General Finishes

General Finishes, based in East Troy, Wisconsin, makes water-based and oil-based wood finishes for furniture, cabinets, and interior woodwork, plus the Enduro line for professional spray finishers. This collection brings the General Finishes lines together: water-based Milk Paint and Brushable White Enamel, High Performance and Flat Out Flat topcoats, gel stains, liquid oil stains, water-based wood stains and dye stains, pre-stain conditioners, Arm-R-Seal, Seal-A-Cell and Gel Topcoat oil finishes, Hard Wax Oil, Wood Bowl and Wood Turner's finishes, Glaze Effects, Exterior 450 and Outdoor Oil, and Enduro professional coatings.

Start with the line that matches your project:

Line Best for Notes (General Finishes TDS / product pages)
Milk Paint Cabinets, furniture, interior color Water-based acrylic (not powdered milk paint); up to about 600 sq ft/gal; touch 30 minutes, recoat 2 hours, cure 21 days at 70°F / 50% humidity; VOC under 50 g/L per the TDS; self-sealing for low to medium wear
Brushable White Enamel White cabinets, trim, and furniture Satin and semi-gloss whites; General Finishes says its white paints, brushable or spray, do not require a clear topcoat; bright whites hide less than other colors and usually need extra coats
High Performance Interior clear topcoat over paint or stain Water-based urethane/acrylic in Dead Flat, Flat, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss; up to about 600 sq ft/gal; touch 30 minutes, recoat 2 hours, cure 21 days; VOC under 175 g/L (Dead Flat under 225); interior only
Flat Out Flat Very flat, wax-like look on medium- to low-use pieces Very Flat sheen (1–5); 500–600 sq ft/gal; recoat 2+ hours, cure 21 days; GF says it is less durable than High Performance and recommends it for surfaces other than kitchen cabinets and tabletops; do not mix with High Performance
Enduro-Var II Warm amber water-based topcoat Oil-modified, ambering water-based urethane that dries light amber; 500–600 sq ft/gal; recoat 2+ hours, cure 21 days; do not use over bright whites (it will yellow); GF points kitchen tabletops, cabinets, and vanities to tougher topcoats
Gel Stain Cabinets and furniture color with grain control Oil-based gel stains in 15 colors here, including Java, Antique Walnut, Brown Mahogany, Gray, Carbon Gray, and White; wipe-on color that sits on the surface more than a penetrating stain
Liquid Oil Stain (oil-based penetrating) Raw interior wood that needs deep color Wipe-on stains for raw wood, PFAS-free per GF; about 180–200 sq ft/quart; recoat 24+ hours; colors such as American Walnut, Antique Cherry, Danish Teak, Flint, Honey Maple, Mocha, Pecan, Slate, and Spiced Walnut
Water-Based Wood Stain Rich, even color on hard-to-stain woods like maple and pine 400–600 sq ft/gal; recoat 2+ hours; soap-and-water cleanup
Dye Stain / Dye Stain Reducer Vibrant color that magnifies the grain Water-based dye stains penetrate deep into the wood; 480–640 sq ft/gal; recoat 2+ hours; Dye Stain Reducer is the clear base GF uses to make Dye Stain and can be used for custom colors or layered color
Pre-Stain Conditioners Reducing blotching on soft or porous woods Water-based conditioner goes before water-based stain on woods like maple, pine, and cherry (stain after 30+ minutes); oil-based conditioner goes before oil-based stain on aspen, cherry, birch, poplar, or pine (stain after 30 minutes and within 2 hours)
Arm-R-Seal Wipe-on oil urethane topcoat Oil-based urethane wipe-on clear; touch 12+ hours, recoat 24+ hours, cure about 30 days; ambers over time; do not use over light/white finishes
Seal-A-Cell Natural, close-to-the-wood look; base coat under Arm-R-Seal Blend of oils, urethane, and wax; 400–500 sq ft/gal; recoat 24+ hours, cure 30 days; can be used alone or as a conditioner to control oil stain penetration
Gel Topcoat Hand-rubbed satin look without drips or runs Thick oil-and-urethane satin; 400–600 sq ft/gal; recoat 24+ hours, cure 30 days
Hard Wax Oil Natural oil-and-wax look on interior wood Oil and wax blend; wipe thin and dry completely; recoat/use about 24 hours; optional hardener shortens dry time (pot life 4–6 hours once mixed)
Wood Bowl Finish / Wood Turner's Finish Decorative bowls, turnings, and lathe projects Wood Bowl Finish is an oil-and-urethane gloss (recoat 24+ hours, cure 30 days); GF says to use Butcher Block Oil instead on surfaces used for chopping. Wood Turner's Finish is a water-oil urethane hybrid with a slight amber tone, recoat 30+ minutes (10 minutes on the lathe), about 38 sq ft per 8 oz bottle, used on raw wood or over GF water-based stain
Glaze Effects Decorative glazing, antiquing, and color washing Translucent water-based colors applied over a sealed surface such as Milk Paint; 480–640 sq ft/gal; recoat 1+ hour; intermix colors or use Clear Base for custom looks
Exterior 450 Exterior clear topcoat (not decks) Water-based exterior topcoat; touch 30 minutes, recoat 2 hours, cure 21 days; General Finishes does not recommend it for decks
Outdoor Oil Outdoor wood furniture and exterior wood maintenance Penetrating oil with UV inhibitors, heat stabilizers, and mildew inhibitors; use alone, over stain, or on pressure-treated wood; 240–360 sq ft/gal; recoat 36+ hours; may not adhere to extremely oily exotic woods
Enduro Clear Poly and 2K Poly Professional clear and white spray topcoats Enduro Clear 1K Poly is a non-yellowing, self-crosslinking polyurethane-fortified water-based topcoat with 28% solids; about 450 sq ft/gal; recoat 1+ hour, cure 21 days; two-component (2K) clear and white tint bases are also here
Enduro White Poly and White Undercoat Pigmented white finishes on cabinets and millwork White Poly is a high-solids, tintable pigmented water-based finish (about 450 sq ft/gal, recoat 1+ hour, cure 21 days); GF recommends applying it over Enduro White Undercoat or Stain Blocker. White Undercoat is a tintable, exterior-rated primer/sanding sealer for white and off-white finishes (VOC under 90 g/L)
Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer Fast production finishing with high clarity Clear water-based lacquer with high block resistance; about 450 sq ft/gal; recoat 1+ hour, cure 21 days
Enduro Conversion Varnish Bars, commercial tabletops, vanities, kitchen cabinets, high-moisture areas Two-component, post-catalyzed water-based urethane; about 450 sq ft/gal; recoat 1+ hour, cure 7 days; mix only what you will use, since mixed product solidifies after 6–8 hours; not tintable
Enduro RTM Stains and Extenders Professional color matching and open time RTM (Ready To Match) is a system of low-VOC water-based stains plus a clear base that are intermixed for custom colors (450–500 sq ft/gal; colors here: Bordeaux, Raw Sienna, Strong Black, Tint White). GF Extender improves flow and leveling and adds open time in dry climates, where local regulations allow

