Surface Preparation
All wood projects require preparation sanding. If you skip this critical step, your finish may fail.
Raw wood
- Sand with 120-grit sandpaper followed by 150- or 220-grit.
- Remove dust.
New Stained Surface
Do not sand. Apply directly to stained surface.
Sealed Surface
- Scuff clean with a Scotch-Brite™ pad or maroon synthetic steel wool & 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol & water.
- Dry 1-2 hours.
- Sand lightly with 220-320-grit foam sanding sponge.
- Remove Dust
General Finishes Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer Application Steps
CAUTION: Do NOT use GF Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer or any other clear coat, over white or light paints such as GF Milk Paint, or GF White Poly as it may cause yellowing. Any clear coat can become reactive over wood substrates or existing finishes, causing tannin or dye bleed-though regardless of priming. All of GF's white paints do NOT require a topcoat.
Enduro Pre-Cat Lacquer is a hard topcoat engineered for a good price point. If higher durability is needed, use Enduro Clear Poly.
- Work in a well-ventilated area.
- Stir topcoat thoroughly to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can before and throughout the application process. Do not shake.
- Test for adhesion when applying over an existing sealed surface.
- Thin as desired with distilled water; start with 5%, adding up to 10% by volume.
- Increase open time, if needed, with 10-15% by volume General Finishes Extender if allowed by local regulations. GF Extender will improve flow and leveling and increase open time, which is helpful in dry climates.
- Ready to spray from container. Apply a minimum of 3 coats.
- Spray application: Before spraying, strain topcoat through a fine-mesh filter. Spray wet films at 3-5-mil thickness. Medium air cap. Fluid tip sizes: Compressed air: .040, HVLP: .043-.051 or Airless: .009-.013. Verify tip sizes with your equipment supplier. Keep your gun at a 90° angle, 6-8" from the surface. On large, flat areas, use wet, even patterns 6-8" wide. For narrow surfaces, reduce the fan pattern to 2-3" wide to reduce overspray. Overlap each pass 25% to conceal lines. Wear a mask and work in a ventilated space.
Face frames on cabinets: Enduro professional products are engineered to be spray-only but can be successfully applied to cabinet face frames or edges with a pad or small, cabinet-specific roller such as Whizz Velour brand. Larger areas may not level with a hand application. ALTERNATIVE: Use the same sheen of General Finishes High Performance Topcoat on areas that must be brushed.
- If a faster build is desired using clears over raw wood, use General Finishes Sanding Sealer for the first 1-2 coats, followed by 2 coats of Pre-Cat Lacquer.
- Finish sand between coats with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad or 400-grit sandpaper to improve smoothness and adhesion.
- Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, an oil-free tack cloth or a water-dampened rag.
Tinting & Toning with Pre-Cat Lacquer
When tinting, we recommend using General Finishes Enduro Poly or High Performance Topcoat for tinting instead of Pre-Cat Lacquer because they have higher solids.
When toning, add up to 10% General Finishes Dye Stain, General Finishes Water Based Wood Stain, General Finishes Ready-to-Match (RTM) Stain, or Trans Tints. To deepen the color, add a second coat.
Warning: Do not use water-based products with Linseed Oils or Danish Oils.
