General Finishes

General Finishes stains, paints and topcoats give homeowners and woodworkers ways to color and protect furniture, cabinets and other wood projects. High Performance provides clear protection for high-wear tables, cabinetry and furniture. Start with the look you want, then choose protection for the handling the surface will get.

General Finishes Corporation is a Wisconsin wood-finishes manufacturer. A Milwaukee lumber company founded it in 1928 to make finishes for cabinet-shop customers. The company committed to water-based finishes in 1992.

Choose the color and look

Oil Based Gel Stains combine pigments, oils and urethanes for a hand-rubbed finish, so practice on an offcut prepared just like the project before staining the whole piece. Oil Based Wood Stains are traditional liquid wiping stains for wood surfaces. For painted wood, Milk Paint is a water-based interior/exterior paint formulated to adhere to raw wood, previously finished wood and fiberglass.

High Performance for surfaces that get handled

A tabletop or cabinet needs protection that suits regular use. High Performance is a high-solids polyurethane formulated for high-wear tables, cabinetry and furniture. It’s a practical fit for those jobs.

The topcoat’s color matters as much as the stain beneath it. High Performance dries clear, making it the choice here when clear protection is the priority. Arm-R-Seal is an ambering, oil-based urethane topcoat for raw or stained wood when a warmer tone is the intended result.

During application, keep the surface free of dust and maintain a wet edge across it. Repeated brushing as a finish starts setting can leave drag marks. Follow the coating’s application directions and leave the surface alone once it begins to set.

Test the complete finish

General Finishes requires testing to your complete satisfaction and leaves color satisfaction and compatibility with other manufacturers’ products with the user. A useful sample includes the actual wood, preparation, stain or paint, and intended topcoat. Look at the finished sample in the project’s lighting and orientation, especially when judging sheen on upright cabinet doors.

Exterior finishing and shop coatings

Exterior 450 Clear uses a polyurethane/acrylic formulation that produces a flexible film to accommodate temperature changes. That flexibility matters on an exterior wood project. Gloss is a listed finish for Exterior 450 Clear.

Enduro water-based coatings are formulated for professional, industrial and OEM operations. For shop work, match the individual coating’s application requirements to the production process.

Finish specifications

Product family	Formulation	Stated use or finish
High Performance	High-solids polyurethane	Dries clear; intended for high-wear tables, cabinetry and furniture
Exterior 450 Clear	Polyurethane/acrylic	Flexible film accommodates temperature changes; Gloss is listed
Enduro	Water-based coatings	Formulated for professional, industrial and OEM operations

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you apply General Finishes gel stain?

Apply General Finishes gel stain evenly in a manageable section, then wipe away excess before it starts to set. Keep your wiping pressure consistent so you don’t leave darker patches or buildup in corners. A sample on matching scrap lets you practice controlling the color before you tackle the whole piece.

How do you apply General Finishes High Performance topcoat?

Start with a clean, prepared surface and apply General Finishes High Performance evenly, keeping a wet edge as you work across it. Light shining across the surface helps you spot missed areas and runs while the finish is still workable. Once it starts to set, leave it alone; follow the product’s directions for recoating and sanding between coats.

How do you apply General Finishes gel topcoat?

General Finishes gel topcoat is formulated for very thin coats and a hand-rubbed finish, so spread it sparingly and keep it from collecting in corners or recesses. Follow the product’s drying and recoating directions instead of trying to build the finish in one heavy coat. It’s an ambering, oil-based urethane, so your test sample should include the topcoat to show how it changes the color underneath.

What can you use General Finishes Milk Paint on?

General Finishes Milk Paint is a water-based interior/exterior paint formulated to adhere to raw wood, previously finished wood and fiberglass. On an existing finish, adhesion still depends on sound preparation: paint can’t hold a loose coating underneath it in place. Clean and prepare the surface, then test adhesion before painting the whole project.