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Epifanes Wood Finish Matte Varnish Customer Questions and Answers
Question
Can I use the Matte Wood Finish over regular high gloss Epifanes varnish, or must I use it over high gloss Wood Varnish?
Asked on 03/31/2012 by Caren GlotfeltyTop Answer
I customarily use 5 coats of the Eifanes Gloss Varnish followed by 2 to 3 coats of Epifanes Matt Varnish for outdoor wood applications.
Answered on 04/01/2012 by ROGER KOPPAnswer
You might call Jamestown. I'm only a consumer.
Answered on 04/02/2012 by CANDY OFFINEERAnswer
Thanks. Just to be clear that's the high gloss varnish, not the high gloss WOOD varnish that you use on the under coats?
Answered on 04/01/2012 by Caren GlotfeltyAnswer
Caren, I think you can use it over either but I have used it over Clear High Gloss Epifanes. I recommend 2 coats rather than 1.
Answered on 04/02/2012 by DAN KINNAVYAnswer
Thanks
Answered on 04/02/2012 by Caren GlotfeltyAnswer
Yes, it is the Epifanes High Gloss varnish, not the wood finish gloss. The catalog recommends that the matt finish be put over 4 coats of gloss wood finish.
Answered on 04/01/2012 by ROGER KOPPAnswer
Use two coats of matte finish over 4 to 5 coats of Clear High Gloss for exterior surfaces or 3 to 4 coats for interior. And sand with 320 grit in between coats so each layer adheres to the previous. A pain in the rear end but the results are well worth it. And if you are going to go through the pain use a very good brush - available from Tools for Working Wood, about $45 for a 2 inch brush. The first coats are thinned pretty heavily (odorless mineral spirits if working indoors) then subsequent coats thinned less until the last coats are thinned only as necessary to get it 'flow'. Dan
Answered on 04/02/2012 by DAN KINNAVYAnswer
Thank you. Do you mean two coats of the matte over high gloss or just two coats of high gloss before matte coat? Caren
Answered on 04/02/2012 by Caren GlotfeltyAnswer
Thanks Dan. Very helpful! Caren
Answered on 04/02/2012 by Caren GlotfeltyAnswer
Caren, from the directions I remember I read, I recall this is the process they recommend. Using the matte finish over the gloss. Read the instructions on the amount of coats and the application process. As I look at the add with Jamestown they say " matte is typically used over four coats of Epifanes Gloss wood finish. Suitable for both interior and exterior woods, this low gloss, matte finish varnish contains UV absorbers to privide long lasting, beautiful rich protection." You indicate high gloss coated with matte. I can't see a difference between gloss and high gloss. You may need to lightly sand between coats with a fine abrasive, see directions on can, so that you get maximum adheasion. Hope this helps.
Answered on 04/01/2012 by THOMAS GALHOUSEQuestion
Looking to use over epifanes varnish on a mahogany door to give a more matte look vs the shine of the varnish. Can I do this?
Asked on 08/02/2014 by c reidTop Answer
I used this product on my raw new mahogany door and it looks beautiful. I followed the advice of jamestown, and used their stain that acted like a grain filler, followed by several coats of their varnish glossy, followed by 2 coats of the matte, with of course light sanding in between. I love the matte finish look. It holds up well to the slightly sheltered east side of my house. I have to touch it up in the worn places perhaps every 6 years or so.
Answered on 08/02/2014 by LESLIE HINTONAnswer
William thank you so much for your response. So to finish my mahogany door (exterior/interior sides the same?) I: use Epifanes (is there a pre stain conditioner?) I do want to use a stain to get the red out - make look more brown (can I use a miniwax stain here or is there a epifanes product I can use?) then Epifanes clear varnish (3-4 coats) then Epifanes matte finsh (2-3 coat) Thanks again for your wisdom on this.....
Answered on 08/02/2014 by c reidAnswer
do it all the time. seems to be more uv inhibitors in the gloss, so on strip-built boats, i use 3-4 coats of gloss, covered with 2-3 coats of matte finish.
Answered on 08/02/2014 by WILLIAM F. LANGAnswer
you can use any good quality stain, as long as you let the stain dry completely before you varnish . As Leslie H said before , its suggested you apply gloss varnish coats first for clarity and then one or 2 matt coats . I usually apply 5 coats of varnish on new wood . I thin it ( very small amount) with very good quality paint thinner or Brushing liquid 333.
Answered on 08/02/2014 by EVITA CAUNEAnswer
Yes , This matte varnish looks beautiful , make sure you sand door well with 240 or 320 grit to give a good adhesion .Its pretty easy to work with . You might want to thin it just a little bit , because its pretty thick . good luck
Answered on 08/02/2014 by EVITA CAUNEAnswer
What should I use to thin it with? thanks for your help Also if I want to stain the mahogany to make it look more brown what stain should I use under the epifanes? Thank you!!!
