Clear Wood Finishes
Clear Wood Finishes & Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer
Production-grade lacquer, non-yellowing acrylic polyurethane, and clear varnishes for cabinet shops, custom millwork, and fine furniture — stocked at our North Scottsdale store.
A clear finish has one job: protect the wood without getting in the way of it. For cabinet makers and millwork shops, that means a coating that sprays clean, dries fast, stays clear over white and light woods, and holds up to daily handling. We stock the finishes professional shops reach for — Lenmar UltraLaq pre-catalyzed lacquer for production work, Benjamin Moore Benwood Stays Clear acrylic polyurethane where non-yellowing clarity matters, Modern Masters Masterclear, and traditional varnishes. Our staff can talk through sheen, film build, and recoat windows before you load the gun.
Pre-Cat Lacquer
Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer: The Cabinet Shop Workhorse
Pre-catalyzed lacquer is the finish that keeps a production shop moving. Lenmar UltraLaq is a high-solids, self-sealing, ready-to-spray clear lacquer formulated to flash off fast — you can typically scuff-sand and recoat within roughly 30 to 60 minutes, so cabinet doors and face frames cycle through the booth in a single day rather than over several.
It is a sprayed finish, not a brushed one, and it is built as a multi-coat system (commonly three coats at a few mils each). That makes it ideal for shops with proper spray equipment and ventilation, and less suited to one-off hand application. Pre-catalyzed formulas resist ambering far longer than uncatalyzed nitrocellulose, though no solvent lacquer is fully exterior- or UV-rated.
- Fast recoat keeps production work flowing
- Self-sealing, ready-to-spray — no separate sealer needed
- Selectable sheen across the UltraLaq line
- Requires spray equipment and adequate ventilation
- Interior cabinetry and millwork — not for exterior exposure
Water-Based
Stays Clear: Non-Yellowing Acrylic Polyurethane
When the work is white, off-white, or a light natural wood, yellowing is the enemy, which is what Benjamin Moore Benwood Stays Clear is for. This water-based acrylic-polyurethane blend dries to a clear, durable film that resists yellowing over time, so painted cabinets and pale woods keep their tone.
Stays Clear is low-odor, cleans up with soap and water, and resists abrasion, water, alcohol, and common household chemicals — a sensible topcoat for trim, doors, cabinets, and furniture. It comes in High Gloss, Low Lustre, and Flat, and can be brushed or sprayed, which makes it a flexible option for shops and finish carpenters alike.
- Non-yellowing — ideal over white and light finishes
- Soap-and-water cleanup, low odor
- Three sheens: High Gloss, Low Lustre, Flat
- Resists abrasion, water, alcohol, household chemicals
- Trim, doors, cabinets, and furniture — interior
How to Choose
Lacquer, Water-Based, or Oil Varnish?
The right clear finish depends on the piece and the shop. Pre-catalyzed lacquer wins on speed and is the standard for high-volume cabinet and millwork production where a spray setup is in place. Water-based acrylic polyurethane wins on clarity over whites and light woods, plus low odor and easy cleanup. Traditional oil varnish lays down a warm, amber tone many woodworkers prize on walnut and other dark species — but it dries slowly and will continue to yellow with age.
If you are working with painted or pickled finishes, lean water-based to keep them true. If you are pushing volume through a booth, lean lacquer. If you want warmth and depth on a fine piece and time is not the constraint, an oil varnish may be the call. We are happy to walk through the trade-offs with the actual project in mind.
- Lacquer: fastest, spray-only, for production shops
- Water-based poly: non-yellowing, low odor, brush or spray
- Oil varnish: warm amber tone, slow, ambers over time
- Painted or white work: choose non-yellowing water-based
Interior vs Exterior
A Word on Exterior and UV
Most clear cabinet and furniture finishes — lacquers and interior acrylic polyurethanes included — are formulated for indoor use and are not built to withstand sun and weather. Sustained UV exposure can cause an interior clear coat to fail well before its time.
For an exterior door, gate, or outdoor piece, choose a clear coating made for the job: a UV-fortified spar or marine varnish with inhibitors that slow graying and fading. If you tell us where the piece will live, we will point you to a finish that will survive there — including options with built-in UV protection like Modern Masters Masterclear for decorative and metallic work.
