DIY Furniture & Projects Blog

Should I use a topcoat or a wax over my paint or stain finish?

The GF gang gets this question all the time.

• dye stain
• finishing wax
• Glaze Effects
• Top Coat
• Waterbased Wood Stains

As The Distressed Fleur De Lis commented, "#GeneralFinishes Milk Paint can be used in a sprayer so I thought I would give it a try. It turned a 2 hour paint job into 15 minutes! Definitely a time saver!" And Mamye from The Distress Fleur de Lis is right! So what sprayer should you use?

• spray finishes

A glaze is a small amount of colorant carried in a clear base (such as Clear Glaze Effects or High Performance Top Coat), and a color wash is a small amount of colorant carried in a white base (such as

• color wash
• Glaze Effects
• varnishing technique

You can apply Gel Stain to MDF, stained surfaces and most painted surfaces, including milk paint, chalk paint and latex paint. Sanding down to raw wood would be the very best practice but the following is the most common prep - it only takes a few minutes:

• Gel Stain

• Arm-R-Seal Topcoat
• Waterbased Wood Stains
• Top Coat
• Oilbased Wood Stains

We love the look of this coffee table done by Joe Stromski. He took General Finishes Java Gel Stain and used a sprayer to apply the finish. He also used Enduro Pre-Cat to seal in that great color. Joe is a local Wisconsinite and we're so proud of his finished product! Thanks for sharing Joe! We'd love to see your projects made with General Finishes products! Tag us with #GeneralFinishes or share with us through our website or through our Facebook page

• Java Gel Stain
• precat urethane

Heidi Martin used General Finishes Java Gel Stain to update an outdated oak filing cabinet.  This shows that Java Gel Stain is for so much more than just kitchen cabinets. We'd love to see your projects made with General Finishes products! Tag us with #GeneralFinishes or share with us through our website or our facebook page. 

• Java Gel Stain

Magenta And Lime made this bathroom vanity a real looker with General Finishes Java Gel Stain and

• Arm-R-Seal Topcoat
• Java Gel Stain

Anna Wilbur utilized General Finishes Java Gel Stain to completely transform her kitchen.  It doesn't even look like the same kitchen.  It's so modern!

• Java Gel Stain
• Top Coat

Carrie Seitz used General Finishes Antique Walnut Gel Stain to restyle this side table.  She really kicked it up a notch. We're so glad that Carrie thinks our Gel Stain is a "great product".  Check out Carrie on Pinterest and see what else she's been up to. 

• Gel Stain