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Benjamin Moore Benwood® Stays Clear® Acrylic Polyurethane Low Lustre (W423) is a water based polyurethane that dries to a durable, non-yellowing clear finish on interior wood. It blends acrylic and polyurethane resins, is fast drying, and cleans up with soap and water. Low lustre gives furniture, cabinets, doors, trim, and floors a soft, matte-look sheen.
Unlike solvent-based varnishes and oil based polyurethane, this water based formula does not yellow as it ages, so light woods and painted finishes keep their true color. One customer reports a crystal clear finish over hand-painted work. The film resists abrasion, household chemicals, water, alcohol, and food stains for everyday protection.
Low lustre is the matte-look option in Stays Clear and sits below semi gloss and gloss on the sheen scale. It measures 35 to 45 gloss units at 60 degrees, a soft glow rather than dead flat. For a flatter matte polyurethane look, compare Old Masters- Masters Armor Water-Based Finish Flat or MegaVar® Dull Rubbed 1WB.502.
The clear base is tintable with up to 2.0 fl. oz. of Benjamin Moore Color Preview® or Gennex® colorant per gallon, so our color desk can add a subtle decorative tone. It is fast drying, too: dry to the touch in about one hour and ready to recoat in 2 to 3 hours at 77°F and 50% humidity.
Product: Benjamin Moore Benwood® Stays Clear® Acrylic Polyurethane W423. Sheen: low lustre. Resin: acrylic polyurethane. Color: clear (00), tintable. Volume solids: 34.2%. Coverage: 350 to 450 sq. ft. per gallon at 4.0 mils wet, 1.4 mils dry. VOC: 239 g/L, compliant in all regulated areas. Use: interior wood, including floors. Sizes: quart and gallon.
Apply between 50°F and 90°F and do not thin it. It qualifies for LEED® v4 and CHPS credits and is CDPH v1 certified. For more shine, choose Stays Clear® Acrylic Polyurethane Gloss W422.
Use it on new or previously painted, stained, or varnished interior wood. It suits furniture, cabinets, doors, trim, built-ins, and wood floors, and it works as a clear protective coat over painted finishes on wood. On raw wood, Stays Clear can serve as its own sealer: one sealer coat, then one or two finish coats or more.
The data sheet lists it for interior wood substrates only, so it is not an exterior finish. Clear acrylics applied over fresh alkyd coatings can adversely affect the basecoat by yellowing it, so wait until oil based products are fully cured. Cabinet shops can also compare waterbased EVO Clear Topcoat Satin in the EVO Eclipse line.
Water based polyurethane suspends acrylic and polyurethane resins in water and dries by evaporation. It dries clear, stays clear, and comes in sheens from matte to semi gloss. Oil based polyurethane has an amber tint that darkens with age, carries stronger fumes and higher VOCs, and needs mineral spirits for cleanup.
Oil based polyurethane has higher solids, so it builds a thicker, softer, more flexible film and often reaches full protection in about three coats. Water based finishes have lower odor, dry harder, and resist scratches well but may need a coat or two more. For satin work, see MegaVar® Waterborne Polyurethane Satin or Lenmar®/Evo Waterborne Systems.
Start with a clean surface free of wax, grease, dust, and other foreign matter. Sand raw wood smooth with fine sandpaper along the wood grain, and dull glossy finishes with sandpaper or synthetic steel wool. Skip regular steel wool, since loose fibers can rust in the finish. Fill open-grain oak or mahogany that will see spills with grain filler.
Stir well and apply thin, even coats along the grain with a synthetic brush, painting pad, or short-nap roller, keeping a wet edge as you go. Stays Clear is not sold as self leveling, so avoid working back into areas that have started to dry. For airless spraying, use 1,500 to 2,000 PSI and a .011 to .015 tip.
Dry time is about one hour to touch and 2 to 3 hours to recoat. Sand lightly between coats; if the paper gums, wait longer. Use two or more coats on furniture and trim, building to the desired protection. Floors need three or more, 3 hours apart for one-day floor finishing, plus 24 hours after the final coat before normal floor traffic.
Staining first? A waterborne stain such as QuickStain® Waterborne Wiping Stain Clear Base pairs well with this topcoat. With an oil based stain, let it dry completely before applying water based polyurethane.
Use only with adequate ventilation. The data sheet says to "ensure fresh air entry during application and drying," so open windows or use fans and other means to increase fresh air. If you experience eye watering, headaches, or dizziness, leave the area. Wear respiratory protection, such as a NIOSH approved respirator, to avoid overexposure to spray mist and sanding dust.
First aid: for eye contact, flush with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention if irritation persists. If breathing trouble continues after moving to fresh air, see a physician immediately. If swallowed, call a poison control center. Avoid contact with skin and wash hands after handling.
Keep the container closed and do not transfer contents to other containers. Wash tools in warm, soapy water, recycle dry, empty containers, and never pour large amounts down a drain.
Shop Benwood Stays Clear Low Lustre with our full range of interior wood stains and finishes and Lenmar® Homeowner Wood Finishes. Curbside pickup, free local delivery, and UPS shipping to the 48 contiguous states are available. Questions about tinting? Call 248-598-0311.
By the Paint Outlets Team.
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