- Interior lacquers and acrylic polys are not UV-rated
- Exterior wood needs a UV-fortified spar/marine varnish
- Masterclear adds UV resistance for decorative finishes
- Tell us the location and we’ll match the coating
At a glance
- Pre-cat lacquer
- Lenmar UltraLaq — sprayed, self-sealing, fast recoat
- Lacquer recoat
- Scuff-sand and recoat in ~30–60 min
- Acrylic polyurethane
- Benjamin Moore Benwood Stays Clear — non-yellowing
- Stays Clear sheens
- High Gloss, Low Lustre, Flat
- Decorative topcoat
- Modern Masters Masterclear — satin / semi-gloss, UV resistant
- Application
- Lacquer spray-only; poly brush or spray
- Use
- Interior cabinetry, millwork, furniture, trim
Typical uses: Production cabinet door and face-frame finishing · Custom millwork and built-ins · Clear-coating white or painted cabinetry without yellowing · Fine furniture and tabletops · Interior trim, doors, and paneling · Decorative and metallic finish topcoating
Questions we hear at the counter
What is pre-catalyzed lacquer, and why do cabinet shops use it?
Pre-catalyzed lacquer is a clear, sprayed finish with the curing catalyst already built in. It flashes off fast — you can usually scuff-sand and recoat within about 30 to 60 minutes — so a shop can build a full three-coat system in a single day. That speed, plus a hard, clean film, is why it’s a standard in production cabinet and millwork shops. Lenmar UltraLaq is the pre-cat we stock.
Will a clear finish yellow over my white cabinets?
Oil-based finishes and uncatalyzed nitrocellulose lacquer amber over time, which shows badly on white and light work. For painted, white, or pale natural finishes, use a non-yellowing water-based acrylic polyurethane like Benjamin Moore Benwood Stays Clear, which is formulated to stay clear and keep the color true.
Should I use lacquer, water-based polyurethane, or oil varnish?
Lacquer for production speed if you spray; water-based acrylic polyurethane for non-yellowing clarity, low odor, and easy cleanup; oil varnish for a warm amber tone on dark woods when dry time isn’t a concern. Bring us the project and we’ll help you decide.
Do I need spray equipment to use lacquer?
Yes. Pre-catalyzed lacquer is designed to be sprayed and is thin enough to atomize well — it isn’t a brush finish. You’ll also want proper ventilation. If you don’t spray, a brushable water-based polyurethane such as Stays Clear is the better fit.
Can I use these clear finishes outdoors?
Most clear cabinet and furniture finishes, including lacquers and interior acrylic polyurethanes, are for interior use and aren’t UV- or weather-rated. For exterior doors or outdoor pieces, use a UV-fortified spar or marine varnish. Tell us where the piece will live and we’ll match the right coating.
Does Phoenix’s dry climate affect how lacquer sprays?
It helps. Low ambient humidity gives solvent lacquer a cleaner, faster flash-off and reduces the moisture-related blushing that plagues finishers in humid regions. The desert is good for spray lacquer, one reason it’s a practical choice for local cabinet shops.
Do you carry these in stock?
We stock clear finishes at our North Scottsdale (Raintree) store. Stock can vary by item; call ahead and we’ll confirm or pull it for pickup.
Made for the Valley
Arizona Paint Supply serves metro Phoenix’s cabinet shops, custom millwork builders, and fine-furniture makers from North Scottsdale, open Monday through Friday 6a–6p and Saturday 9a–3p, so you can grab lacquer or clear topcoat before the shop day starts. The desert’s low humidity is a real advantage for spray lacquer — faster flash-off and fewer moisture problems — and our staff knows these products at a pro level. Call ahead to confirm stock and we’ll have it ready.
Ask about clear finishes and lacquer
Lenmar UltraLaq pre-catalyzed lacquer and sanding sealer, Benjamin Moore Benwood Stays Clear acrylic polyurethane, Modern Masters Masterclear, and clear varnishes. Call or visit for stock and color help.