Pine is simple as well as cheap wood. So, the beginners start their first carpentry ventures with this pine wood. The knots of the pine may leak a thick sap for quite a long time. If the knots can’t be sealed, in the end, the sap will work out and ruin the completion of paint.
Best Clear Coat for Knotty Pine

Clear coats can seal the knotty pine as well as provide the surface long-lasting protection. Besides, these clear coat stains enhance the beauty and keep the natural texture untarnished. For this reason, it is necessary to buy the best clear coat for knotty pine.

In this article, we assist you with picking the best clear coat for knotty pine for your usage, so you can find your desired one in a short time. So, what are you waiting for? Read the table beneath and also top to bottom reviews of each product and pick the one you require.

We choose the following clear coat products based on some considering facts. You should always consider some facts before picking, such as; what type of material they are made of, which color they are provided, etc.

At that point, these are the best clear coat for knotty pine. Just go through the list and select the one that best matches your projects.

Preview
Rust-Oleum 1 qt Brands 287722 Clear Chalked Ultra Matte...
FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit - Gallon Clear
Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Protective Wood Finish,...
Rust Bullet - Clear Shot 1/4 Pint – Superior Clear...
Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane,...
Clear Coat - Eco-Friendly Clear Satin Sheen Top Coat...
Product Name
Rust-Oleum 1 qt Brands 287722 Clear Chalked Ultra Matte...
FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit - Gallon Clear
Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Protective Wood Finish,...
Rust Bullet - Clear Shot 1/4 Pint – Superior Clear...
Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane,...
Clear Coat - Eco-Friendly Clear Satin Sheen Top Coat...
Manufacturer
TV Non-Branded Items (Home Improvement)
Eclectic Products, Inc
Minwax
Rust Bullet LLC
Rust-Oleum
Country Chic Paint
Material type
Liquid
Epoxy
Polyurethane Oil-Based
-
Polyurethane Water-Based Liquid
Water-Based Top Coat
Color
Clear
Clear
Clear satin
Clear Gloss
Gloss Finish
Clear satin
Preview
Rust-Oleum 1 qt Brands 287722 Clear Chalked Ultra Matte...
Product Name
Rust-Oleum 1 qt Brands 287722 Clear Chalked Ultra Matte...
Manufacturer
TV Non-Branded Items (Home Improvement)
Material type
Liquid
Color
Clear
Details
Preview
FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit - Gallon Clear
Product Name
FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit - Gallon Clear
Manufacturer
Eclectic Products, Inc
Material type
Epoxy
Color
Clear
Details
Preview
Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Protective Wood Finish,...
Product Name
Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Protective Wood Finish,...
Manufacturer
Minwax
Material type
Polyurethane Oil-Based
Color
Clear satin
Details
Preview
Rust Bullet - Clear Shot 1/4 Pint – Superior Clear...
Product Name
Rust Bullet - Clear Shot 1/4 Pint – Superior Clear...
Manufacturer
Rust Bullet LLC
Material type
-
Color
Clear Gloss
Details
Preview
Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane,...
Product Name
Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane,...
Manufacturer
Rust-Oleum
Material type
Polyurethane Water-Based Liquid
Color
Gloss Finish
Details
Preview
Clear Coat - Eco-Friendly Clear Satin Sheen Top Coat...
Product Name
Clear Coat - Eco-Friendly Clear Satin Sheen Top Coat...
Manufacturer
Country Chic Paint
Material type
Water-Based Top Coat
Color
Clear satin
Details

Rust-Oleum 287722 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint

Rust-Oleum 1 qt Brands 287722 Clear Chalked Ultra Matte...

We would like to start our best clear coat for knotty pine review with this Rust-Oleum 287722 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint. It provides you the best clear finish for pine woodwork and other various interior surfaces including metal, canvas, ceramic, etc.

