General Finishes

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 3 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,486 in Business, #50,019 overall

Recognized Leader in the Wood Finishes Industry

General Finishes manufactures waterborne wood coatings, including environmentally-friendly milk paints, beautiful glaze effects, and award-winning high performance topcoats.

We also produce oilbased finishes, including a wide range of award-winning wipe-on wood stains, lustrous gel stains, long-lasting urethane topcoats, non-toxic salad bowl finishes, and Danish oil.

We are also happy to offer free finishing tips- including faux finishing techniques, such as antiquing, distressing, and color washing on our website.

We're a woodworker's and do-it-yourselfer's dream come true! Our products are perfect for any project - whether you need cabinet finishes, furniture finishes, or floor finishes. 

Plus, check out our professional water base finishes to learn more about how we're on the cutting edge in the development of waterborne coatings for the industrial market. 

A Great American Story 

The History of General Finishes

In 1928, a lumber company in Milwaukee began manufacturing stains and finishes for their customers, and General Finishes was born. The company plodded slowly along until 1984.

Since then, GF has grown and flourished under its current ownership, moving 3 times. Starting in a modest 2,000 square foot facility with only 2 employees, General Finishes now has a home in East Troy, Wisconsin in a modern, 35,000 square foot facility with employees finally numbering in the double digits!

Production has come a long way, too. Stains used to be mixed in a old washing machine! Now, GF has 3 automated pouring machines, plus other equipment.

1992 was the year the company really took off with its introduction of its award-winning waterborne finishes line.

To learn even more about this American success story, visit us at www.generalfinishes.com. Click on About Us to hear the whole story.

NEW INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT - Enduro Dye Stain 

Water Based Wood Stain

* Waterborne technology
* Ultra-penetrating
* Designed to work like solvent-based
* Enhances the wood grain with deep rich tones
* Produces vibrant wood colors
* Can be used as a toner with a topcoat
* Green product

Available in Amber, Light Brown, Cinnamon, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Merlot, Ebony, Empire Red, Vintage Cherry, Orange, and Yellow.

Click here to learn more - GF's New Water Based Wood Finish


Or see our press release here - New Dye Stain

Our Products Highlighted by Charles Neil 

In The Workshop

Charles Neil, an artist, woodworker, furniture maker, and teacher uses General Finishes products.
See his talent and unique teaching style in these videos.
To learn more about him, his classes and How-To-DVDs, click here -Charles Neil - Woodworking

WOODWORKING - Stains & Dyes

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WOODWORKING - Ebonizing - Water Base & 2-Stage Turbines

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WOODWORKING - Cutting Board Finishes

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Exterior 450 

Waterborne Varnish for Outdoor Use

EXTERIOR 450 varnish gives your outdoor furniture, doors, and case goods a super-tough finish that will protect it from the harsh sun, rain, and wind.

To minimize fading and maximize performance, EXTERIOR 450 is fortified with UV absorbers.

Plus, its built-in mildewcide retards mold and mildew growth.

To learn more, visit General Finishes' Waterbased Finishes page or view our press release.

General Finishes Award-Winning Water Based High Performance Top Coat 

Winner of Fine Woodworking's Best Overall Choice Award, in November of 2006, General Finishes High Performance Top Coat is the hardest, most durable consumer polyurethane top coat on the market today. With all of the consumer friendly characteristics of PolyAcrylic Blend, this great top coat contains a UV Stabilizer to protect it from breaking down in sunlight, which helps prevent the underlying stains from fading. And with its pure polyurethane durability, it can even be used on floors. This is the most durable product. Available in the following sheens - Satin & Gloss.

The Finish Line - Waterborne Finishes 

Our products make great furniture finishes, and these three videos describe the benefits of using our water based stains and paints, the tools needed to finish furniture, how to apply furniture finishes, including specialty finishes, and tips for maintenance and care. To find more great finishing videos, check out this video showcase - Finishing Furniture How To Vids on Squidoo.

General Finishes Waterborne Finishes

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General Finishes Waterborne Finishes Part 2

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General Finishes Waterborne Finishes Part 3

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Wiki & E-How Articles - Decorative Finishes 

Step by step instructions based on the finishing videos above.
How To Apply a Two Tone Finish to Furniture
Learn to create this beautiful two-toned look with waterborne stains and paints.
How To Create a Sponge Effect Decorative Finish
Let your imagination run wild with this technique and create beautiful effects with waterbased paints.
How To Create a Faux Marble Finish on Furniture
Create this unique decorative finish with waterborne paints following these simple instructions.
How to Create a Leather Look on Waterbased Stains and Paints
Learn how to create the sophisticated look of leather - perfect for a desk or bookshelf - with these easy steps.
How To Use Waterborne Stains and Paints to Finish Furniture
Learn how to stain or paint a piece of furniture. Includes video and pictures.
How to Create a Distressed Finish
Learn how to create a vintage look by painting, sanding, and hammering!

Now Offering Enduro Industrial Finishes 

Merger with Compliant Spray Systems

Compliant Spray Systems and General Finishes merged to offer a wide selection of wood finishes and 3M Accuspray HVLP spray equipment.

How does this benefit you, our valued customers?