Answered on 08/02/2014 by c reidAnswer
Yes. I did exactly that over a fir door and it looked great. It also evened out the brush marks. My suggestion is 3-5 coats normal, sand between as needed, and especially after last coat before matte. Then 2 Coats matte.
Answered on 08/06/2014 by STEPHEN ROTHAnswer
Thank you Leslie....which stain did you use as a grain filler? I am looking to make my doors a darker brown color (less red)
Answered on 08/04/2014 by c reidQuestion
Building a bookcase with walnut wood. Could I just use 4-5 coats of Epifanes Matte Wood Finish without using Epifanes Wood Finish Gloss first?
Asked on 02/01/2013 by UndisclosedTop Answer
You sure could. I used this for my recent front porch build on my house. If you have never used this before, it would most likely be good to thin it down just a little bit with turpentine, if you pour 10 oz into a seperate container, you need 1 oz of turpentine. Make sure you sand with 150-225 grit between coats. This stuff will be dry enough for sanding in less than 24 hours, where the gloss takes the full 24 hours. This is a great finish, but if you are making an interior piece, I personally would use a water based product like min wax.....I think the real reason you do the gloss first is because the difference in cost, at least for interior stuff.
Answered on 02/01/2013 by PAUL WATERLOOAnswer
In My Opinion, In finishes, for the true sheen of the finish, you usually use the opposite of what sheen you are applying. Eg. if you want a Gloss finish you would use a dull undercoat & visa versa. Epifanes a really top quality durable varnish and it really over kill with 4 to 5 cots if an interior bookcase. Maybe 3 over the gloss ?
Answered on 02/06/2013 by Lucien KaczmarekAnswer
Since I have always followed Epifanes' instruction to build up a base first with the Gloss, then finish with a couple of coats of the Matt, I can't give you a certain answer. Only a gut feeling. Since it is a bookcase, 5 coats of Matte would likey suffice. However, if it were my bookcase, I would use three coats of Gloss and two coats of Matt. I really like the foundation the Gloss gives. GRT
Answered on 02/01/2013 by GERALD THOMASAnswer
Yes. For most furniture, unless you need ultra protection on a table top, the Matte Finish is totally adequate. Even the wood finish matte is overkill for inside furniture. The main issue I have is that it dries 10 times faster than the Gloss, at least here in Colorado in a semi-arid climate. I also spray both products, and the the matte dries in seconds to minutes, while the gloss takes closer to an hour. I dilute 50% for the first coat and dilute the next coats also, reducing the thinner with each coat. making a "wiping varnish" out of the matte may be difficult due to the dry time, but with other vanishes diluting and wiping on and off is a great finish technique, less dust to worry about and no brush marks. experiment with the matte this way, just be wary of fast drying, which may be climate induced by low local humidity levels. Don't just start brushing this on your furniture! you need to play with it first.
Answered on 02/02/2013 by PETE SHAFFNERAnswer
The Matte Varnish I used was for an out door bench that I built for the Pergola that I built. As far as for the project you are working on I couldn't say, I have only had experience with it with that one project. I can say that the the coat is thick and drys very fast. Good Luck!
Answered on 02/01/2013 by ROLANDO YBARRAAnswer
I used both on outdoor furniture. I did not know why they recommend both unless the gloss is more durable than the matte for outdoors.
Answered on 02/01/2013 by JACK VANDENBERGAnswer
I put several coats of just the Matte Varnish on the oak railing and treads on circular stairway in our house (I hadn't read instructions carefully to know it was supposed to go over gloss and I didn't want a gloss finish) and it's held up just fine--so it's definitely doable if that's the look you are after.
Answered on 02/01/2013 by JONATHAN RAABAnswer
The instructions tell you to build up the base surface with the high gloss and then 1 to 2 coats of the matte finish and this is what I have done. I think it would do no harm to use all coats in matte finish but the matte finish is more expensive than gloss so following the instructions would be cheaper. Be sure to thin the first coats as you would with gloss finish. Having said that - if this is a bookcase for interior use, there are much less expensive products out there than Epifanes. Behlens makes some good interior varnishes. (Epifanes is the absolute best exterior varnish I have ever used).
Answered on 02/02/2013 by DAN KINNAVYQuestion
can you use more than I coat of matte finish on top of the gloss?
Asked on 04/16/2018 by tim from pa.Top Answer
Hi Tim, you can but what happens is every coat of matte that you apply, it reduces the clarity and vibrance of the wood because of the inherent opacity of the flattening agent. This is why it's recommended to do all build coats with a gloss finish product, and use the matte on the final coat whenever possible.
