General Finishes Enduro Water-Based Sanding Sealer is a clear undercoat with strong adhesion properties that forms an easily sandable foundation for your project. The high solids content builds a fast film. Use under any of General Finishes’ retail or professional topcoats except Endurovar. This water-based sanding sealer dries tack-free in 20 minutes in ideal conditions.
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General Finishes Enduro-Var, for improved water and chemical resistance.
Enduro Sanding Sealer Application Steps
- Stir to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can before and throughout the application process.
- Thin as desired with distilled water; start with 5%, increase up to 10% by volume. Increase open time, if needed, with up to 5% 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. California Residents: Adding more than 2% of GF Extender will make the products non-compliant per SCAQMD Regulations. GF assumes no liability for the improper use of these products.
- Apply 1-2 coats. We recommend no more than 2 coats, then finish with 1-2 coats of topcoat.
- Hand Application: Apply a liberal amount of product using a synthetic bristle brush, foam brush, pad applicator, or roller.
- Spray Application: Before spraying, strain topcoat through a fine-mesh filter. Spray wet films at 3-5-mil thickness. HVLP: 1.3mm-1.5mm spray tip, medium air cap. Verify tip sizes with your equipment supplier. See our general guide for spray tip sizes. 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 full filter respirator (NIOSH/MSHA approved) and work in a ventilated space.
- Face frames on cabinets: Enduro professional products are engineered to be spray-only but can be applied successfully to cabinet face frames or edges with a brush, pad or small cabinet specific roller such as Whizz Velour brand. Larger areas may not level with a hand application.
- Dry 2+ hours between coats in ideal conditions: 70°F 20°C; 50-70% humidity. Be sure to allow adequate dry time. You can tell if a water-based finish is dry if it forms a powder when lightly sanded with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad. If in doubt, wait longer. Increase dry time if:
- Humidity is over 80%
- 3+ coats are applied
- Thick coats are applied
- Applying over an existing sealed finish
- Applying over products from other brands
- Layering General Finishes water- and oil-based products:
- Water over oil: Let oil-based products dry 72+hr before applying water-based products
- Oil over water: Let water-based products dry 24+hr before applying oil-based products
- To accelerate dry time in humid conditions, add General Finishes Accelerator and work in a space with good ventilation and air movement. If you decide to re-coat before the recommended time, test dryness.
- Finish sand between coats with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad to improve smoothness and adhesion.
- Remove dust with a vacuum, oil-free tack cloth or clean, water-dampened rag before re-coating.
- Apply 2-3 coats of topcoat.
Cure Time
Water-based finishes cure and harden for full use after 21 days in ideal conditions. Avoid placing heavy objects on surfaces that have not completely cured. Treat gently, and do not clean with commercial products during the curing period.
Benefits of using Sanding Sealer
You can substitute your first coat or two of topcoat with less-expensive Sanding Sealer. This also saves time because it is easier to sand and dries faster than topcoat.
- It makes a strong barrier coat when working with existing finishes.
- The resin particle is also larger, so the finish “builds faster” (how thick it looks).
- It has strong adhesion properties. Sanding Sealer does not stop tannin or dye bleed-through, but it does improve adhesion.
- Sanding sealer dries to the touch in 10-20 minutes.
- Example of use:
- Apply 1 coat of Sanding Sealer; finish sand before applying topcoat.
- Apply 1 coat of Sanding Sealer; finish sand before applying paint.
Warning: Do not use water-based products with Linseed Oils or Danish Oils.
General Finishes Enduro-Var, which ambers. When white paint sealed with a water-white topcoat is applied to something as unpredictable as wood, all bets are off and the reason for yellowing is often unknown. It can be caused by topcoat activating tannins in raw wood or aniline dyes, stains, or contaminants in a pre-existing finish. This is most evident when using BRIGHT WHITE paint and most prevalent in sculpted details of furniture where the topcoat can collect, intensifying color change to an unacceptable level.
There is no reliable way to predict whether yellowing will occur and to what degree. Every existing finish is different and we rarely know the finishing provenance on an existing piece. Every tree is different and every piece of wood is unique. Raw wood can bleed tannins immediately after the topcoat dries or months later with seasonal temperature changes. Oak, pine, mahogany, and douglas fir are particularly prone to bleed-through.
Summary
- Whites have a lower “hide” quality and are more transparent than most other colors. Nearly all bright whites require additional coats to achieve the desired color and minimize color variation. This can increase the cost of paint finishing. Always include a clause in your contracts addressing the need for additional coats to achieve coverage.
- All bright white paint will yellow slightly with time, with or without topcoat. You have probably tried to touch up white woodwork in your home after several years and noticed the new paint is brighter.
- The underlying finish or wood species can affect the final color of light paint.
- Details and inside corners are difficult to cover with any paint color, but it tends to be more noticeable with whites. This is a naturally occurring phenomenon in paint application and does not necessarily constitute a defect in the paint finish or your technique.
- The more porous the paint, such as a chalk paint, the more likely that yellowing will occur. The topcoat is seeping through the spaces caused by the larger particles of filler that give Chalk Paints their texture.
Tips to Prevent Yellowing
- If it is a low-use project, use a premium white paint that is self-sealing and does not require a topcoat. A clear topcoat is not required on General Finishes Milk Paint for increased durability, as it is a self-sealing, exterior-rated coating with high durability and chemical and water resistance. However, topcoats do provide a smooth surface that is easier to clean and boosts durability for high-use projects, such as tabletops and kitchen cabinets.
- Use a professional spray such as General Finishes Enduro White Poly. It has “increased topcoat properties,” is a standalone finish when 3 coats are applied, and does not require sealing with a topcoat.
- We recommend using General Finishes Stain Blocker, an engineered chemical barrier, to prevent persistent bleed-through for interior-use projects.
- Stain Blockerr does not adhere to melamine cabinet veneers.
- Stain Blocker cannot be tinted.
- Always test your project’s ENTIRE finishing schedule (from cleaning to topcoat) on an inside door or a more hidden area of the piece. This will not help if the yellowing occurs later, but at least you will know if there is an immediate problem.
- Avoid painting period furniture, such as a 1940s serpentine mahogany desk, with light colors. The pieces were often finished in stain that contained aniline dyes, which cast a pinkish bleed-through under light paint. Not every piece of furniture is suitable for upcycling with a light paint color. Pine, mahogany, and furniture of the 1940s and 50s are a red flag.
- Last, not all manufacturers’ topcoats are compatible with other finishes and may react with a color change. Always follow best practices by not rushing, and testing to your satisfaction first.
Knots
Knots in wood tend to bleed and are dense, making paint and stain adhesion a challenge. Stain Blocker may improve adhesion and prevent bleed-through for painting projects. Pine knots are especially difficult to cover with white or light paints. If you decide to paint over them, apply 3 coats of Stain Blocker first; however, we cannot guarantee adhesion or bleed-through blockage. You are better off using a dark paint on pine.