More stores that stock Enduro, a larger selection of the country's finest award winning wood finishing products, and more people to help service your needs.

Click here to view the full press release on PRWeb - General Finishes Acquires Compliant Spray Systems.

To purchase Enduro Industrial Finishing products in California, visit:

Austin Hardwoods & Hardware
610 N. Santiago Street
Santa Ana CA 925701
714-953-4000

Bayside Paint Company
1228 Knoxville Street
San Diego CA 92110
619-275-7800

TH&H Hardwoods & Hardware
9040 Activity Road, Building E
San Diego, CA 92126
858-536-1800

Anderson Plywood
4020 Supulveda Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
310-397-8229

Altura Paint Center
353 East Broadway
Vista CA 92084
760-724-3600

For all other inquiries, contact 800-783-6050 or visit the General Finishes web site .

Professional Wood Finishes 

General Finishes is a recognized leader of the development of waterbased finishes technology for the unfinished furniture, woodworking, and DIY markets.

Look to General Finishes for solutions designed to solve your specific finishing problems. We offer a comprehensive range of finishing products including stains, sealers, finishes, and pigmented topcoats ideally suited for the
We excel at assisting customers to convert from solvent-based lacquer systems to high performance, water based technology.

We are on the cutting edge of the rapidly evolving wood finishing industry offering bwater based wood finishes/b that are both safe to use and environmentally friendly.

To learn more about all of our products, including our Enduro products, please visit us online.">

General Finishes On the Web 

GF's Home
Find information about our products as well as finishing guides.
General Finishes About Us.Org Profile
See our business profile here.
Water Based Wood Finishes: The Top 4 Reasons It's the Best Choice For Your Family
Ezine article by me describing the benefits of water borne wood finishes.
Finishing Equipment and Supplies
Our site for our 3M Accuspray HVLP spray paint guns, turbines, and paint preparation systems.
Water Based Finishes on Squidoo
We're proud of our water based finishes and wanted everyone to know more about this type of finish.
Finishing Equipment on Squidoo
Learn more about our 3M Accupray HVLP sales division here.
HVLP Lens
Learn all about High Volume Low Pressure paint systems on this lens!
General Finishes Google Profile
Check out our profile on Google Profiles.
General Finishes on Facebook
Come be a fan on Facebook! See videos, know about product launches, talk with other GF users. Tell us what you want us to know about you!
Eco-Friendly Kitchen Remodel
This brave woman did a green remodel in her kitchen and chose Enduro products to finish her cabinets! Thanks!

General Finishes New Home 

America's Finest Manufacturer of Wood Finishes

Powered by Google

General Finishes Now Available for Purchase in the UK 

General Finishes UK

Our water bourne finishes and oil based finishes are now available online for purchase in the UK. Plus, they are available at Classic Hand Tools in Suffolk.

The Woodworker highly recommended GF's Gel Stains, Arm-R-Seal and High Performance Top Coat. See the full review!

We're also on the UK's DIYWEEK.net

Recently, Ian Taylor created a country table using GF's milk paints. Check out the article here.

Wood Finishing Guides 

General Finishes: A Pet-Friendly Workplace 

When you first walk into General Finishes, you'll notice a box of dog treats on the reception counter. For a moment, you might think, "Wait, am I in the right place? Is this . . . General Dog Food . . ."

No, you are in the right place, and soon you'll be greeted by a few of the star employees - Alex, Abbey, Brianna, Zoe, and Maggie - all Cairn Terriers (like the one in Wizard of Oz) and Jasper, a Golden Retriever.

Like Google and Amazon, General Finishes is a pet-friendly work place where every day is Bring Your Dog to Work Day. It's a great concept, and creates a super fun and more relaxing work environment.

As Phil Carpenter, Vice President of marketing at Simply Hired and dog owner commented in K9 magazine,

"Companies with dog-friendly policies just get it. And they're breeding a class of happy and loyal employees," said Ted Rheingold, CEO of Dogster. He continued, "After all, who wouldn't be happy working with their best friend?"

According to Ted R. in the June 2006 Archives of Dogster Company Blogster -
"Last year Dogster and SimplyHired (the best online jobs site) conducted a survey of working dog owners. We found some amazing information:

If the dog owners could take their dogs to work with them:
66% would work longer hours for same pay
55% would commute a greater distance
49% would switch jobs
32% would take a 5% salary reduction
11% would take a 10% salary reduction

The reason for the above is that if people don't have to race home to feed or walk their dog, if they don't have to worry or miss their dog (which they might also describe as a family member ;) they would work longer, harder and happier.

In these days of limited job security and reduced employee loyalty, proving to your employee you care about what they care about and letting them bring their dogs to work with them is akin to the promise of a gold watch. Employees will have a much stronger commitment to their employer and their job. Another wonderful benefit of dogs in the work place is that stresses and woes seem that much less worrisome when there is a sweet dog just looking for a belly rub."

General Finishes is committed to their employees, and being a pet-friendly workplace is just one of the many ways it shows.

Got Questions? 

Got questions about our company or what we manufacture? Want to give a testimonial about our products? We'd love to hear from you!

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by chrisadams

Christine Adams is a writer, consultant and webmaster to the Unfinished Furniture Industry. Here she writes for a partner to that industry,  Gene...

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