General Finishes Question

[Cary Wheeler]

I am replacing my balcony handrails and have decided a more durable topcoat is needed. The handrails currently have 5 coats of flake shellac on them and one coat of GF "High Performance Water Based Topcoat". I was thinking of finishing with 2 to 3 coats of GF "Enduro-Var Water Based Urethane Topcoat"
Does anyone see a problem doing this? I ask because the GF website states the Enduro-Var adheres well "ONLY over water stains, dye stains, raw wood. Use Enduro-Var over any other surface at your own risk."

I assume it should be OK over the 1st coat of the GF High Performance Water Based Topcoat....any experience that is contrary to my assumption? Thank you

[John TenEyck]

Cary, I would not put EnduroVar over HP Poly. EnduroVar is a great product, but it doesn't play nice over, or under, many other finishes. HP Poly is pretty good stuff as long as it's not exposed to ammonia or strong solvents, so I would stick with that. But if you really want a more durable finish, make up a test sample with everything you've done so far and put the EnduroVar on that. Wait a week and then do an adhesion test. If it passes, chances are all will be OK.

Now for the potentially bad news. 5 coats of shellac is a lot unless they were something like a 1lb cut. Shellac can have problems with cracking down the road if it's put on too thick. I hope you were aware of that and used very light coats. As often is said in the finishing section, the thinnest coat of shellac that forms a complete film is the right amount.
John

[Cary Wheeler]

Thanks John. And yes they were 1lb cuts of shellac. I appreciate your incite on the two GF products

[Matt Day]

John, stop inciting things around here! We much prefer your insights.

Sorry, had to!

[Cary Wheeler]

Haha. I thought that word looked wrong as I typed it

[Gary Muto]

I think you will be better off with HP Poly. I've never tried EnduroVar over anything for the reasons you stated.

[David Ruhland]

I think you will be better off with HP Poly. I've never tried EnduroVar over anything for the reasons you stated.

Are you referring to General Finishes Poly?

Enduro Clear Poly Quart.JPG

[John TenEyck]

When Gary said HP Poly I'm pretty sure he meant this product, not Enduro Clear Poly.


John

[Gary Muto]

When Gary said HP Poly I'm pretty sure he meant this product, not Enduro Clear Poly.


John

Yes Sir! That's what I meant. Sorry for Abbreviating. I haven't used Enduro Clear Poly, at least in a long time. General finishes reformulated the High performance Poly ~3 years ago and as I recall the durability and chemical resistance really bunched up between the different products. As John stated the high Performance Poly is so easy to spray that I like to stick wth it.