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Water Base Stains, Paints, and Topcoats

Are you looking for furniture or cabinet finishes? Environment friendly PolyAcrylic finishes are easy to apply, durable, and simple to repair. Our special waterborne formulas deliver extraordinary depth and vibrancy of color that cannot be achieved in any oil based product. If you are looking for color - use General Finishes Water Based products! Whether you want bold and luscious or traditional and classic, General Finishes has the finish for you. Available by the pint, quart or gallon. For a local dealer near you, visit General Finishes retail store locator for fine wood finishes.

Now carrying Enduro formerly by Compliant Spray Systems. Please contact us at 800-783-6050 for more information. Click here for a list of California retail locations.

Award winning finishes! General Finishes High Performance was rated Author's Best Overall Choice. See article by Fine Woodworking Magazine, Nov/Dec 2006.

Milk Paints Glaze Effects Water Based Wood Stains Poly Acrylic Top Coat

 High Performance Top Coat Sanding Sealer  Exterior 450

  Exterior 450

Designed for exterior wood applications, EXTERIOR 450 varnish provides your wood with a tough, protective finish that will withstand the rigors of the sun, rain, and wind. Ideal for outdoor furniture, doors, and case goods, EXTERIOR 450 is fortified with UV absorbers to help minimize fading and maximize performance. Its built-in mildewcide retards mold and mildew growth.

Exterior 450 is tough and flexible, and will resist the expansion and contraction of the wood through hot summers and cold winters that typically causes cracking and peeling. Available in Satin and Semi-Gloss, it flows well and dries rapidly to a clear finish.

Exterior 450 MSDS (PDF)
Exterior 450  Data (PDF)
Exterior 450 Data (2) (PDF)

 Dye Stains NEW

Unique, water based, ultra penetrating stains designed to work like solvent-based stains. The deep rich tones enhance the wood grain and produce vibrant colors especially on woods like cherry, walnut and maple. Dye stains can also be used as a toner when mixed with GF water based topcoats.

Enduro Dye Stain MSDS
Enduro Dye Stain Data

Amber Light Brown Cinnamon Medium Brown
Dark Brown Merlot Ebony Empire Red
 
Vintage Cherry Orange Yellow  

 

General Finishes Milk Paint for Furniture

GF Milk Paints

Milk Paints are the star of the furniture fashion market. They are interior/exterior acrylic paints suitable for indoor or outdoor furniture, crafts, and cabinets and can be applied directly from the can to produce a high quality satin sheen finish. When used with Glaze Effects, you can create all the new decorative finishes such as distressing, antiquing, marble effects, rag rolling, or color washing. High use flat surfaces such as dining tables and desks will develop the patina of every day life over time so we recommend clear or wood stain finishes to our customers who are patina-adverse. Milk Paints can be used alone or mixed with any other  product in the General Finishes Water Based line, including Wood Stains, and Topcoats.

GF Milk Paints Data (PDF)
GF Milk Paints MSDS (PDF)

 

Milk Paints are available in the following colors: Snow White, Antique White, Linen, Millstone, Outback Brown, Little Pink, Buttermilk Yellow, Somerset Gold, Sage Green, Bayberry Green, Basil, Cypress Green, Red Pepper, Autumn Haze, Brick Red, Tuscan Red, Baby Blue, Federal Blue, Coastal Blue and Lamp Black. The digitized colors shown are for reference purposes only. Always test stain on a hidden area of the wood to verify desired color.

 
 
 
 
 

General Finishes Furniture Glazes

GF Glaze Effects

Glaze Effects are translucent water based colors used to create beautiful decorative finishes such as distressing, marble, shabby chic, burnishing, color washing, rag rolling and wood graining.  Use over Water Based Wood Stains, and Milk PaintsGlaze Effects can be inter-mixed or layered to create custom colors. They may also be layered over one another to create deeper, richer looks.

GF Glaze Effects Data (PDF)

GF Glaze Effects MSDS (PDF)

  Glaze Effects are available in the following colors: Winter White, Yellow Ochre, Red Sienna, Burnt Umber, Van Dyke Brown, Pitch Black, and Clear Base (not shown). All finishes are shown here over Antique White Milk Paint. The digitized colors shown are for reference purposes only. Always test stain on a hidden area of the wood to verify desired color.

