1 gal Modern Masters DP609 Clear Decorative Painter’s Acrylic Dead Flat Varnish

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.

I had heard about Dead Flat on Instagram….. a decorator was talking about how some very expensive companies do not put a protective coating on their furniture, I had purchased from said company an decided that I had to protect mine, I had a dining table, 6 chairs, wardrobe and two large dressers.This stuff is the bomb. It went on so easily, i won’t be worried about people having a glass of water on the table. You’d never know that I out protective finish on the beautiful wood. Undetectable.

The Crate and Barrel Outlet had a $1200 light oak coffee table with a "matte" finish that had deep gouges and scratches on top, along with some chemical discoloration. It was so rough looking, they sold it for $100. I sanded the entire top down and simply applied the Modern Masters Dead Flat Varnish. Perfect! The finish matched the rest of the piece so well, I showed the store pictures of the results. Excellent product for some of these newer dead flat finishes.

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.

If I could give this product 10 stars, I would. I love love love this varnish. NO MORE Annie Sloan Waxing method. What a life-saver this wonderful product is. Why would anyone choose the laborious waxing and buffing method when you can apply this varnish that is EASIER, more protective and easier to clean. If only I had discovered this product before making the horrible mistake of waxing my finished pieces of furniture.There is so much to love about this varnish: it doesn't get sticky as it is being applied as most other varnishes do 2) it gives a nice smooth finish that really is FLAT 3) it is water-based which means EASY clean-up, 4) because it water based, it can easily be painted over if you later decide on another color...not like a wax finish that would leave you facing the fact that you must remove it before applying any other product over it and 5) because it is water based you can still use the white waxes or dark waxes or gilding waxes on top of it if you really still need/want the "accent" effects or antiquing effects of the waxes. I can not say enough about this product. I wish I could save others from the Pinterest mistake of Annie Sloan paints and waxes but alas who can compete against ASCP? Most people will have to learn the hard way like I did. But if you try this product, I would bet you never go with any other method for your protective coat or go with any other varnishes. Promise!

I have been refinishing furniture with Annie Sloan chalk paint for about 5 years. At first, I used their wax to finish, and seal my pieces. As beautiful as it was, I learned the hard way that it is not ideal for pieces you actually use. Wax absorbs stains, and offers little protection from scratches. I started using a matte polycrylic to try and achieve the same look, but with more durability. It was very durable, but even the matte was shiny to me, like a satin. Next I tried general finishes matte polyurethane. The furniture was still too shiny, and it yellowed in a few areas. So I searched the Internet far and wide, and found modern masters dead flat varnish here on amazon. Based on the reviews, and manufacturer's description, I decided to try this on my new project. It's a dining room table painted with a white chalk paint. I put the 1st coat of modern masters dead flat varnish on there today. It was amazing. It went on easily, and dried to a perfectly matte finish. The label recommends 2 coats, but it did not say if you should sand between coats. I really wanted this table to be perfect, so I emailed modern masters costumer service, and asked if it required sanding between coats like most sealers. Joe from Modern Masters calls me back and informs me that dead flat varnish is NOT a protective sealer or topcoat. It is ONLY intended to use over acrylic decorative glazes to take the sheen away. He said it is not intended to be used on chalk paint because it will yellow, or brown. He said since it is not a sealer, it will not hold up to regular use on my table. I asked if I should seal it with a protective topcoat, and then use this to take away the shine, and he said no, because it won't stick to anything that is a urethane base, and repeated himself again that it is only for use over a acrylic decorative glaze. I feel that if modern masters does not consider this product a protective sealer, they should take the name varnish off the label. Varnish is by definition a transparent protective finishing coat. I pointed out to him that I bought this on amazon, and the manufacturer description says non yellowing protective finish for durability and washability. He just repeated that it's not a sealer, or protective finish and will not hold up. So after talking to Joe Signs from modern masters, I feel I have no use for this product, and will have to seal this table with something else. I hate to leave a bad review because it is not the sellers fault. Modern masters is to blame for being misleading. There are a ton of reviews on here from customers who have used this to seal painted furniture like me, and even stained furniture. I am curious how your projects are holding up. I hope Joe was wrong, and that it provided some protection for your pieces.