Bartley Gel Stains and
Varnish
The beauty of
Bartley's Gel Stains and Gel Varnish is they are so easy to apply,
and they have very low odor. And because they are Gels, they can
be used on vertical and overhead surfaces without fear of runs,
drips and sags. Brushes are not required, just a soft cotton
cloth. The Gel Stains are dry to a light touch in seconds and the
Gel Varnish is tack-free in minutes, and there is no sanding or
buffing with steel wool between coats. Bartley Gel Stains and Gel
Varnish are recommended for new wood projects and for refinishing
antiques.
Note:
Bartley Classic Reproductions is no longer the manufacturer of any
of the Bartley Finishes. If you purchased a Bartley product
elsewhere and have a question or problem please contact the
manufacturer; Seagrave Coatings @
908-241-2270.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
Acclaimed by
Professionals and Amateurs for their ease and results
Step 1: Start with a clean,
well sanded surface. With a small cloth or foam brush, apply a
generous coat of Bartley Gel Stain to an area no larger than 6-8
square feet. With a clean, lint free cloth or soft paper towel,
immediately wipe off the excess with the grain until the color is
uniform and free of smudges. The newly stained surface should be
nearly dry to the touch. Your first coat of stain is done! There
are no runs, no drips, and no unpleasant odors! For a darker,
richer tone, apply a second or third coat of stain (see color
chart at right) to add significant depth and richness of color.
Allow six hours between coats. In humid climates drying time will
vary. One of the best features about Bartley stains is there is no
sanding between coats. It couldn’t be easier!
Step 2:
Note: Certain colors like Georgian
Cherry may need longer drying times to prevent lifting when
applying clear coats. In hot and humid conditions allow at least
24-48 hours drying time between coats. After staining, apply two
or three coats of Bartley’s Gel Varnish for a beautiful and tough
hand-rubbed look. Gel varnish is nontoxic and can be used on
household cooking and eating utensils. Excellent on butcher
blocks!
Step 3: After staining, apply two or three coats of Bartley's
Gel Varnish for a beautiful and tough hand-rubbed look. Gel
varnish is nontoxic and can be used on household cooking and
eating utensils. Excellent on butcher blocks!
USEFUL TIPS
Surface Preparation
The surface must be
clean, dry, and free of any dust, wax, or grease before staining.
New wood should be sanded smooth and free of blemishes. Old
finishes should be removed and sanded to a smooth, even texture,
and glue spots scraped off and sanded. For a better finish,
hand-sand with the grain and on flat surfaces use a sanding block.
If planer or molder marks are visible, begin with a coarse paper
(80-100 grit); otherwise start with a medium grit (120-150) and
finish with a fine grit (180-220). Remember, surfaces sanded with
finer sandpaper will result in slightly lighter tones when
stained; using coarser paper will result in darker colors. Just
before staining, use a tack cloth or rag soaked in mineral spirits
to clean the surface.
Common Staining Problems
Certain woods like soft
pine, maple, and birch often absorb stains unevenly. To help
overcome this problem on soft woods and end grains, first apply a
coat of Gel Varnish, wipe it nearly dry, and then follow
immediately with a coat of Gel Stain. In this case, the varnish
acts as a conditioner and eliminates much of the blotchiness. A
second or third coat of stain may be necessary to get the desired
color. On the harder woods, using a medium grit (120-150) rather
than very fine paper before staining usually obtains even results.
For the most difficult woods to stain (like maple), dampen the
wood surface with water from an atomizer and allow it to dry for
one to two hours. Then sand lightly, without polishing the surface
and stain. Remember, always test stain a hidden area before
proceeding with the entire piece. Caution: Touching your work
with latex gloves may cause blotchy spots when the varnish is
applied.
Clean Up
To prevent skinning,
place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the stain or
varnish before closing. Mineral spirits or paint thinner should be
used for clean up.
Intermixing Stains and Varnish
Bartley Gel Stains can be
intermixed in any combination to create an almost infinite number
of colors. The Bartley Gel Varnish can be mixed with the stains to
make lighter colors. In both cases, mix well.
Overstaining
Even more beautiful tones
can be achieved by staining with one color, allowing it to dry for
six hours, and then overstaining with a different color. For
example, using Brown or Dark Brown Mahogany for the first coat
followed by Pennsylvania Cherry will result in reddish brown
tones. Pennsylvania Cherry overstained with Jet Mahogany will
create a rich Mahogany color. Because Gel Stains are
semi-transparent, the overstaining creates a different look than
had the same colors been mixed in a can and then applied.
Overstaining has many possibilities. Try it!
Compatibility with Other Finishes
Although we recommend our Clear Gel Topcoat, Bartley Gel
Stains can be topcoated with most other varnishes, polyurethanes,
water base finishes, and lacquers, providing the stains have dried
thoroughly. The Gel Varnish can be used to topcoat other stains.
To be
safe, test an area that will not be visible.
Other Uses
Bartley Gel Stains are multi-purpose and excellent for
Staining Fiberglass Doors, Woodgraining, Antiquing, Glazing, and
Sponging.
Storage
Bartley Stains do not freeze and can be stored outside. To prevent
skinning, place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the
product in the can before closing the lid.
BARTLEY PASTE
FILLERS
Make open pore woods surfaces
like Oak, Ash, Mahogany or Walnut smooth
Bartley Paste wood
fillers are alkyd base products designed to produce a smooth
looking surface on open pore woods. This
easy to use product will give a professional finished look to
porous woods like Oak and Ash as well as many others. Choose
Natural, Light or Dark paste wood filler to blend with your
unfinished wood. Simply sand the wood thoroughly and clean it with
a tack cloth or rag dampened with mineral spirits. Apply a
generous amount of product to the unfinished wood with a brush in
an even coat across the surface. Rub the filler into the wood in a
circular motion using a coarse cloth. After the filler has set up
(approximately 5 minutes) begin removing the excess by rubbing it
off with a coarse cloth, like burlap, going across the grain not
with it. Allow the filler an overnight
dry before proceeding. Using fine sandpaper, sand all filled
surfaces until a desired smoothness is achieved leaving the filler
in the grain. If the filler is not sanded properly it may inhibit
the staining process. Before applying a stain, once again wipe off
all surfaces with a tack or mineral spirits dampened cloth
removing any residue. Your wood filled surface will have a nice
smooth finish just as if a professional had done it.
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