Important information:

All raw wood projects require preparation sanding before applying stain or wood conditioners. If you skip this critical step, your finish may be rough and uneven.

1. Work in a ventilated area.
2. Stir.
3. Test colour. To lighten, dilute with GF Oil Based Pre-Stain Conditioner.

Step 1 - Surface preparation - Raw wood:

1. Sand open grain wood with 120-grit sandpaper followed by 150-grit, then 180 grit. Sand closed grain wood with no finer than 180 grit sandpaper.
2. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, a tack cloth or a water-dampened rag.
3. Do not over-sand with fine-grit sandpapers; this will close and seal the wood grain, preventing ideal product absorption.

Step 2 - Hand application - Raw wood:

1. Work in a well-ventilated area.
2. Stir stain thoroughly to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can before and throughout the application process.
3. Test color and your complete finishing process before starting. The stain color is affected by variances in wood and deepened with the application of topcoat.
4. Thinning: Do NOT thin.
5. Penetrating stains are thinner than gel stains and more prone to blotching and uneven results. If working with woods that are difficult to stain, such a pine or maple, we recommended using General Finishes Gel Stain or General Finishes Water Based Wood Stain. Optionally, an initial coat of General Finishes Pre-Stain Conditioner Natural can improve color uniformity over difficult-to-stain wood species. However, it will limit color absorption, so a darker stain may be required to get the depth of color you want.
6. CAUTION: Contains ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS. VAPOR HARMFUL. Use only with adequate ventilation or wear NIOSH approved respiratory protection.
7. Divide your project into manageable sections: top, side, drawer, door, table seam.
8. Apply 1-2 coats using a cotton rag, natural bristle or foam brush, staining pad or pad applicator using smooth, even strokes
9. Stain a complete section and wipe off the excess evenly with the grain using a cloth, or high-quality absorbent paper towel or shop towel. Check for missed spots and lap marks before moving to the next section.
10. Immediately correct lap marks by rewetting the entire working area with stain and wiping off the excess.
11. Pull excess stain out of corners and details with a natural bristle brush.
12. Let the stain dry 24+ hours in ideal conditions: 70°F/20°C, 50% humidity. Inadequate dry time is one of the top reasons for finish failures. You can tell if an oil-based finish is dry if it is no longer tacky, cool to the touch, and if you can press a cotton ball over the surface and nothing sticks. If in doubt, wait longer. Increase dry time if 1) Humidity is over 80%; 2) 3+ coats are applied; or 3) Thick coats are applied.
13. To accelerate drying in humid conditions, work in a space with good ventilation and air movement.

Step 3: Topcoat over oil based stain:

Always seal General Finishes oil-based stains with 3 coats topcoat to lock in the color. You can use either oil-based or water-based topcoat. When layering water-based and oil-based products, increase the dry time:

• Water over oil: Let oil-based products dry 72+hrs
• Oil over water: Let water-based products dry 24+hrs

Do not proceed with topcoat until Stain is completely dry. Inadequate dry time is one of the top reasons for Stain finish failure. You can tell if an oil-based finish is dry if it is no longer tacky, and cool to the touch. If in doubt, wait longer.

DO NOT use original formula of General Finishes Enduro-Var Topcoat with oil-based products. Enduro-Var II is compatible with all GF products.

Clean-up:

Cleanup

Clean up application materials and hands with mineral spirits or waterless hand cleaner, like Goop or Gojo.

Disposal

Take great care when disposing of product-soaked applicators. Application materials, such as brushes and towels, containing oil-based products may spontaneously catch fire if improperly discarded. Immediately place all application materials soaked with this product in a sealed, water-filled metal container. Dispose of in accordance with local fire regulations.

Spills

Clean up spills with mineral spirits immediately while wet. If oil-based finishes dry, they are difficult to clean off any surface, clothes or carpet. Carpet may discolor if cleaned with mineral spirits.

Prevention

Protect your workspace with a tarp, your hands with gloves, and your clothes with an apron.

Coverage:

16-19 m² (180-200 ft²) per 946 mL.

Storage:

Life of product

General Finishes products do not last forever, even when unopened. They are best used within 1 year. The life of the product may be extended with proper care and storage.

Storage tips

Oil-based products start to harden and cure when exposed to oxygen. The following best practices will increase the life of your product:

1. Keep container tightly closed and sealed until ready for use, in the original container. Do not store in unlabeled containers.
2. Pry open sealed lids with a paint can opener by hooking under the lid's rolled edge. The use of a screwdriver can disfigure the rim and lid, impairing a complete seal.
3. Keep lid closed while working. Decant what you will use into a bowl, paper cup, or plate, and close can lid as you work. Every minute the can is open, the product is curing.
4. Containers that have been opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Clean the chime of the can thoroughly with a paper towel before closing to create a complete seal. Product in the chime can be minimized by using a pouring lid, such as Fitsall. Avoid wiping used brushes on the lid.
5. Pound the lid in place using a rubber mallet to avoid distorting the chime or lid. Dents in the lid from direct contact with a hammer can impair a complete seal. Alternatively, place a flat piece of wood over can lid and firmly pound shut.
6. Avoid temperatures below 50°F/10°C or above 80°F/26°C. Frozen and heat-damaged product cannot be revitalized. Store in original container protected from direct sunlight in a dry, cool and well-ventilated areas.
7. Do not store product in an attic, garage, in direct sunlight, or next to ignition source with heat and flames such as a furnace.
8. Store the can upside down to create a liquid seal, minimizing oxygen exposure from within the can. Decant remaining product from the can before stirring.
9. Add Bloxygen can. Bloxygen is an argon gas system that prevents oxygen and moisture from hardening leftover product. Because Bloxygen gas is heavier than air, it sinks to the surface of the leftover finish, creating a barrier between product and air trapped in the container.
10. Decant leftovers to a smaller, properly labeled container when the finish is almost used up to reduce the volume of oxygen in the container.
11. Use appropriate containment to avoid environmental contamination.

Disposal:

Soaked applicators and waste are combustible. Immediately place them in a sealed, water-filled metal container. Do not transfer product to other containers. Dispose of in an environmentally safe manner. Check with fire and health authorities for local regulations.

Limited warranty:

General Finishes products must be tested to your complete satisfaction before using. GF will not be responsible for colour satisfaction, misapplication, nor compatibility with other manufacturers' products. GF will be responsible only for the cost of our products, and not for costs such as labour, damage or project replacement.

Safe handling precautions:

See Safety Data Sheet ("SDS") for more product hazards and precautions, www.generalfinishes.com/safety.