General Finishes, based in Wisconsin, USA, have created a great range of specialist finishes which are not widely available elsewhere. These include milk paints, gel stains, urethane modified oils, polyacrylic varnishes and a range of applicators.  Details are listed below, alongside the relevant products.

Anyone who has ever looked at Shaker furniture must be familiar with this type of finish.  The traditional milk paint was made using lactose - hence the name - but modern versions from General Finishes are based on acrylics for performance, durability and environmental protection reasons.  The paints are pre-mixed and ready to use straight from the can.  However the beauty of these paints is the variety of ways in which they can be used as the basis for other finishes to give an antique effect, ageing, crackled finishes - an application note is supplied with the products giving more information on these techniques.  Milk paint can be used directly onto fine grain timbers but an undercoat is recommended on coarser grained timbers.  Drying time is normally 2-4 hours dependent upon conditions and depth of coat.  The finish is a low-lustre sheen and a harder and brighter finish can be created by applying a topcoat of acrylic such as the Polyacrylics, shown below.

Whilst it is almost impossible to display a reliable colour chart on-screen due to technical variations with equipment and settings, the following chart may serve as a comparative guide to the range of colours available.

If you'd like to learn more about how to create some of the fascinating effects made possible by the use of these water-based finishes, we also stock a DVD from General Finishes showing the methods used.

Gel Stains have the most "finishing feel" of all General Finishes products. Woodworkers love the lustrous finish that shows up when rubbing out the 2nd and 3rd coats. Gel Stains are formulated with a combination of pigments, oils, and urethanes to produce a durable and beautiful "hand-rubbed" finish. They are heavy-bodied, and so do not penetrate as deeply into the wood as liquid oil-based stains do. Because of this, they are often less affected by the condition of the wood, and can help you get a more even appearance on difficult woods such as aspen or pine. These easy-to-use stains simply wipe on with a cloth or applied with a foam brush - see below - obviating spills and splashes. Gel Stains are available in: Golden Pine, New Pine, Prairie Wheat, Colonial Maple, American Oak, Candlelite, Nutmeg, Antique Walnut, Brown Mahogany, Georgian Cherry, and Java.   Our colour chart gives an approximation of the shades when used on pine (upper) and American oak (lower).  (The accuracy of the rendition of this image is dependent upon such things as your computer and display settings, so always test stains on a sample before using on the job.).

Arm-R-Seal topcoats are made with only the highest quality urethane resin, making them extremely durable and long lasting. They are formulated to be wiped on with a cloth or applied with a foam brush, thus eliminating drips and sags. They penetrate to provide deep down protection and that " natural" look. Arm-R-Seal is available in Satin, Semi-Gloss, and Gloss finishes.

Gel Topcoat may be used to top coat any stain. Although Gel Stains contain urethane, Gel Topcoat has a higher content of urethane and may be used to top coat Gel Stains for more protection.  Gel Topcoat is available in satin. For semi-gloss or gloss sheens, use Arm-R-Seal Topcoat.

General Finishes Danish Oil's unique blend of linseed oil and gilsonite colorant penetrates and colours wood unlike pigmented stains. Gilsonite is a mined ore, which comes only in a black walnut colour. It differs from pigments, which come from earth clays. Danish oil's best use is on oak where the walnut colours are carried deep into the grain and produce a look that pigments cannot match. The linseed oil in Danish oil dries to a durable finish and can be used as a one-can finish; more coats help build durability. However, for maximum protection Danish Oil can be top coated with Arm-R-Seal Topcoat.  Danish Oil is available in: Natural, Honey Oak, Light Walnut, Dark Walnut, Golden Oak, and Cherry.

Orange Oil is best classed as a finish maintenance product. It can be used on any finish and does a superb job of removing everyday dirt and dust. It is often compared to lemon oil - however the big difference is that lemon oil contains mineral spirits. Orange Oil is all natural, non-combustible and made from real orange rinds. We love its fresh orange scent.

Butcher Block Oil provides an excellent protection for all butcher block surfaces. It is approved by the US FDA for protecting wood surfaces that come in contact with food: Simply wipe on, allow 5 minutes to penetrate and wipe off the excess. Use it on cutting boards, utensils, bowls, butcher blocks, etc. Odourless and non-coloured.

General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish is a clear oil which creates a beautiful and safe finish on wooden bowls, cups, spoons, countertops and butcher blocks or any wood surface that contacts food. Easy to apply (just wipe on with a soft clean cloth) it achieves the sheen and durability of a varnish. The dried film is non-toxic for food contact 72 hours after drying. Additional coats can be re-applied at any time if maintenance of the item becomes necessary.

Many finishes, and certainly the General Finishes Oil & Urethane topcoats, are better applied using a foam brush than with a conventional fibre brush.  Hence we offer a range of applicators ranging from a 1" Poly brush to a 6" Handi-Painter pad so that you can get the very best performance out of your finishes.

To complete the list of requisites we also offer fine abrasive foam-backed sanding pads for rubbing down between coats and stirrers to ensure that the finish is properly mixed prior to use (no more excuses for using a screwdriver and then forgetting to clean the blade!)

©1997-2008 P. Hemsley.  The information on this website is the copyright property of Peter Hemsley.  Coeur du Bois and The ToolPost are trading styles of Peter Hemsley.  Whilst reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, no liability can be accepted for errors in this information nor for contingencies arising therefrom.  If you are inexperienced in any aspect of woodworking, we would strongly counsel that you take a course of formal instruction before commencing to practice