Answered on 06/04/2018 by JD Tech AssociateAnswer
Yes. This coating is easy to work with. A light scuffing of the previous coat assures adherence of multiple coats.
Answered on 04/16/2018 by kenzobAnswer
Sure,just be aware the more matte you apply the less clarity the finish will have.
Answered on 04/16/2018 by kneal88Answer
You could but why? One is all you need, two or three gloss undercoat then matte ,works great ,have done many projects ,more matte doesn't improve the look.
Answered on 04/16/2018 by johnuteschAnswer
You have good prices. However we got an order from you once with cans that looked as if someone beat them with a hammer. The box was immaculate. I sent an email which was ignored. (Great customer service, by the way) . Also... Bought some Epifanes, and in 1 month the varnished trim was bleeding through. Obviously a bad batch. Getting to the point where I REALLY do not want to do business with JD. Surprising that you would have the gall to send me an email like this after I spent a lot of money with you, and your customer service ethics are non-existent.
Answered on 04/16/2018 by mcrtrg16Answer
Tim According to the directions you apply 2 thin even coats on to top the gloss, so yes. It also says for maintenance: When a deterioration in the appearance of the finish is noticed, sand the surface with 320 grit wet or dry abrasive paper and apply one or two fresh coats. *Good luck*
Answered on 04/16/2018 by t.galhouseAnswer
Yes
Answered on 04/16/2018 by greggnmnQuestion
Does the Matt Finish have any sheen to it?
Asked on 03/06/2014 by UndisclosedTop Answer
Hello fellow shopper, Sheen is actually something that is measured. Satin is around 20À_À__À_À__À_À__- 35À_À__À_À__À_À__ Semi-gloss is between 40À_À__À_À__À_À__ - 65À_À__À_À__À_À__ Gloss above that Epifanes Matte is at the bottom below 20À_À__À_À__À_À__ I just measured it and it came up as 15À_À__À_À__À_À__
Answered on 03/07/2014 by DAVID SMITHAnswer
No, there is no sheen to matte varnish, it is 'flat'. This works well for us on the interior of strip canoes as the no gloss feature minimizes variations in the fiberglass.
Answered on 03/07/2014 by MICHAEL VERMOUTHAnswer
Sheen level is lower than satin, no reflection.
Answered on 03/07/2014 by RANDY WARNERAnswer
No, not really. I think they use some kind of pigments (or something similar) that mixes in with the varnish, so make sure to stir the can and keep it stirred occasionally. It is about as "matte" as one could get using varnish. The directions say to use the gloss varnish for the first 3 or 4 coats then finish the last 2 or 3 coats with the matte finish, so if you wanted to adjust the sheen I think you could do so by using fewer final coats of the matte or thinning the matte can with some of the gloss varnish.
Answered on 03/06/2014 by DAN KINNAVYAnswer
The product has a slight sheen to it. The same results can be achieved with the regular gloss material. Apply per directions and once the gloss material has cured, buff it out with a green scotch brite pad and you will have a nice satin finish.
Answered on 03/06/2014 by ALLEN COBBAnswer
Define sheen. Very little if any. We applied over the gloss to make a very pleaseing and deep "matte" finish.
Answered on 03/07/2014 by AL WILLIAMSONAnswer
There is a slight sheen. If you are really looking for a dull effect, I would recommend the rubbed effect varnish for the last coat.
Answered on 03/06/2014 by JOHN NOTCHQuestion
Can I just apply this without the gloss? I just want a natural Rustic finish on my front door which is sanded that is protected from the Sun
Asked on 07/07/2016 by Angela VereauTop Answer
You can only use one coat of the matte finish if you apply two coats it will be shiny. That is why if you apply two coats of gloss finish and then matte finish on top of that you will have good protection from the elements.
Answered on 07/08/2016 by DAVID EDGERLYAnswer
I can't tell from the photo if you're using "Wood Finish Matte". If not I recommend Epifanes,Wood Finish Matte for a nice dull finish.
Answered on 07/08/2016 by Mathew EggenbergerAnswer
You should really apply two or three coats of the gloss first.
Answered on 07/07/2016 by JOHN NOTCHAnswer
Yes, but the finish will look milky. Recommend finishing with Gloss and the last coat in Satin for a beautiful result.
Answered on 07/08/2016 by RICHARD DIGREAnswer
yes you can. I put on gloss first because I didn't want 7 layers of matte. with some gloss under it, it is a little less matte. but if matte is what you're after, you don't need any gloss.
Answered on 07/08/2016 by Larry SanfordAnswer
This is a very thick finish, even in the matte version. It will totally protect from UV damage, but it will look more like a wooden boat finish than a rustic (in the wood) finish. It will not look "natural."
