Natwerk Designs

On kitchen cabinets, can you put gel stain on top of oil-based paint?

I saw a show on HGTV or DIY where they painted kitchen cabinets a dark chocolate brown oil based paint. Once the paint was dry, they painted on a gel stain as the top coat. The cabinets came out very dark brown, and looked like modern espresso. I haven't been able to find this online anywhere, but does anyone know if you can put a gel stain over oil based paint? Are there any ramifications, or any other things to be aware of?

Public Comments

1. Gel stain should be fine over oil based paint. I don't see that as being a problem other than you will have to allow extra time for the oil based undercoat to dry. I would give it at least a few days. Also, keep in mind that the gel stain will not penetrate, so you will have to use a clear finish over it to keep the gel from rubbing off. The shows on HGTV, DIY, and similar really irritate me. Many of the projects they undertake either don't give you the whole process or show you what the project looks like after a few months of living. Some things to keep in mind when painting cabinets that they don't tell you: Paint does not adhere well to many cabinet finishes. Most modern (built after 1970 or so) cabinets other than the real cheap ones use a catalyzed lacquer finish. This product cures to a super hard finish that is resistant to most oils and solvents to make them easier to clean and maintain. Paint does not stick to this finish well. Worst case, the paint will pull into puddles as you try to apply it. Best case it will go on OK then rub off with minimal contact after it dries. If you must paint, clean well with mineral spirits and dry, then sand lightly with 120 grit paper. You must clean before sanding to remove grease, otherwise the sanding will work any grease into the cracks and crevasses making it nearly impossible to remove. After sanding clean with mineral spirits again and dry. Before you apply paint, put on a coat of wax-free shellac. Shellac will stick to nearly anything and gives you the best chance for a good durable finish. BIN is a good brand, KILZ is not the same thing and will not get what you need in this case. After the shellac, I would select a 100% acrylic paint for your topcoat. 20 years ago I would have suggested oil, but the new acrylics will hold up much better. A glossier finish will be more durable than a flat. You can apply the gel stain over this without any problems, but I would probably go with a glaze instead. You can get the same look and the glaze will actually bond to the paint, the gel stain will not bond without the topcoat. Either way a clear topcoat is advisable, I would recommend a water borne polyurethane as it will stay clear and is much easier to work with than solvent based products.
2. If you don’t have much money to work with, consider mass-produced kitchen cabinets rather than custom units. If the dimensions of your kitchen allow it, standard size stock cabinets save money so you can upgrade elsewhere in the kitchen, such as buying new appliances. You might not have as many finish choices by buying mass-produced kitchen cabinets, but they can still look stylish and be quite durable.