Rust-Oleum 287722 has excellent adhesion capacity. You can easily apply this matte interior paint with minimal prep. The most striking feature of this chalked paint is its low odor/VOC formula. This VOC formula will help you to clean the surface easily with soap as well as water.

After applying this paint, it dries in just 30 minutes and provides you a super smooth and ultra-matte velvety protective topcoat finish. Besides, it will give you not only a unique look but also a vintage feel. 

Rust-Oleum 287722 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint can cover up to 150 square feet. You will need just one-coat coverage to complete your project.

Pros

  • Provides a clear-coat chalky matte velvety finish 
  • Has excellent adhesion capacity
  • Water-Based
  • Cleaning up is easy with water and soap 
  • Perfect for DIY Projects
  • Covers up to 150 square feet
  • Needs only one-coat coverage to complete the project
  • The topcoat provides extra protection
  • Low Odor
  • Dries up quickly
  • Easy application

Cons

  • Used only for interior surfaces

Minwax 63010444 Fast Drying Polyurethane Clear Finish

Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Protective Wood Finish,...

If you are thinking of having a clear-coat finish with polyurethane on pine, you should go for Minwax 63010444 Fast Drying Polyurethane Clear Finish.

It provides you ultimate protection and super durable long-lasting finish topcoats to your interior wood surfaces. This oil-based topcoat gives you a satin finishing more precisely. You can use this Minwax 63010444 not only for finished but also for unfinished woodworks.

Minwax 63010444 has a low odor and it provides non-yellowing finishing on the wooden surfaces. The topcoat ingredients are pure. You will be surprised to know that a thin coat of this Minwax 63010444 Fast Drying Polyurethane provides long-lasting protection. Besides, it will prevent the fading of the wooden surfaces.

Pros

  • Topcoats ingredients are pure polyurethane
  • Provides an ultimate long-lasting protection
  • Super durability
  • Dries up quickly in between 1 to 2 hour
  • Provides a precise satin finish
  • Prevents yellowing of the wooden surfaces
  • Prevents fading
  • Low odor

Cons

  • Indoor use only
  • Doesn’t work well for white paint

Rust Bullet DuraGrade Clear

Rust Bullet - DuraGrade Clear – High Performance...

We would like to finish our best clear coat for knotty pine reviews with the Rust Bullet DuraGrade Clear. You can directly apply this Rust Bullet to metal, wood, concrete, etc.

It provides a high-performance, rust inhibitive, and protective finish coating. This clear coats patent-pending formula also offers beautiful water clear, gloss, and ultra-low VOC coating. This coating works as a stand-alone coating as well as a topcoat. 

The DuraGrade Clear is resistant to peeling and lifting. It is also resistant to UV rays, chemicals, scratches, and chips. It prevents the surfaces from yellowing.

The Rust Bullet DuraGrade Clear is great for sealing in decorative flakes. If you want to create a slip-resistant finish, you have to add anti-skid material. It has a superior adhesion capacity that protects the surfaces from corrosion.

The application of the Rust Bullet is easy. You can apply this coat by brush, roller, sprayer, etc. It provides a watercolor finish when the paint is dried. It is perfect for indoor as well as outdoor surfaces.

Pros

  • Can directly apply this to metal, wood, concrete, etc
  • Provides a high-performance, rust inhibitive, and protective finish coating
  • Offers water clear, gloss, and ultra-low VOC coating
  • Resistant to peeling and lifting
  • Prevents the surfaces from yellowing
  • Has superior adhesion capacity
  • Protects the surfaces from corrosion
  • Easy to apply
  • Perfect for indoor and outdoor surfaces

Cons

  • There is nothing significant to state, customers praise the product

FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit

FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit - Gallon Clear

Do you want to paint your interior surfaces with the epoxy coating? This USA made FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit will provide you with a pour-on epoxy coating on a variety of surfaces including wood, metal, stone, tile, paper cloth, leather, etc.

