Gel stain cheap doors?

10 years ago

While the doors in the first floor are original, all 6 of the doors on the second floor were replaced with hollow core crap by the previous owner. We were hoping to find the old doors in the attic or basement, but no such luck. The woodwork around them is still the original, dark on the hall side and painted white inside the rooms. Eventually I'd love to find some older doors or at least older looking doors to replace them, but that isn't in the budget right now with all the more pressing projects, so I was wondering if gel stain might be a way to make them look a little better in the interim. I successfully gel stained the bathroom vanity, but that was real wood. I don't know how this cheap stuff will accept the stain and once I've wrecked one door unsuccessfully trying it, I'll be in a pickle... Does anyone have any experience with this?

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Comments (5)

Kiagrace
Original Author
10 years ago
Here is the vanity I gel stained. I didn't have to strip it, just sand lightly and I think it turned out ok...
columbusguy1
10 years ago
Most hollow-core doors are plywood with veneer, so a light sanding ought to be all you need. The end of my kitchen cabinet, which you saw the corner of, is one piece of veneer ply since I couldn't afford a piece of real wood that large. I did a light sand and stained it with a Minwax stain with a varnish mixed in...turned out fine.

Just to be safe, maybe get a small sample from a lumberyard to try; at the worst, you might have to do a coat of sealer such as shellac first, then stain.
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Elraes Miller
10 years ago
Try Restore (Habitat for Humanity). They have a lot of original old doors, plus the hardware. Most are around $30 unless with special glass or designs. Search for Restore in your state. They are all over and hopefully one will show up near you.
maryinthefalls
10 years ago
Since the moldings on the inside of the rooms is painted white, experiment on that side. If you don't like the results, you can paint that side white.

Also look for architectural salvage stores. Some are very $$, but some are more like piles of stuff to sort through and hence stuff costs a lot less. You may be lucky and find what you need. Mine are odd sized and we have been looking for a year for the right one.....
Wendyyylou
5 years ago
How did it turn out? I'm looking to do the same.