What's the difference between oil based and water based polyurethane? Water based poly has lower odor and dries faster. If oil based poly does not have any advantages over water based this makes water based poly a clear choice. Maybe there are finishes that water based poly cannot be used on or is not recommended?
The same question applies to water based and oil based stains.
Water based will almost always raise the grain and will require special preparation. Typically you wet the surface and sand again before applying the water based finish to minimize the wood fuzzing.
Oil has warmer tone, won't make bits of steel wool turn into rust bloom. Use Scotchbrite for rubbing out.
A better solution is to use Seal Coat first. Much less sanding.
Oddly, I was putting an oil based varnish on Tiger Maple veneer and the grain raised. Buffing it with steel wool after the first coat solved the problem.
Besides the obvious of the grain raising with water base poly is the ambering. Oil base poly ambers while waterbase stays relatively clear. Not a problem with dark woods but a big problem with light colored woods like maple and holly if you want to maintain their light color. Bob
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