High Performance Satin - 473ml

High Performance Top Coat is an excellent crystal clear durable top coat that can be brushed or spray applied.

Winner of Fine Woodworking's "Best Overall Choice Award," High Performance Topcoat was voted as the hardest, most durable consumer polyurethane topcoat.

Need some inspiration? Visit the General Finishes Design Center or Pinterest Board for furniture topcoat ideas.

VOC (EU): 40 g/L

FAQ

What is the difference between Flat Out Flat and High Performance Topcoats?
Flat Out Flat is a matte water based topcoat with a velvety feel and was developed as a durable alternative to our Satin Wax. Choose this product if you want a finish that looks more like wax and your project will not require high use. Like wax, it dries softer to the touch than High Performance when completely cured, and it will show more marring and fingerprints. Flat Out Flat is made with a stable self cross-linking acrylic instead of urethane.

High Performance is urethane based and contains less matting agents which result in a slightly harder finish. For that reason, High Performance is the best choice for high use areas such as table tops and kitchen cabinets. Both topcoats have similar water resistance, but High Performance offers greater clarity. 

Use with Oil Based Finishes: Let oil-based finishes dry for 72 hours before applying High Performance or Flat Out Flat top coat.

Why Did the Finish On My Piece Become Cloudy After Top-Coating Milk Paint with High Performance?
The term for a cloudy, milky appearance in the finish is Blush. There are three causes:

1. The most common reason is an incompatible stain. For example, using a water-based topcoat over an oil-based based stain. When the top coat is applied, the oil in the stain seeps up through the finish and reacts with the acrylic causing a chemical blush. To prevent this, either use a quick-drying water-based stain or allow the oil-based stain to dry for 72 hours. You can also seal an oil-based stain with a coat of lacquer sealer to provide a barrier between the oil and the acrylic.
2. Another cause for blushing is high humidity. Applying a water-based finish in humidities of over 75% may cause blushing because moisture becomes trapped beneath the finish and cannot evaporate. You can prevent this condition by increasing air movement in the finishing area with a fan. All water needs to evaporate is sufficient air movement. You can also improve drying conditions by increasing the temperature in the drying area.
3. Another common cause is a wet object or a water spill left two long on the surface. In most cases, the white mark will recover and fade within an hour if the spill is cleaned up in a timely manner. If the water has been sitting on that area for an extended period of time then it might not be able to bounce back. To fix this, the surface needs to be scuffed and sanded first. Second, we recommend applying a sanding sealer to protect the top. Sanding sealer has a larger resin particle, so it will provide a better build for the next sanding step. Then finish with your topcoat.

What is the difference between professional Enduro Clear Poly and High Performance Topcoat?
Enduro Clear Poly is designed for professionals that routinely spray their finishes. High Performance is formulated for the retail market so it can be sprayed or hand applied.

• Enduro Clear Poly is slightly more durable than High Performance in the categories of wear, water, and chemical resistance.
• Even though Enduro Clear poly is more durable and more water resistant than High Performance, High Performance is extremely durable and also recommended for high-use surfaces like kitchen cabinets and table tops.
• Both products can be sprayed
• High Performance can also be applied by hand with a foam/bristle brush.
• Clear Poly is an Acrylic Urethane and High Performance is a Urethane/Acrylic Blend.
• High Performance is sold in 473ml, 946ml & 3.785 litre, Clear Poly is 3.785 litre, and - by special order - 18.925 litre pails and 3,940  litre drums.

How Do I Correct Color Lift when Applying High Performance Over GF Water Based Dye Stain?
It is normal to see a bit of stain on the brush when applying the first coat of topcoat. Topcoats often pull a bit of colour on the first pass, but good preparation will minimise this.

To prepare open grains woods such as raw oak for a water-based stain, we recommend sanding with 180-grit followed by no more than 220-grit sandpaper.

300-grit or 400-grit sandpaper is too fine for preparing raw wood. Too fine of a grit changes the wood from a porous surface to one that is too smooth to absorb the stain, which causes the first top coat application to pull excessive color (it is like trying to apply stain to glass).

There is always a small amount of color pull when using water-based stains, but the smooth surface escalates this condition. This was evident in the areas that you used the brush to remove excess topcoat.

Here are some options to try. Always test a small area before proceeding with your entire project.

1. TONING: Lightly sand the light areas with a 220-grit sanding foam pad to open up the pores of the wood. Create a toning mix of 10-20% Dye Stain to 80-90% topcoat. Using a small brush, apply this mix over the light areas to blend with the darker areas. Let this dry 3-4 hours. Then apply another coat of the mix over the entire surface. If this is successful, then apply 2-3 coats of the topcoat.
2. GLAZING: Glaze the light areas. This will change the look of your doors but is an easier remedy.
3. START OVER: Optimally, you should sand down to bare wood and start over with this prep sanding schedule indicated able. You can apply the Dye Stain directly to the wood, or mix in 10% topcoat to help lock in the colour.

Can I use a steam mop on floors finished with High Performance topcoat?
Floors sealed with High Performance Top Coat can be cleaned with Bona floor cleaning system or a similar product. We do not recommend using a steam mop because steam can damage the wood.

How Do I Buff Out High Performance Water Based Topcoat to a High Gloss?
There are several techniques by Jeff Jewitt of Homestead Finishing Products:

DRY BUFF WITH MIRKA ROYAL MICRO PAPER.
Using Mirka Royal Micro sandpaper, always start with 1500-grit sandpaper. Begin with a small area, make 2-3 passes, then evaluate results. Go to a heavier grit if surface irregularities are not fully removed. Finish with 1500-grit paper.

DRY/WET BUFF WITH ABRALON POLISHING DISCS.
Start by dry sanding with Abralon 2000-grit, and then 4000-grit. Start slowly, monitor to see if buildup is occurring. A large sized table might take 5-25 sheets of paper. If needed, lubricate by moistening with General Finishes Satin Finishing Wax, mineral spirits, or naphtha. Never use water as a lubricant. If lubricated, one sheet of 1000-grit or 1500-grit should do the entire table.

BUFFING/POLISHING WITH PRESTA POLISHING KITS.
Spray Presta polish on buffing pad stuff to lubricate the pad. Apply a quarter-sized dab of polish to sand one section. Spread with pad. Continue section by section. Mist buffing pad with Presta lubricating material when it gets too dry. You should be able to use a buffing pad on 10-20 tables before washing and reusing. When done, mist entire surface with and buff with a micro-cloth to remove splatter

NOTE: Never wet sand a water-based finish.

How Can I Tell if a Water Based Topcoat is Dry?
If the finish feels cool to the touch, it's not ready. When you can sand it to a dry powder, it is ready for the next coat. Dry times will be longer if it is raining, cold, or humid. When in doubt, waiting longer is always better.

What is the Best Applicator to use for Milk Paint and Water Based Topcoat?
Either bristle or foam brushes will work well with Milk Paint and Top Coat. You might use several types of brushes for a project.

For example:

• We like to use a synthetic brush (which loads up more paint) to get Milk Paint on the surface, and then use a water or Extender dampened foam brush to smooth out the finish.​
• ​​​​​​Synthetic bristle brushes are particularly helpful on vertical and detailed surfaces but they can produce subtle texture.
• Foam brushes tend to produce a smoother finish which can be particularly helpful on flat horizontal surfaces.
• Pad Applicators or paint rollers are also helpful on larger horizontal surfaces such as a table top.

For those who don't want to invest in several brushes, the foam brush is our recommendation.

The very best application method is spraying.