What type of coating products can be treated with ToughFinish?
ToughFinish is a versatile commercial grade crosslinking agent formulated to work with water based paint, stain, varnish, clear coat and urethanes. ToughFinish is not designed to work with oil based formulas.

How much ToughFinish do I need to add to my paint?
That's a very important question. The mixture ratio of ToughFinish is 3% for both interior and exterior paints. Therefore, a gallon of paint would need 3.8 ounces of ToughFinish (126 oz. x 3% = 3.8 oz.). That's equal to 7 1/2 tablespoons of ToughFinish for each gallon of paint. For smaller quantities of paint just click the link on the left - "How Much To Use?

Can I use ToughFinish with other applications to make other liquids bond stronger?
Yes. ToughFinish can be mixed with all water based mixtures to give your application a stronger crosslinking bond.

Can I treat both interior and exterior paint?
Yes you can. ToughFinish will help both interior and exterior paint hold stronger and last longer. You can mix it with semi-gloss, satin and flat paint.

How do I know if I have a water based product?
Good question. You can generally find that information right on the container's label. Today, almost all paint and stain, including polyurethane, are water-based formulations.

Do I have to use paint or stain immediately once it has been treated?
Yes, once you treat your paint, stain, polyurethane or other water-based liquid products with ToughFinish, it is important that you begin using that mixture immediately. This is due to ToughFinish's powerful crosslinking properties. The treated mixture can begin to harden in the can within 12 hours. Once the paint hardens in a can it will become useless. We strongly recommend that you only mix what you need and use it right away. It is far better to treat a smaller quantity of paint than too much.

I don't live in the United States. Will ToughFinish work with products manufactured outside the US (i.e. UK, Europe, Australia)?
Yes. It does not matter where the paint or stain or liquid is made. Just make sure it is a water-based formula.

Where can I use ToughFinish?
The opportunities for uses are endless. ToughFinish can be added directly to any water-based mixture to strengthen it's bonding power.

It is ideal for:

Houses Window Sills Doorways Aluminum Siding Houses Storm windows Walls

Screen windows Soffits Farms Factories Decks Railings Fences

Masonry Roofs Concrete Container coatings All Wood Surfaces General Metal finishes and much, much more!

Is there anything I need to do different in prepping the surface? Follow the directions on the paint, stain or urethane container label for correct surface preparation. For best results we strongly recommend that you correctly prepare the surface of the area you are coating. Will ToughFinish change the color of the paint or stain? No. ToughFinish is clear in color. It was specially formulated so as not to change the pigment color of the paint, stain, urethane or varnish. Are there other treatments like ToughFinish? Don't be fooled by copycat products. ­ ToughFinish is the only product on the market containing a special blend of polymer resins designed 35 years ago to strengthen coating products. ToughFinish is formulated to get the job done right! Can I add more ToughFinish to the paint than recommended? Yes. The 3% ratio of ToughFinish to paint is the most common. One of its special properties is that it will command the paint to grab hold to other paint molecules, thus giving you a sturdy iron coating of paint. When you mix at a ratio over 3% the crosslinking bonding process will start. The paint will become thicker, and dry sooner. Why do you need ToughFinish for paints and other liquids? Conventional paint, stain and other coating products have a growing history of weak and wimpy grabbing power. As the EPA continues to tighten environmental restrictions on the toxic additives that make paint and other liquids durable, paint jobs are going to deteriorate even faster than they do now, while paint contractor's prices keep rising! How important is proper preparation of the surface I am coating? Careful preparation of the surface is important for all paints treated or not treated with ToughFinish. ToughFinish will adhere to all woods and metals (add ­ s) directly. Whenever possible, you want to remove as much of the old regular paint as you can. Can I apply paint treated with ToughFinish over surfaces already painted with regular paint? Yes. You will want to remove peeling, bubbling and cracking paint. During our research we have found that painting over old regular paint with paint treated with ToughFinish does slow down peeling, bubbling and cracking of the old paint. For best results, whenever possible, apply paint treated with ToughFinish directly to a non-painted surface. Is there anything I need to add to paint, stain, urethane, and varnish besides ToughFinish? Yes. For easier application of liquids treated with ToughFinish we recommend that you mix a wetting surfactant. When you order ToughFinish you will have the option to order our high performing wetting agent EasyCoat-100, or you could substitute a clear dishwashing soap in place of EasyCoat-100. Why do you recommend using a surfactant with ToughFinish? A surfactant wets liquids treated with ToughFinish. This allows for easier and thinner application of the treated liquid. It makes the treated liquid spread across the surface easier and gives you more time to apply the paint. How much surfactant do I need for paint? This is easy to determine, as and easy-to-follow directions will come with all orders. You don't need much at all. You only need a 1% ratio when using EasyCoat-100 as the surfactant. When using clear dishwashing soap as the surfactant you will need to mix at a 3% ratio. Do I need a surfactant with other liquids besides paint? Yes. A surfactant is required for any liquids that you are using to coat a surface. This would include stains, varnishes, and urethanes to name just a few. How much surfactant do I need for stain, varnishes, and urethanes? This is easy to determine, and easy-to-follow directions will come with all orders.