Answered on 07/07/2016 by STEPHEN ROTHQuestion
Hi I have a mahogany door that I want to use this for. How many square inches does this container last for ? Thank you
Asked on 03/20/2015 by UndisclosedTop Answer
I used this as a part of a finishing process. I put on 4 coats of gloss finish first, 2 cut 50-50 with thinner, 2 cut 75-25, and then a single finish coat of the matte cut 80-20. Done that way, the quart would be more than enough for a door. I did a 30x52 table and a 16x24 table and had some leftover. Hope this helps
Answered on 03/21/2015 by DUNCAN HANNAHAnswer
Tough question. Who measures how far a qt. of varnish covers? I do know it is the best varnish I've ever used. The first coat is to be diluted 50% and then less dilution with multiple coats. It is extremely durable.
Answered on 03/20/2015 by JACK VANDENBERGAnswer
On a 36in door, you should get one coat on each side, with a little left over.
Answered on 03/23/2015 by REED ABBOTTAnswer
According to the directions on the reverse of the can, roughly 12 square meters. You're probably all right depending on number of coats. Good luck! Best varnish - best distributor!
Answered on 03/20/2015 by CARL NEALAnswer
The container will cover approximately 80 SF at a uniform spread rate, which is two coats on all surfaces (6) of an average size residential door. Mahogany is fairly dense and minimally porous, so a 500ml container should provide two full coats. Hope this helps.
Answered on 03/21/2015 by JAMES LANGHANSQuestion
What is the estimated drying time before your second coat?
Asked on 03/02/2015 by Wayne RTop Answer
24 hours
Answered on 03/03/2015 by MARK SANTIKKOAnswer
over 70 degrees 4-6 hrs, carefully apply, 8 good.
Answered on 03/03/2015 by ALAN LAYCOCKAnswer
About 24 hours
Answered on 03/03/2015 by RANDY WARNERAnswer
I don't remember the drying time, but I can tell you this product has held up great on an exterior door that is exposed to sun all day.
Answered on 03/02/2015 by JEFF SANDERSAnswer
Hi Wayne, depending on the climate, and how your applying it ? I would say about 4 hours ( Approx.) Always better to really leave overnight if you have the time ... In My Opinion
Answered on 03/02/2015 by Lucien KaczmarekQuestion
Can you mix the matte with the gloss varnish to get a lower sheen than gloss for your final coat?
Asked on 06/12/2018 by JD from ChicagoTop Answer
Yes, this is a very common practice when trying to get a satin type sheen with products like this.
Answered on 06/25/2018 by JD Tech AssociateAnswer
Yes, this is actually pretty common when a customer desires a sheen that is between the gloss and matte. Stir the matte container very well before combining the two, and then it is a good idea to stir while applying also to ensure that it stays a consistent sheen.
Answered on 06/25/2018 by JD Tech AssociateAnswer
I never have but I don't see why not, it's the same stuff but I'll say this: Things with flattening agent (MATTE) can get funny quick, flattening agent doesn't want to stay in suspension so that's why they suggest to stir it constantly. I would suggest to start out by shaking or stirring the daylights out of the low sheen and mix the two equally, I would use one of those quart mixing cups and be sure you keep a record, you might want to do it again and while you're using it keep it stirred, it will bottom out quicker than you think. I would use it on the last two or even three coats, remember the two top coats will start to sacrifice in a couple of years.
Answered on 06/13/2018 by jwray46Answer
I would quess that the final appearance would depend on the ratio of matte to gloss that you mix. Try small test mixes until you determine the desired ratio to mix. The matte is just a bit less glossy than the gloss; so straight matte might be what the person wants. The matte finish is sure a beautiful finish for most applications where a gloss finish is not desired. Gene
Answered on 06/13/2018 by gene100Question
I would like to get as deep/rich look as possible. My goal was to apply 6-7 coats with Epifanes clear gloss, then apply a fine 1-2 coats with matte. Will I loose some of the richness and luster if I use Matte as a final coat?
Asked on 04/08/2018 by Chris from undisclosedTop Answer
No, it will still expand the richness if you use the clear gloss for the build coats and ideally just use the matte for the final one coat. It looks really nice if you can get it smooth and just do matte on the final coat.
Answered on 06/01/2018 by JD Tech AssociateAnswer
I did the same thing to my front door. I do not think the matte finish had a negative impact on the appearance of the door.
Answered on 04/09/2018 by davidanderson12111Answer
Hi, You should not lose any color with your process. I followed a similar process and had great results... Many compliments....
Answered on 04/09/2018 by tom.jakowenkoAnswer
I can't answer your question directly. However, I did 5-6 coats of gloss followed by 2 coats of rubbed effect finish and the result were stunning. Obviously it's not as much depth as gloss, but it looks as though it was many layers of a hand-rubbed oil finish. It turned out beautifully.
Answered on 04/09/2018 by bill