Technical Specifications

STAIN
TECHNICAL DATA
VAR-07
VARATHANE
®
GEL STAIN
].DESCRIPTION AND USES .
Varathane
®
Premium Gel Stain is designed for application
on vertical surfaces such as doors and window trim.
Varathane Premium Gel Stain has excellent coverage,
does not drip or run, and causes no lap marks or grain
raise. Varathane Premium Gel Stain can also be used to
create a natural wood look to fiberglass and composite
doors.
This product is ideal for use on interior surfaces such as
furniture, doors and veneer. Varathane Premium Outdoor
Polyurethane should be used on exterior surfaces such as
outdoor furniture and doors. Gel Stain is not
recommended for use on floors, decks or siding.
. .
.PRODUCT APPLICATION .
SURFACE PREPARATION
WOOD SURFACES - Remove any existing coatings using
sandpaper or stripper. Prepare bare wood for staining 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. Soft woods such as pine,
fir and maple require a wood conditioner. Use Varathane
Premium Wood Conditioner before staining.
WARNING! If you scrape, sand or remove old paint, you
may release lead dust. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO
LEAD DUST CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS SUCH AS
BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN.
PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO AVOID
EXPOSURE. Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator to
control lead exposure. Clean up carefully with a HEPA
vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to
protect yourself and your family by contacting the National
Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to
www.epa.gov/lead.
PRODUCT APPLICATION (cont.) .
NON-WOOD SURFACES – Remove all dust, dirt, grease
or glue with a clean rag dampened with mineral spirits.
Make sure surface is thoroughly clean and dry before
proceeding.
TESTING COLOR - Be sure to test your stain to verify the
desired color. To test, apply stain in an inconspicuous
area. When testing on soft woods, be sure to sand and
condition the test area first.
APPLICATION
Use adequate ventilation at all times. Stir thoroughly
before use. Apply when temperatures are between 50-
90°F (10-38°C) and the relative humidity less than 85%.
Apply Varathane Premium Gel Stain liberally to the
surface using a brush or lint-free cloth. First apply stain
going against the grain to fill in pores. Then work with the
grain to even out color. Let stand for 2-5 minutes and wipe
off excess with a clean soft cloth, using light and even
pressure. Remove excess stain in the direction of the
wood grain. If stain is too dark, remove gently with a cloth
dampened with mineral spirits. If stain is too light, apply
additional coats.
DRY TIME
Allow stain to dry a minimum of 2 hours and then re-coat if
additional color is desired. Allow a minimum 2 hours dry
time between each gel stain coat. Varathane Premium Gel
Stains must be topcoated for protection. Allow stain to dry
a minimum of 8 hours before top coating. Dry times may
be affected by temperature, humidity and ventilation.
PROTECTING YOUR PROJECT - Use Varathane
Premium Interior or Varathane Premium Outdoor
Polyurethane to protect your project. Allow Varathane
Premium Gel Stains to dry a minimum of 8 hours before
applying an oil-based finish, and 24 hours before applying
a water-based finish.
CLEAN UP
Clean up tools and equipment with mineral spirits or paint
thinner.
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