step because the Spanish Oak is soooo dark! I ended up with a beautiful, deep dark brown with almost black edges (like the black tones of charred wood) since the lighter spots really grabbed the blackish tones. And, I did try to take a photo, but the camera alters the coloring so I didn't post it with this review. Perhaps, I need different lighting to capture an accurate photo. Therefore, all I can say is it is very, very dark brown with the blackish highlights - Super Gorgeous! Love it! :)If you like dark woods like dark walnut or something along those lines, you'd probably like the Spanish Oak. And, if you are avoiding all red/orange hues, then Spanish Oak is a good choice. Also, it does matter what color wood you are covering - yes, even with gel stain - because the base color will alter final results. Therefore, don't expect the color swatch on the sample color images to be your exact result. A test spot or even a test on a scrap piece of wood similar to your project wood is advisable.Also, some reviewers stated that the gel stain isn't messy - that's not really true. I managed to have some occasional drips and mess so be prepared for this by using adequate drop cloths, tarps. etc.**This product goes a very, very long way so don't over purchase! I bought a pint and will have more than enough for a larger project (i.e. dining table). Consider coverage dimensions prior to purchase.In addition, I used the Blue Hawk 4-in x 5-in Cotton Floor Stain Pad to apply the stain, and it was worth the few dollars to purchase this application tool as opposed to using a wadded up t-shirt or whatever. For me, this was a good choice - use what works best for you.Lastly, I found that I did not need a top coat for this project. The finish is fine for a coat rack. Now if I were doing a dining table, then I'd probably use many layers of top coat product(s).That said, I am actually considering my dining table for the next application of Spanish Oak. :) We have white, wooden upholstered chairs so the the Spanish Oak would be a magnificent contrast. We'll see! :)(Note - I will see if I can manage an accurate photo for this review)

I purchased the provincial stain, it was easy to use but you have to be quick if you’re adding a faux wood grain because it will set up pretty fast. Beautiful color though.

I was looking for an Early American gel stain to match Minwax Early American stain, this is a great match.