Enduro products are engineered for spray application, though General Finishes says they can be applied by hand on face frames or edges with a pad or a small cabinet roller. Need a project kit? See the furniture refinishing cart and the paint cabinets cart.

FAQ

Is General Finishes Milk Paint the same as powdered milk paint?

No. General Finishes Milk Paint is a water-based acrylic paint named for its low-luster look. It is not traditional powdered milk paint.

Do I need a topcoat over Milk Paint?

General Finishes says Milk Paint is self-sealing and does not need a topcoat for low to medium wear. For high-use cabinets or tabletops in darker colors, they recommend 2 to 3 coats of High Performance or an Enduro topcoat. Do not use a clear topcoat over white or light Milk Paint colors because it can yellow.

High Performance or Exterior 450?

High Performance is rated for interior use only. Exterior 450 is the General Finishes exterior topcoat, and General Finishes does not recommend it for decks.

Arm-R-Seal or High Performance?

Arm-R-Seal is an oil-based wipe-on urethane that ambers and needs longer dry times (about 12+ hours touch, 24+ hours recoat). High Performance is a water-based interior clear with soap-and-water cleanup and about a 2-hour recoat. Choose oil for a warm amber look on dark woods; choose High Performance for a clearer water-based build.

What is Seal-A-Cell used for?

Seal-A-Cell is a blend of oils, urethane, and wax that penetrates wood for a close-to-the-wood look. It can be used alone, as a base coat under Arm-R-Seal, or as a conditioner to control how oil-based stains penetrate.

Can I put a water-based topcoat over an oil-based stain?

Yes, with enough dry time. General Finishes says to let oil-based products dry 72+ hours before applying water-based products, and to let water-based products dry 24+ hours before applying oil-based products. Do not use water-based products with linseed oil or Danish oil.

What is the difference between Enduro and the retail General Finishes line?

Enduro is the General Finishes professional line for spray finishers, industrial users, and manufacturers, with products like Pre-Cat Lacquer, Conversion Varnish, Clear and White Poly, and RTM stains. The retail line (Milk Paint, High Performance, Arm-R-Seal, gel stains) can be brushed, padded, or wiped on, and some retail products, like High Performance, can also be sprayed.

232 Products

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Use this collection to choose the core product, then add the prep, applicators, cleanup, and finish supplies from Weekend Project Carts. For a common starting point, open the Paint Cabinets Project Cart, or read the Project Guides.

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