America's Leading Manufacturer of Innovative Water-Based Wood Finishes
ANSWER:
It depends! Read on, or watch this GF video demonstration: http://youtu.be/torOAQy91q4
*Here are the main questions to ask yourself:
While Gel Stain can be applied over an existing finish, it was originally engineered for raw wood surfaces. We prefer applying the Gel Stain over a slip coat of mineral spirits instead of topcoat as shown in this video, "How to Apply Gel Stain to Raw Wood"
Flat Out Flat is a self-crosslinking water-based topcoat that mimics the lustrous look and feel of wax. The increased matting agents used to create "flat look" cause this wood finish to have less clarity, show fingerprints more and provide less durability than High Performance.
General Finishes is excited to show off some our new products of 2015.
Oil based top coat can be applied over Milk Paint so long as 24 hours wait time is allowed between the two products. When moving from a water based product to an oil based product it is essential that the first is dry before applying the second.
The term for a cloudy, milky appearance in the finish is Blush. There are three causes:
1. The most common reason is an incompatible stain. For example, using a water-based topcoat over an oil-based based stain. When the top coat is applied, the oil in the stain seeps up through the finish and reacts with the acrylic causing a chemical blush.
An unusual combination of oils, urethanes, and wax, Seal-A-Cell Clear has served craftsman for decades as the best wipe-on clear coat to get that "natural" look on beautiful woods. The oils penetrate deep into the wood to highlight the figure of the wood, and the urethane ensures durability.
General Finishes offers a complete line of oil based, water based and wax products. Application techniques differ between oil based products and water based products.
First, test your surface to get a sense for the color present in the wood. To do this, wipe the surface down with mineral spirits (if you are expecting to use an oil finish) or plain water (if you are expecting to use a water based finish). See the following GF video demonstration for a better understanding of this process.
Next, apply product. Here are two recipes for a lightly stained look:
Enduro Water-Based Tintable 2K White Poly
Enduro Water-Based Pro Series White Polyurethane
Enduro Water-Based Conversion Varnish
Enduro Water Based Stain Blocker Primer
Hard Wax Oil & Hardener
Gel Stains
Water-Based Wood Stain
Pro Image Flooring Topcoat
Jen Poly Brushes
Stir Stix
Ultraflex Softback Sanding Sponge
SDS: French: Oil Based Butcher Block Oil - 2021-01
