Carpentry and Woodworking - Top Coat Finish over Gel Stain? Tung Oil?

I have an antique table that once I stripped two coats of paint off of it, I stained it with Old Masters Gel Stain. (There was a stain color on the table once I got the paint off, so I lightly sanded that before using the gel stain.) Now I want to put some type of finishing top coat and I'm confused as to whether Tung Oil will penetrate a gel stain, as the gel stain looks more like paint than regular stain. Or should I use a Gel Topcoat or a Varnish? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.:confused:

I don't know that I've ever used any tung oil [have used linseed oil] but I'd be leary of it softening up the stain and maybe making it lift in spots.

I've never been fond of the gel stains [old school - like regular penetrating stain] and wasn't aware that they made a gel top coat. As long as the stain is dry, most any varnish or polyurathane will be suitable for the finish. An oil base poly would be the most durable.

If that "Old Masters" is similar to a product I knew of years ago called "Old Masters" then it's a lot more like paint than it is like stain.If it is that line of products I'd stay away from tung oil.

I would go with a pre catalyzed laquer, or polyurethane

Thank you all for your assistance!