General Finishes White Undercoat is a primer white colorant to provide a undercoat for white/off-white wood finishes. The high solids facilitate a fast film build and sand easily. Use as a basecoat for pigmented acrylic finishes. It dries tack-free in 10-20 minutes. Particularly effective on MDF. Use with General Finishes white Milk Paint colors to prevent bleed through!
General Finishes White Undercoat can be applied over raw wood MDF, existing finishes and as an undercoat for White Poly and light-colored paints. It acts as a physical barrier rather than a chemical barrier. For woods that exhibit tannin bleed-through, we recommend General Finishes Stain Blocker.
Enduro White Undercoat Application Steps
- Watch product overview video on the General Finishes Website.
- Stir General Finishes Enduro White Undercoat to reincorporate solids that have settled to the bottom of the can before and throughout the application process.
- Thin as desired with distilled water; start with 5%, increase up to 10% by volume. Increase open time, if needed, with up to 5% by volume of 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.
- Apply 1-2 coats, depending on the substrate, the amount applied, and the application method. If you apply 1 light coat you can sand through, add another coat. If you apply 1 solid first coat and sand lightly, then you only need one.
- Spray application: Before spraying, strain through a medium-mesh filter. Spray wet films at 3-5-mil thickness. Medium air cap. Fluid tip sizes: Compressed air: .040, HVLP: .072 or Airless: .011-.013. medium air cap. Verify tip sizes with your equipment supplier. See our general guide for 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 25% to conceal lines. Wear a full filter (NIOSH/MSHA approved) respiratory & eye protection and work in a ventilated space. Read here for more information on spraying techniques.
- Face frames on cabinets: Enduro professional products are engineered to be spray-only but can be applied successfully to cabinet face frames, edges or drawer fronts with a brush, pad or small cabinet specific 3/8" nap microfiber roller such as Whizz or AllPro brand. Larger areas may not level with hand application.
- If a faster build is desired over raw wood, use General Finishes Sanding Sealer for the first coat, followed by 2 coats of High Performance Topcoat.
- Dry 2+ hours between coats in ideal conditions: 70°F/20°C; 50-70% humidity. Inadequate dry time is one of the top reasons for product failure. You can tell if a water-based finish is dry if it forms a powder when lightly sanded with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad. If in doubt, wait longer. Increase dry time if:
- Humidity is over 80%
- 3+ coats are applied
- Thick coats are applied
- Applying over an existing sealed finish
- Layering General Finishes water- and oil-based products:
- Water over oil: Let oil-based products dry 72+hr before applying water-based products
- Oil over water: Let water-based products dry 24+hr before applying oil-based products
- To accelerate dry time in humid conditions, add General Finishes Accelerator and work in a space with good ventilation and air movement. If you decide to re-coat before the recommended time, test dryness.
- Finish sand between coats with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad to improve smoothness and adhesion.
- Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, an oil-free tack cloth or a water-dampened rag.
- Seal White Undercoat with topcoat to equal 4 total coats. If 1 coat of White Undercoat is applied, apply 3 coats topcoat over it. If 2 coats White Undercoat are applied, apply 2 coats topcoat. One coat White Undercoat sealed with 3 coats topcoat is recommended for durability. It's better to have more topcoat than undercoat.
Cure Time
Water-based finishes cure and harden for full use after 21 days in ideal conditions. Avoid placing heavy objects on surfaces that have not completely cured. Treat gently, and do not clean with commercial products during the curing period.
Coverage: 450 square feet
Watch a great how-to video on creating a bright white finish using General Finishes' products HERE!