The application of this paint is very easy. Use only a 1:1 mixing ratio of FamoWood 5050110. This ratio is perfect for your household as well as your craft projects. This glaze coat kit is versatile enough to use on different surfaces like smooth, rough, and painted surfaces, etc. You can use this glaze coat on any non-waxy material to get the epoxy coating.

The resist temperature of this FamoWood is up to 120 °F. It also dries quickly in just 72 minute after coating. It gives a shiny, ultra-clear, high gloss finish. 

One coat of FamoWood 5050110 Glaze Coat Kit is equal to 60 coats of varnish. About 1 Gallon of FamoWood 5050110 can cover up to 36 square feet. The coverage number is based on 1/16" thickness approximately.

Pros

  • Provides you a pour-on epoxy coating
  • Application is easy: 1:1 mixing ratio
  • Perfect for household as well as craft projects
  • Versatile
  • Self-leveling
  • Dries up quickly just in 72 min
  • Gives a shiny, ultra-clear, high gloss finish
  • One-coat is equal to 60 coats of varnish

Cons

  • Indoor use only
  • High temperature softens and deforms the epoxy

Rust Bullet Clear Shot

Rust Bullet - Clear Shot 1/4 Pint – Superior Clear...

If you want a rust protective clear-coat finish on your wooden and metal surfaces, you should use Rust Bullet Clear Shot.

Rust Bullet Clear Shot is UV Stable as well as chemical resistant. This is a single component clear coat. So, it will be easy for you to use only one component instead of using two different components.

The Rust Bullet Clear Shot dries up quickly with hard water clear finish. This rust paint protects your surfaces from rust. It also prevents cracking, chipping, yellowing, or peeling of the surfaces.

This is a tough and flexible clear gloss paint that dries rock hard. It provides a rust preventive complete finish. So, after applying this brilliant rust preventive product, you don’t have to worry about rust on your metal and wooden surfaces at all. It is also an eco-friendly product.

Pros

  • Provides a rust protective clear-coat finish
  • A tough and flexible clear gloss paint
  • UV Stable
  • Chemical resistant
  • Single component clear coat
  • Dries up quickly with hard water clear finish
  • Prevents from cracking, chipping, yellowing, or peeling of the surfaces
  • Eco-friendly

Cons

  • Can’t apply it over a rust contaminated surfaces, it has to be rust-free

Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane

Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane,...

Are you worried about finishing knotty pine with a polyurethane clear coat? In that event, Varathane 200061H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane is the best clear finish for pine products.

This water-based clear coat protects your interior wooden surfaces including furniture, windows, cabinets, trim, and many more. You can clean the surfaces with soap and water without any hesitation. The ultra-fast drying of this clear-coat saves your time. It also has a low odor.

This Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane has a super durable formula. It is resistant to stains as well as scratches with excellent clarity. It also provides a glossy crystal clear finish that prevents the yellowing of the surfaces. Besides, it provides a clean polished look by preserving the color as well as quality over time.

A half-pint of Varathane 200061H can cover up to 31.25 square feet. It takes only 30 minutes to dry. You can recoat this after 2 hours of application. 

Pros

  • Provides a glossy and protective crystal clear finish
  • Cleaning up is easy with water as well as soap
  • Has a super durable formula
  • Resistant to stains as well as scratches
  • Provides the highest clarity
  • Prevents yellowing of the surfaces
  • Dries fast
  • Low odor

Cons

  • Interior use only

Clear-Coat - Eco-Friendly & Ultra Low VOC Satin Sheen Clear Top Coat

Clear Coat - Eco-Friendly Clear Satin Sheen Top Coat...

Next in our best clear coat for knotty pine review lists, we have Clear Coat - Eco-Friendly & Ultra Low VOC Satin Sheen Clear Top Coat.

This clear coat has excellent durability and provides the best knotty pine finishes. Its durable formula protects your high-traffic projects. It also seals the painted furniture and makes it beautiful by providing a smooth satin finish. This satin finish looks professionally finished.

