Made coffee and sofa tables for my living room. Maple, as I discussed here several months ago. Not perfect but I am learning.
Not super happy with the gel stain, but going to put a second coat on this morning.
My present dilemma is this: What to finish it with?
I usually use poly. I have used water based poly, but I don’t fell it gives dept or warmth.
I tried a can of spray lacquer. I liked it, but I believe it isn’t as hard as poly.
What do you guys suggest? I was thinking about spraying the legs and shelves, then poly the top? Would that look odd with two different finishes?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..Too many choices!
Glenn
Replies
Actually, lacquer is a harder finish than polyurethane varnish. Being harder, it's more prone to scratching. Polyurethane varnish is softer than lacquer and softer than most non-poly varnishes. But, by being softer, it is also tougher being able to withstand dings and scratches better.
So, if you want a tougher finish at the expense of a somewhat less clear finish, use poly varnish. An equally tough finish is a phenolic resin non-poly varnish like Waterlox Original Gloss or Satin.
Might try that next time. Wife decided this afternoon on water based poly.Thanks.Glenn
While the customer is always right you should understand that the difference between an oil based polyurethane varnish and a waterborne polyurethane is dramatic and the performance characteristics differ greatly.
The widely available DIY single part polyurethane varnish is basically an alkyd resin varnish with polyurethane resin modification that does add additional abrasion resistance.
Waterborne polyurethane finish is basically an acyrlic resin finish to which some polyurethane has been added. Abrasion is increased but the overall protective properties as far as chemical resistance and the like are concerned are more like lacquer than the much more durable oil based varnish.
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