Modern Masters Semi-Gloss Clear Water-Based Dead Flat Varnish 32 oz

This is a great Flat Varnish. The name is on point. It is DEAD FLAT. It is thick like a paint but water based so it can easily be thinned. Use only tiny amounts of water at a time to thin. Its milky white in color when wet but will dry to a flat clear finish. Instruction say, DO NOT SHAKE but it needs to be mixed before using so use a paint stick or whatever you have to mix. 2 or 3 coats work best but anything more you will begin to notice that there is a slight whitish tint. When i say slight i mean only barely the tiniest hint of white, Its still clear but you can tell that there is a coating on whatever it is your applying the varnish to. It can even be applied over a glossy paint to make it flat. I actually use this in my airbrush to add a flat, clear, protective coat on my model kits and it does an excellent job.

This does what it says. Its a little scary on application because its milky and doesn’t seem like it goes on as even as you think it should be but it all dries perfectly and levels out. This is two coats(small fine foam roller) with a light sand in between on raw wood and part wood veneer. No change in color after application and looks dead flat as advertised. Super happy with this product.

SEPT 2018 : 2+ years later and this dining table still looks perfect. This table had a coat of poly that was supposedly matte but ended up with a sheen. I added a couple coats of Dead Flat to remove the sheen (which it did!) and - 2 years later - zero damage, scratches, or water penetration! Let me be clear: we eat at this table at least twice/day, glasses of ice water are left to sweat on it, etc. We do not baby it, but it looks like we do. We also used this product on raw wood shelving to keep it looking like raw wood, while still being protected from water. Again, perfect condition 2 years later! Highly recommend! JULY 2016 : FINALLY...A TRUE, DEAD FLAT MATTE FINISH! Seriously people, you wouldn't think it would be that hard to find a true matte finish...yet it is. AND...this leaves no paint brush streaks, unlike polyurethane. I did a test strip on a scrap piece of wood that I had tried another "matte" finish poly (that, of course, ended up being shiny). I painted this Dead Flat on top of the poly coat and - wow! - it's dead flat. Water doesn't have a chance of penetrating now that I have both poly + this varnish on top.

Excellent product

This is not a pro review. This varnish is amazing. It is truly dead flat, and does not change the color of raw wood. The instructions said it was not for raw wood, but it worked. You can brush it or roll it on, and it does not show any texture. Raw wood takes at least two coats.

The product worked well.

I’ve used this product on painted furniture & raw wood and it does leave a flat finish, however, I do not recommend using it on ANYTHING that could possibly get wet or be exposed to any moisture. This is currently on my dining room table and instead of being able to sit a glass on the table, I have to always use a tablecloth when we dine there because anything wet leaves permanent watermarks. I will have to strip this off and use an actual varnish next time. This is not a protective varnish (as stated), because a “varnish” IS a protective product. It’s great for any piece of furniture or decorative item that you only look at & want a flat sheen, but not one that you’d actually use. I’ll only use what I have left on craft products and not furniture. It should be labeled as such.

Excellent product that has absolutely no sheen and does not yellow even light colored DIY chalk paints. I have waxed over it for my preferred finish. I would give it 5 stars but I'll have to see how it holds up a few years from now. This is a great finish for chalk painters that gives more protection and is less labor intensive than wax alone but does not add shine of any other poly I have used. Odor is not too bad and best of all, water cleanup! Next time I will buy a larger can.

Excellent varnish! Does not change the colour at all, used it in top of limewash paint (Bawerk), as I want to paint the doors and cabinet in the same wall colour. Here is a photo for comparisson with Rust-Oleum.. Dissapointing that is no longer available after I purchased one pot?