General Finishes Exterior 450 Stain 946ML

Description

General Finishes Exterior 450 Stain 946ML are low VOC premium quality, exterior pigmented water-based wood stains designed for outdoor projects with vertical surfaces such as garage doors, entrance doors and furniture. Exterior 450 is now made with more than 50% RENEWABLE RESOURCES formulated from sustainable materials that decrease the carbon footprint. These stains not recommended for large horizontal surfaces such as a deck. Exterior 450 Stains contain U.V. absorbers to protect the finish and mildewcides to slow mold and mildew growth, but will not prevent the wood from changing color in sunlight. Brush or spray. See our spray tip size recommendations here.

General Finishes Exterior 450 Stain 946ML Water Based Wood Stain Application Steps

NOTE: General Finishes Exterior 450 Stain 946ML is not intended for decks. It can be used on tabletops that do not receive direct exposure to sun and rain. As with all fine furniture finishes, wipe up spills in a timely manner to protect the finish.

1. Watch 450 Exterior Stain overview video here.
2. Work in a well-ventilated area. 
3. Stir stain thoroughly to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can before and throughout the application process.
4. Test your complete finishing process before starting. Stain color is affected by variances in wood and deepened by the application of topcoat. To lighten, dilute with water-based GF Exterior 450 Natural Base.
5. Thin as desired with distilled water; start with 5%, adding up to 10% by volume.
6. Increase open time, if needed, with 10-15% 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.
7. Divide your project into manageable sections: top, side, drawer, door, table seam.
8. Hand-Application Over Raw Wood: FOR General Finishes Exterior 450 Stain 946ML
   • Working quickly, apply a LIBERAL amount of stain to ensure easy workability using a synthetic bristle brush, foam brush, pad applicator, or microfiber roller with smooth, even strokes. Stain one section at a time. If not enough stain is used, the surface may dry too quickly, causing an uneven appearance. On large projects, leave wet edge between sections to prevent lap lines between sections.
   • Wipe off the excess evenly with the grain using a cloth or quality paper towel. Check for missed spots and lap marks before moving to the next section. Do NOT use cotton t-shirts to wipe away stain because they will “push” the stain around and not absorb it.
   • Immediately correct lap marks by rewetting the entire working area with stain and wiping off the excess.
   • Pull excess stain out of corners and detail with a synthetic bristle brush.
   • Let the stain dry 2+ hours when applying 1 coat in ideal conditions, 70°F/20°C, 50-70% humidity. Increase dry time if:
     • Humidity is over 80%
     • A second coat is applied
     • Thick coats are applied
       • To accelerate drying in humid conditions add General Finishes Accelerator to Exterior 450 Stain before applying and work in a space with good ventilation and air movement. If you decide to re-coat before the recommended time, test dryness.
9. Spray Application over raw wood: 
   • Before spraying, strain topcoat through a fine-mesh filter.
   • Spray wet films at 3-5-mil thickness. HVLP: 1.1mm-1.3mm spray tip, medium air cap. Verify tip sizes with your equipment supplier. See our spray tip size recommendations here. Wear a full filter respirator (NIOSH/MSHA-approved) and, if spraying in an interior space, make sure there is good ventilation. 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 50% for even coverage. Wipe back the excess with an absorbent cloth.
   • Let the stain dry 2+ hours in ideal conditions (50-70% humidity, 70*F). Increase dry time if:
     • Humidity is over 80%
     • Additional coats are applied
     • Thick coats are applied
       • To accelerate drying in humid conditions add General Finishes Accelerator to Exterior 450 Stain before applying and work in a space with good ventilation and air movement. If you decide to re-coat before the recommended time, test dryness.
10. Optional: apply a second coat to deepen the color. Apply no more than 2 coats.
11. Finish with 3 coats of General Finishes Exterior 450 Topcoat.

Warning: Do not use water-based products with Linseed Oils or Danish Oils.