Non-ambering poly or varnish

Messages
95
Hi Guys,

I am looking for a good finish that will not cause the usual amber tint to the wood (or as little as possible). I like the color combination that I have right now on a coffee table and I want it to change as little as possible during the finishing process.

Some people have told me that Wipe on Poly ambers less than other varnishes, is that true? I have a can of Varathane Clear Gloss ... is it worth getting some Wipe on Poly or are the two basically the same thing?

Thanks again.
 
I find that Flecto Varathane WB is very clear.

but this might be a good time to check out a magazine review since They test dozens of finishes and I don't...:p
 
The water-based polys tend to change the wood colors the less than oil-based versions, at least in my experience. Oil will always darken the wood a bit. I've used PolyCrylic with good results, and little to no darkening.
 
Dawson...

Water-based poly gets my vote, especially for a surface that gets a lot of wear like a coffee table. Your can of Varathane may just be that...check the label...you don't want oil-based. I put Varathane water-based poly on the hardwood floor I installed for my son 3 years ago, and it's doing fine so far. I also put it on a small wall shelf that I built for him out of some beautifully-figured ash, rubbed it out, and I'm very pleased with the result.

Some things about water-based poly:
It's as clear a coating as you can get (imo).
It's very durable.
It doesn't spray well (maybe if you thinned it way down, but I've always brushed it on).
It dries very quickly. You can coat twice in a day.
It rubs out well if you give it 3 or 4 days to cure enough to withstand the rubbing (put on 3 coats).

There are as many ways to rub out a finish as there are what?...stars in the sky? Seems so to me. My preference is pumice and rottenstone, but I'm sure you'll hear about others. Use 2 grits of pumice followed by rottenstone and the surface will be as smooth as a baby's...you might not believe it at first. Try it on a piece of scrap to convince yourself.

Wipe-on anything that is oil-based will affect the color. Plus wipe-on doesn't build well, so you end up with a beautiful surface that can't withstand any kind of punishment. It's all a huge trade-off...I actually like wipe-on oil (polymerized tung oil is my all-time favorite) when it suits the application. But for what you want, first try the above on some scrap...then expand your experiments.

Good luck.

Cheers.
 
Thanks Guys, great feedback once again. I ended up picking up some Minwax polycrylic last night and put a couple coats on. It's looking good so far.

This time I really will post a few pics of some of things I've been working on lately. Thanks!
 
Top