Arm-R-Seal General Finishes

Description

Arm-R-Seal General Finishes.Topcoats are made with the highest quality urethane resin, making them extremely durable and long-lasting. These oil-based finishes are formulated to be wiped on with a cloth or applied with a foam brush, and they penetrate to provide deep-down protection for that “natural” look.

General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Oil Based Topcoat Application Steps

Watch our video: How to Apply Arm-R-Seal

1. Work in a well-ventilated area.
2. Do not apply over light or white finishes as this is an oil-based finish, which is amber in color upon application and will deepen over time. Use over raw wood or dark paints.
3. Stir the wood finish thoroughly and often throughout use to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can. Alternately, stir well and immediately decant what you’ll be using. Arm-R-Seal is a thin urethane topcoat; the flatting agents used to create flatter sheens quickly settle to the bottom of the can and need to be redistributed often.
4. Test for adhesion when applying over a sealed surface.
5. Arm-R-Seal rarely needs thinning due to its low viscosity. If desired, thin with up to 10% mineral spirits unless restricted by local or state regulations.
6. Apply 3 coats. Additional coats will not improve durability.
   • Hand application: Apply a liberal amount of Arm-R-Seal General Finishes using a cotton cloth, foam brush or staining pad with smooth, even strokes & light lap lines. The larger the surface the large the applicator needed. Wipe off the excess evenly with the grain & with light pressure using a cloth or high-quality absorbent paper towel. Avoid heavy pressure & back-brushing. It is more important to avoid over brushing when using Satin Arm-R-Seal, because of the increased flatting agents needed to create a SATIN sheen. Semi-gloss and Gloss sheens are easier to apply because there are little to no flatting agents.
   • Spray application: Arm-R-Seal can be sprayed successfully, but we prefer hand-application methods because it is easy to spray too much in one area. Spray thin coats and immediately wipe or brush out runs if they occur. Spray wet films at 3-5-mil thickness. HVLP: 1.0mm-1.2mm spray tip, medium air cap. Verify tip sizes with your equipment supplier. Click here for a general guide to 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 10% to conceal lines. Wear a full filter NIOSH/MSHA-approved respiratory & eye protection and work in a well-ventilated space.
7. Finish sand between coats with a 320 grit or finer sanding sponge or ‘0000’ steel wool to improve smoothness and adhesion.
8. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, a tack cloth or a water-dampened rag.

Tips to Prevent Streaking with Arm-R-Seal General Finishes

1. Choose a semi-gloss or gloss sheen with little to no flatting agents. The more flatting agents, the more likely a topcoat will streak when applied.
2. Optionally, if you want a flatter sheen, put down 2 coats of semi-gloss, followed by satin.
3. Either stir and decant what you need to use immediately or stir frequently throughout the application process. Urethane topcoats are thin and the flatting agents used to create flatter sheens settle quickly to the bottom of the can.
4. When working with a satin sheen, apply a liberal amount of product, and avoid pressure and back-brushing. Wipe along the wood grain using smooth, even strokes.
5. Remove streaks that occur by buffing with 0000 steel wool or a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad. You can also sand well and re-coat.

Compatibility With Long Oils
Arm-R-Seal can be used over Danish Oil, Linseed Oil & Tung Oil after they are dry. Allow oil to dry overnight before applying GF product.