General Finishes High Performance Water-Based Polyurethane Topcoat Clear Satin Quart

General Finishes High Performance Water-Based Polyurethane Topcoat Clear Satin Quart

General Finishes High Performance is a water-based polyurethane topcoat for interior cabinets, trim, doors, and furniture. It won Fine Woodworking's "Best Overall Choice Award," where it was voted the hardest, most durable consumer polyurethane topcoat. Brush it, roll it, or spray it. This quart is the Satin sheen.

Satin measures 25 to 35 on the sheen scale. General Finishes notes that Flat, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss High Performance can be mixed with each other to adjust the sheen, but Dead Flat cannot.

Highlights

• Water white in the can, dries clear, and does not amber
• Use over raw wood, stain, and non-white painted surfaces
• Self-sealing, and usable over existing finishes with proper prep
• Soap and water cleanup for hands

Specifications

• Type: water-based urethane/acrylic blend, interior only
• Sheen: Satin (25 to 35 sheen)
• Size: 1 quart
• Coverage: 125 to 150 sq ft per quart (General Finishes lists 500 to 600 sq ft per gallon)
• Recommended coats: 2 to 3
• Dry to touch: 30+ minutes. Recoat: 2+ hours. Light use: 7 to 10 days. Full cure: 21 days (at 70 degrees F and 50% humidity)
• VOC: under 175 g/L
• Solids: 24% by volume, 26% by weight
• Apply with: synthetic bristle brush, foam brush, pad, roller, or HVLP sprayer (1.1 to 1.3 mm tip)
• Thin with: distilled water, starting at 5% and up to 10% by volume

How much do I need?

At 125 to 150 sq ft per quart per coat, a 3-coat finish from one quart covers roughly 40 to 50 sq ft. A 2-coat finish covers roughly 60 to 75 sq ft.

How to apply

1. Raw wood: sand no finer than 220 grit and remove the dust. Freshly stained wood: do not sand, apply once the stain is dry (let oil-based products dry 72+ hours first).
2. Previously finished wood: scuff clean with a non-woven pad and a 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water, let dry 1 to 2 hours, then sand lightly with a 220 to 320 grit sponge.
3. Stir thoroughly before and during use. Apply a liberal coat along the grain with smooth, even strokes, avoiding pressure and excess back brushing.
4. Sand between coats with a fine 220 to 320 grit pad and remove dust. Do not use steel wool. Apply 2 to 3 coats; more than 3 will not improve durability.

Good to know

• General Finishes advises against using any clear coat, including this one, over white or light paints such as GF Milk Paint, because it may cause yellowing
• Do not use water-based products with linseed oils or Danish oils
• Test for adhesion and appearance before starting the full project

Need a larger size or a different sheen? See the Clear Satin Gallon, Clear Satin Pint, and Clear Flat Gallon, or shop General Finishes High Performance, protective finishes and topcoats, and the furniture refinishing project cart.