High Performance Topcoat
High Performance Top Coat is an excellent crystal clear durable top coat that can be brushed or spray applied.
Winner of Fine Woodworking's "Best Overall Choice Award," High Performance Topcoat was voted as the hardest, most durable consumer polyurethane topcoat. Its a big favourite with my customers!
Note the Dead Flat can be layered with other sheens but should not be mixed with other sheens due to a different formulation
See our video - High Performance Topcoat Product Overview
High Performance Topcoats - Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, Flat, Dead Flat
High Performance Topcoat in Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, Flat and Dead Flat are your hardest, most durable finish. For this reason, High Performance Topcoat is the best choice for high use areas such as table tops and kitchen cabinets. High Performance Topcoat is water resistant and is crystal clear so will not yellow, this is excellent for our pale colours and whites.
Flat Out Flat Topcoat
Flat Out Flat is a matte water based topcoat with a velvety feel and was developed as a durable alternative to our Satin Wax, it has more mattifying agents in order to achieve this finish, which means it is slightly less durable than the High Performance Topcoats which are incredibly hardy. Choose this product if you want a finish that looks more like wax and your project will not require high use. Like wax, it dries softer to the touch than High Performance Topcoat when completely cured, and it will show more marring and fingerprints.
Preparation
To prepare open grains woods such as raw oak for a water-based stain, we recommend sanding with 180-grit followed by no more than 220-grit sandpaper.
300-grit or 400-grit sandpaper is too fine for preparing raw wood. Too fine of a grit changes the wood from a porous surface to one that is too smooth to absorb the stain, which causes the first top coat application to pull excessive color (it is like trying to apply stain to glass).
There is always a small amount of color pull when using water-based stains, but the smooth surface escalates this condition.
Application
Ensure that you fully stir your topcoat before using, this ensures that all the ingredients are evenly distributed and nothing is settled to the bottom. You can add a stirer to your order for just 20p!
Either synthetic bristle brushes or foam applicators will work well with water-based Topcoats. This product can also be sprayed.
Apply in long even strokes, avoiding stop and start marks across your surface, as these will catch the light and be visible once dried, especially with the higher sheen finishes. Select the correct sized applicator for your project so that you can cover your surface quickly and easily, for example you will need a large foam applicator for table tops and a smaller applicator for table legs.
See our video - How To Apply Waterbased Topcoat
See our video - How To Spray Waterbased Topcoat
Dry Times
Please see below dry times based on ideal conditions of 70°F and 50% humidity
- Touch - 5-10 minutes
- Sand - 30-45 minutes
- Recoat - 2+ hours
If you would like decrease your dry time you can add Accelerator, this is helpful in cold or humid conditions.
If you would like to increase your dry time you can add our Extender, this is helpful if you have a complex shape to topcoat, or if working in hot or dry conditions.
Create A Toner
You can tint your General Finishes Waterbased Topcoat by adding a small amount of our Dye Stain or Wood Stain. We recommend adding 5-10% of of the stains to your topcoat
General Finishes Topcoat Comparision Chart
For more help choosing the perfect topcoat - General Finishes Topcoat Comparision Chart
