Can stain gel be diy?- I find it so expensive and have to pay high!!

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/how-to-make-homemade-stains

This tells how to make the old stain. Only difference between gel and regular seems to be thickness. Gel says it gives you better control over the stain, good if you are staining a verticle surface. With the old style stain you have to go slowly to allow the stain to sit for a moment or two then wipe off with a dry rag to see if it is dark enough. May need to apply several times if you want darkest. You get the hang of it after a while.

I suppose you could boil out some of the water to thicken it but don't really know except your pot won't be any good for anything else. Also wear gloves while handling it unless you want your hands a few shades darker. I do not recommend it for quick tanning lotion....LOL

You can make your own stain by putting steel wool in a jar and pour viniger over the steel wool enough to cover it completely then let it sit for a few days until you have the darkness you desire.

I make my own stains with artist quality oil paints with some linseed oil, turpentine (or one of the synthetics) and sometimes some varnish. You can make it any combination of colors by adjusting your oil colors. I tend to use Burnt Umber, Raw Umber the most. The color can be adjusted with some red, yel, blk, white or blue depending where you are trying to go with the color. You may need to experiment a little. Remember that raw wood will take the stain faster and deeper than a sealed wood. I keep my mixed stains in some small bottles and they can be reused. Do not put them in a plastic bottle with the turp as some plastic will melt. Find someone with a baby and get their glass baby food jars. You can use acrylics to make the stains but you have to work faster because they dry faster and they do not keep well. And of course acrylics will need to be mixed with acrylic gels and water NOT TURP. Experiment. if it does not explode you may get some great results. Just kidding. But do remember that turp can burst into flame under ideal circumstances. So dispose of rags and/or store in a closed container. They love oxygen to implode.