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Lamp Black is the black in General Finishes' Milk Paint range, and this quart covers 100 to 125 sq ft per coat by GF's numbers. Two coats on a dresser body, a door or a bank of cabinet doors adds up to roughly 50 to 62 sq ft from one can. In GF's contrast ratio chart Lamp Black scores 99.95, near full hide. GF's own advice on troublesome old finishes is blunt: when tannin or old stain bleeds through light colors and won't stop, switch to Lamp Black. For layered finishes, GF's gallery pairs it with reds, either as the bottom layer under Brick Red or distressed over Tuscan Red quart with Van Dyke Brown Glaze Effects.
Buy one can, no case minimum. Free shipping at $35, no code needed (lower 48 + DC). 30-day returns on unused, unopened items; opened paint can't be returned. Orders usually ship in 2 to 4 business days, and standard delivery takes 3 to 7 business days after that. See our shipping policy and refund policy.
| Coats | Area from one quart |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 to 125 sq ft |
| 2 | about 50 to 62 sq ft |
| 3 | about 33 to 42 sq ft |
Smaller job? There is a Lamp Black pint. GF sells Lamp Black in gallons and 5 gallon pails too.
Flat low luster (10 to 15) on its own. To add sheen or scrub resistance on tabletops, seal with a GF water-based clear such as High Performance Satin quart or High Performance Flat quart. Light use after 7 to 10 days; full cure in 21 days at 70 F.
Prep tip from GF for black over old finishes: scuff-clean with a Scotch-Brite pad and a 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water, let it dry 1 to 2 hours, then sand lightly with a 220 to 320 foam pad. Lamp Black's safety data lists carbon black among its pigments.
| Type | Water-based acrylic paint, interior/exterior |
|---|---|
| Sheen | Flat, low luster (10 to 15) |
| Size | 1 quart |
| Coverage | 100 to 125 sq ft per quart per coat (GF product page) |
| Dry time at 70 F, 50% humidity | Touch 30 minutes; recoat 2 hours; cure 21 days |
| VOC | Under 50 g/L |
| Apply with | Synthetic bristle brush, short nap or foam roller, or HVLP spray (1.8 to 2.0 mm) |
| Thin with | Water, GF Extender or GF Accelerator |
| Clean up | Soap and water for hands; GF Brush & Gun Cleaner for equipment |
| Manufacturer part # | QLB |
What if stain keeps bleeding through a light paint color? General Finishes says it is sometimes impossible to block bleed-through, and that if this happens you should start turning your thoughts to Lamp Black Milk Paint, which will cover a lot of problems.
Can Lamp Black go under a red for a layered look? Yes. GF's design gallery shows Brick Red Milk Paint layered over Lamp Black, and a Get the Look finish of Lamp Black hand-distressed over Tuscan Red with Van Dyke Brown Glaze.
Can I put a clear topcoat on Lamp Black? Yes. GF says darker colors can be top-coated for more sheen; its yellowing warning is for white and light colors. For high-use areas such as cabinets and tabletops, GF recommends 2 to 3 coats of High Performance or Enduro topcoat.
Can I return it? Yes. We offer 30-day returns on unused, unopened items. Opened paint can't be returned.
How fast does it ship? Orders usually ship in 2 to 4 business days, and standard delivery takes 3 to 7 business days after that. Shipping is free on orders of $35 or more (lower 48 + DC).
Lamp Black facts above come from the General Finishes Milk Paint page and the GF Milk Paint FAQ. Other Lamp Black sizes and every other color are in our General Finishes Milk Paint collection.
Other Lamp Black sizes: Lamp Black gallon.
Data sheets: Milk Paint technical data sheet (March 2020); Lamp Black safety data sheet.
General Finishes Milk Paint Lamp Black color chipDocuments are published by General Finishes. Always follow the label and SDS.
Free standard shipping on orders $35+ to the lower 48 states and DC.
30-day returns on unused, unopened items. Contact us within 30 days of delivery to start a return. Opened paint, aerosols, flammables, special orders and sale items can't be returned. Read the full refund policy.
Use this product page for the exact item, then check the Weekend Project Carts for prep, applicators, patch, cleanup, and finishing supplies. If you are still choosing a method, start with the Project Guides before adding everything to cart.