You don’t have to worry about any discoloration as there isn’t any ingredient in this clear topcoat that makes the product yellow. The Clear Coat Ultra Low VOC Satin Sheen Clear Top Coat can be used not only indoors but also for outdoor projects. This water-based clear topcoat creates a super protective strong layer on your furniture. It is easy to use.

This clear topcoat is eco-friendly. This paint is safe for children’s furniture. It has an ultra-low VOC. Thus, it doesn’t have a harsh smell. It doesn’t contain any harmful chemical content such as phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and turpentine, etc.

Pros

  • Has excellent durability
  • Protects high-traffic projects
  • Seals the painted furniture
  • Provides a smooth satin finish
  • Prevents from yellowing
  • Indoor and outdoor project
  • Water-based clear topcoat
  • Easy to use
  • Eco-friendly
  • Doesn’t have a harsh chemical smell
  • Ultra-low VOC

Cons

  • Some customers complain that it leaves a bubble mark on the product

Shabby Chic Multi-Surface Sealant

Shabby Chic Multi Surface Clear Coat Sealant- Clear...

Shabby Chic Multi-Surface Sealant is an acrylic water-based sealant that provides a satin clear coat finish on the chalk-based painted surfaces.

This water-based sealant can be used on a variety of surfaces such as wooden furniture, window frames, doors, conservatories, decking, bricks and mortar, tiles, pottery, plastic, metal, and many more. 

Whether it is interior or exterior painted surfaces, this Shabby Chic Multi-Surface Sealant does an excellent job. It protects the surfaces from moisture, rainwater, UV rays, etc. This sealant works as a multi-surface sealant. 

Shabby Chic Multi-Surface Sealant is made in the UK that offers a genuine quality. It can expand as well as contract with the expected surfaces. Thus, it makes the surface super durable and long-lasting.

Pros

  • An acrylic water-based sealant
  • Multi-surface sealant
  • Suitable for both interior and exterior painted surfaces
  • Protects the surfaces from moisture, rainwater, UV rays, etc
  • Offers a genuine quality
  • Durable and long-lasting.

Cons

  • Some customers complain that it yellows when it dries up 

Rain Guard Water Sealers SP-8002 Wood Sealer Concentrate

Rain Guard Water Sealers - Wood Sealer - Penetrating...

Rain Guard Water Sealers SP-8002 Wood Sealer Concentrate gives you ultimate protection by preventing the surface from the damaging effect of moisture, rain, snow, ice, freezing temperatures, salt, dirt, UV light, etc. It is perfect for interior and exterior vertical as well as horizontal surfaces.

This Rain Guard Water Sealers has super durability and offers you a guarantee for up to five years. The best thing about this particular sealer is that it helps you prevent efflorescence as it doesn’t leave surface film marks. 

You don’t have to worry about the alteration of the surface appearance. It extends the life of your wooden surfaces without changing the color, and texture.

This sealer has advanced UV stabilizers that ensure a long-lasting surface without having a yellowing appearance. Its concentrated formula is ideal for the environment. This concentrated formula helps you mix the sealer easily that saves your money.

The application of Rain Guard Water Sealers SP-8002 Wood Sealer is easy. You just need to apply a flood coat of this sealer with the help of a sprayer, brush, or roller. There is no need to maintain and this sealer is safe not only for people but also for pets as well as plants.

Pros

  • Provides an ultimate protection
  • Perfect for interior and exterior projects
  • Excellent durability
  • Prevents from efflorescence
  • Extends the life of wooden surfaces
  • Easy to apply
  • Easy clean up with water as well as soap 

Cons

  • Nothing significant found at all

Minwax 64444444 Polycrylic Protective Finish Water Based

1 qt Minwax 64444 Clear Polycrylic Water-Based...

Next on our list, we have Minwax 64444444 Polycrylic Protective Finish Water Based on the best finish for pine products. If you want to make your woodwork and interior surfaces more protective, you should use this Polycrylic Protective Finish Water Based clear coat.