Winter White Glaze over Antique White Milk Paint

Yellow Ochre Glaze over Antique White Milk Paint Red Sienna Glaze over Antique White Milk Paint Burnt Umber Glaze over Antique White Milk Paint Van Dyke Brown  Glaze over Antique White Milk Paint Pitch Black Glaze over Antique White Milk Paint

Click here for samples of General Finishes Glaze Effects or Water Based Wood  Stains over Milk Paints

Furniture Antiquing Furniture Glaze Faux Finishing Furniture Furniture Glazing Techniques

 1. Two coats of Autumn Haze Milk Paint sanded through

2. Water based topcoat to prevent color blending

3. Yellow Ochre Glaze

4. Final top coats

 1. 2 Coats Sage Green

2. Water based topcoat to prevent color blending

3. Winter White Glaze

4. Final top coats

 1. Two coats of Millstone Milk Paint sanded through

2. Water based topcoat to prevent color blending

3. Van Dyke Brown Glaze

4. Final top coats

 1. Two coats of Brick Red Milk Paint

2. Water based topcoat to prevent color blending

3. One or two coats of Basil Milk Paint sanded though

4. Yellow Ochre Glaze

5. Final top coats

 1. Two coats of Brick Red Milk Paint

2. Water based topcoat to prevent color blending

3. Espresso Wood Stain

4. Final top coats

Genral Finishes Water Based Wood Stains

GF Water Based Wood Stains

Our Water Based Stains have all the advantages of oil base stains: they spread easily, can be repaired, can be blended effortlessly, and have plenty of open time. The thicker formula allows controlled penetration, which will reduce blotching on softer woods such as Aspen, Pine and Maple.
GF Water Based Wood Stains Data (PDF)
GF Water Based Wood Stains MSDS 8-2008 (PDF)

  Water based Wood Stains are available in the following colors: Whitewash, Natural (clear finish), Country Pine, Golden Oak, Antique Oak, Pecan, Shaker Maple, Early American, Antique Cherry, Black Cherry, Rosewood, Cranberry Red, Walnut, Brown Mahogany, Espresso and Black.  The digitized colors shown are for reference purposes only. Always test stain on a hidden area of the wood to verify desired color.
water-based-whitewash-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-natural-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-country-pine-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-golden-oak-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-antique-oak-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-pecan-stain manufactured by general finishes  
water-based-shaker-maple-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-early-american-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-antique-cherry-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-black-cherry-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-rosewood-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-cranberry-red-stain manufactured by general finishes  
water-based-walnut-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-brown-mahagony-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-espresso-stain manufactured by general finishes water-based-black-stain manufactured by general finishes      

General Finishes Water Based Top Coats

GF PolyAcrylic Blend Top Coat

This crystal clear finish is rated by Fine Woodworking magazine as "Best Brush-on" in a competition of national brands. It is our standard "work horse" top coat and can be used in furniture and woodwork. Formulated to be durable and consumer friendly, it flows and levels easily and has great adhesion characteristics. It has strong sag resistance for vertical surfaces and its higher polyurethane content provides greater durability than other polyurethane/acrylic blends. Once you use PolyAcrylic Blend you will say to yourself, "Fine Woodworking was right on!"  Available in the following sheens, Matte, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss.

GF PolyAcrylic Data (PDF)
GF PolyAcrylic MSDS (PDF)

GF High Performance Polyurethane Top Coat

Winner of Fine Woodworking's Best Overall Choice Award, High Performance Top Coat is the hardest, most durable consumer polyurethane top coat on the market today. It contains all the consumer friendly characteristics of PolyAcrylic Blend. In addition it contains a UV Stabilizer to protect it from breaking down in sunlight and to protect the underlying stains from fading. And with its pure polyurethane durability, it can even be used on floors. This is the most durable product.  Available in the following sheens, Satin, Semi-Gloss and Gloss.

GF High Performance Polyurethane Data (PDF)
GF High Performance MSDS (PDF)

 GF Sanding Sealer

Sanding Sealer is a water base acrylic basecoat. It provides initial sealing for all GF water base topcoats. It can be used over raw wood or a stained surface. Sanding Sealer has been sterated so it will sand easier. Sanding Sealer is not as durable as the topcoats so it is not recommended for a final finish. Drying Time: 1-2 hours under normal conditions. 
(70°F -70% humidity)

GF Sanding Sealer Data (PDF)
GF Sanding Sealer MSDS (PDF}

 

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