General Finishes Water-Based Wood Stain

General Finishes Water-Based Wood Stain is a water-based pigmented stain for interior raw wood such as cabinets, trim, doors and furniture. General Finishes says it gives rich, dark, uniform color on hard-to-stain woods like maple and pine, and it can also go over an existing finish much like a gel stain. It is low odor, cleans up with water and is noncombustible.

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About General Finishes Water-Based Wood Stain

  • Coverage: up to 600 sq ft per gallon (about 75 sq ft per pint, 150 per quart, calculated).
  • Dry times: touch 30 minutes; second coat or water-based topcoat after 2 hours; 24 hours before an oil-based topcoat (70 F, 50% humidity).
  • One coat recommended, two at most. Finish with 3 coats of a GF topcoat such as High Performance Topcoat.
  • Blotchy pine? Start with GF Water-Based Pre-Stain Conditioner Natural.

Source: GF Water-Based Wood Stain TDS (March 2020). Oil-based option: General Finishes Gel Stain.

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