Old Masters is known for its’ excellent wood stains and finishes. These products are available for retail among individual hardware, paint and specialty woodworking areas. The business encourages both DIY’ers and professional woodworkers.



Small Town Origins

The company is from Iowa. The business has been creating high-quality products since 1926. A Dutch immigrant started the business. Their early beginnings started off creating paint formulations in a garage. With time, they started selling products across a variety of industries. The company vision is to deliver a quality product that outshines the client’s expectations. This tradition is behind the company’s success.

Old Masters Brand

Old Masters uses a traditional artisan strategy to develop its stains and finishes. These wood-finishing solutions have been designed to celebrate the skills and talents generated by a professional.Create sentimental woodworking pieces by safeguarding them with “Craftsman Quality Finishes.” The Old Masters tag line says all of this.

Rely on Old Masters Topcoat

Applying a specific topcoat is the best way to produce long-lasting, durable protection for your valued woodwork. Protect your project from surface abrasions, deterioration from alcohol or water, chipping and marring by working with a clear topcoat finish. UV shelter is offered in our exterior finishes. Keep your wood items protected from exposure to Mother Nature, water and wind.

Make certain you choose the right topcoat as each clear finish is distinctly formulated. The Gel Polyurethane is usually recommended for finishing furniture and antiques but not a good choice for flooring finishes. Before choosing a topcoat, read the labels to choose a suitable product. Check out Old Masters’ clear finish collection guide to help decide on the best topcoat for your application.



You can make your exterior and interior surfaces last considerably longer by protecting them thoroughly. Mother Nature is constantly offering damage. Typically, we recommend applying clear outdoor coatings every two years. Features which are constantly in the sun might need to have a clear coat reapplied yearly for best results.

Obtain Superior Protection With a Topcoat

A protective, clear topcoat is essential for keeping your wood staining and finishing products secure.


Always make sure the location is well ventilated. Take any kind of dust away by washing the surface with a damp rag. Always stir the product carefully but never shake it before applying. More substantial projects requiring additional stain containers ought to be mixed beforehand to ensure the solutions are uniform before applying. Testing the finish on a hidden surface can help you determine if adequate adhesion is occurring. Take care not to put on in sunny or windy settings. Avoid using tack cloths whenever using clear, water-based finishes.

Follow these steps when applying a regular clear finish to correctly prepared wood:

1. Apply with 2-inch to a 2-and-a-half-inch China bristle paint brush.

2. Bubbles can wreck your pristine coating. Avoid them by carefully using the finish in light and even layers. Go with the path of the grain and use as few brush strokes as possible to create a nice surface. Do not apply thick layers of the finish since this may lead to drips or wrinkles during the drying routine.

3. Enable the finish to dry extensively. Every single product is different so check the label for drying times. Depending on which finish you use, the drying time will vary.

4. Use 220 grit sandpaper to gently sand between coats. The light-weight sanding allows the finish to experience better adhesion and a clearer result. Give yourself extra drying time in case the sandpaper becomes gummy. Remove any sanding debris with a clear rag to supply a clean finish.

5. Recoating durations and reapplication guidelines are on the product label. A minimum of 2 coats is advisable for interior applications. Outside projects typically use three coats of finish for the maximum protection. There is detailed information particular to each product on the instruction label.



6. Allow the item to experience a 24-hour rest period minimum prior to exposing surfaces to marginal use. Take additional care the first week after application to allow the solution to cure to its hardest ability. If you're treating floors, steer clear of heavy traffic. Wait a minimum of 72 hours following the last coat to restore furniture. Never push the furniture when transferring it. Permit the floors cure for at least a week before cleaning them or putting rugs down.

Application Tips

Just before the finish dries, use a firm-bristle artist brush to take away any lint that may have attached itself.

Ensure your work space is free from dust before finishing to help keep the finish spot-free. Only apply cures in well-ventilated areas due to the abundance of vapors that is a component of solvent-based products.