Fiberglass Door Stain
 

I want to stain a fiberglass door but having difficulty selecting the best
make and type of stain. I've been given some very conflicting advice (read
on).....

I've found an oil-based Minwax Gel Stain in a honey maple shade that we
like. However, I've been told by some that MinWax is horrible stain, and
that water based is a better option over oil, even though the MinWax Oil Gel
Stain (which I understand the gel is preferred for fiberglass) does not come
in water-based.

The same person that told me the above said to get the stain kit from any
fiberglass door manufacturer instead of buying it from them. They are a Benj
Moore dealer. So I went and bought an oak stain kit sold by Therma-True (but
the fg door is not TT), and found that it is water based, and not a gel.

I thought about the shade that I'm applying too. Since the fibergalss
appears to simulate Oak - is a light maple shade the sensible shade to apply
to get a nice effect of a wood door, or should I restrict the shade to only
oak?

I'm really confused about the water based vs oil and the shade of stain to
use. Remember, I'm staining a FG door, not wood, but it does have solid oak
wood jambs that will also be stained during the same application. Finally, I
don't know if the gel stain is superior either.

On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 00:49:58 -0500, someone wrote:

However, I've been told by some that MinWax is horrible stain,

A new definition on the term "horrible stain"!!!

Who are these people and wha do they say is wrong with it?

Not that I stain very often, but I never had any problems with MinWax.

"Billy" wrote in message ...
I want to stain a fiberglass door but having difficulty selecting the best
make and type of stain. I've been given some very conflicting advice (read
on).....

I've found an oil-based Minwax Gel Stain in a honey maple shade that we
like. However, I've been told by some that MinWax is horrible stain, and
that water based is a better option over oil, even though the MinWax Oil Gel
Stain (which I understand the gel is preferred for fiberglass) does not come
in water-based.

The same person that told me the above said to get the stain kit from any
fiberglass door manufacturer instead of buying it from them. They are a Benj
Moore dealer. So I went and bought an oak stain kit sold by Therma-True (but
the fg door is not TT), and found that it is water based, and not a gel.

I thought about the shade that I'm applying too. Since the fibergalss
appears to simulate Oak - is a light maple shade the sensible shade to apply
to get a nice effect of a wood door, or should I restrict the shade to only
oak?

I'm really confused about the water based vs oil and the shade of stain to
use. Remember, I'm staining a FG door, not wood, but it does have solid oak
wood jambs that will also be stained during the same application. Finally, I
don't know if the gel stain is superior either.

I have used the MinWax gel stain on FG doors with attached oak lights.
It does a fine job. If you've tried to stain fiberglass before you
know how important that gel stain is to the job. You have to get the
knack of working the gell and recoating it right away so it matches
the wood that is also being stained. The work goes quickly and looks
great.

Hi, I work in a millwork dept. Every door manufacture requires you to follow certin procedures. The best advice is this contact the door manufacture and follow their requierments that way if some thing should wrong, they are resp. with in reason. as far as the water base goes i would not go near the door with it. the jambs on the other hand is differant find a pieace of oak that matches the jamb and use it as a test. Most manufactures recomend you use a jell stain becase it will not run on a surface that will not soak up the stain.

Happy staining