Minwax 64444444 has a water-based formula that offers a crystal clear finish with easy water and soap clean up. It also provides a semi-gloss, gloss, matte, satin finish coating on the surfaces.

This Minwax 64444444 Polycrylic also comes with an ultra-fast drying feature. You can recoat this within 2 hours of application.

It has a non-yellowing finishing formula. So, your woodwork and furniture can keep their actual color intact. It also has a low odor.

Pros

  • Protects woodwork, and interior surfaces
  • Has water-based formula
  • Offers a crystal clear finish
  • Provides a semi-gloss, gloss, matte, satin finish coating
  • Ultra-fast drying feature
  • Has a non-yellowing finishing formula
  • Low odor

Cons

  • Heavy coats can cause a yellowing finish

What To Consider Before Buying The Best Clear Finish For Pine?

When you are going to choose the best clear coat for knotty pine to buy, you may get confused as it’s a difficult task for you to choose the best one. At that point, you should know some buying guides that help you find the best one that suits you.

Stain Color Selection

The first thing you need to consider before buying the best clear finish for pine is stain color selection. Traditional knotty pine has a golden appearance and sometimes it appears like amber color. So, when you choose the stain color, it depends on some factors including room size, wood paneling, and ceilings, other woodworks of the room, etc. 

As wood paneling and ceilings make the room cozy as well as small, so you need to choose the lighter color stain that provides the best finish for a knotty pine ceiling that makes the room size larger. If the room has other woodwork like moldings and flooring, you need to select colors that match those hues. When you are going to choose a dark color for knotty pine, you need to select one that matches the knots of the knotty pine to get the best results.

Staining Interior Wood Surfaces

You should know the guidelines to decide whether you are going to use an oil-based stain or water based stain for finishing knotty pine.

Oil-Based Stains

If you stain the knotty pine with Oil-based stains, it offers you some advantages as well as disadvantages. Pinewoods are usually softwoods and when you are using oil-based stains on it, it will penetrate this softwood surface. By penetrating deeply it provides a richer color on the pinewood surface and also gives a rustic look of knotty pine. 

Thus, it keeps the natural texture. Oil-based stain provides the best finish for tongue and groove pine ceiling in rustic rooms. 

Darker oil stains provide a slightly patchy appearance on knotty pine. As oil-based stains can generate hazardous fumes, so these stains should be applied in well-ventilated areas. Because of this, oil-based stains are not used for pre-installed knotty pine cabinets as well as paneling; if there aren’t enough doors and windows.

You need to wear eye protection and a respirator always while using these stains. When the oil stain dries, it needs an oil-based varnish to make the surface bright and shiny.

Water-Based Stains

Water-based stains cannot penetrate the pinewood well. Thus, dark water-based stains generate uneven color on knotty pine. But, water-based stains don't deliver harmful vapor. Besides, these stains don’t need much time for cleaning up than oil stains.

They are best for encased spaces, particularly if further coats are expected to darken or level out the shading. Thus, you can apply various layers of a water-based stain right away. 

Choosing a Clear Protective Finish

Wood stains not only add color but also draw out the excellence of the wood. But to increase its beauty, it needs a clear protective finish. If you decide to recolor your wood venture, it is significant that you ensure the wood with a reasonable completion, for example, polyurethane. You will find various types of clear finishes like gloss, semi-gloss, satin, and matte sheens. Picking sheen depends on individual inclination. The shine level will influence the presence of your piece, however not its sturdiness

Conclusion:

Clear coats protect your old interior surface and make it a new product. Besides, it provides long-lasting protection. But, it is a troublesome task to choose which clear coat is the top of the line. Picking up the best clear coat ensures the best finishes for knotty pine.


In this article, we provide you a list of the best clear coats for knotty pine by doing extensive research. Now, you have already read about our clear coat product description, and the buying guidelines; it’s your turn to settle on a conclusion on which one is the best clear coat for your project.


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