Varnish of my dreams--found!

On 7/23/2009 9:40 PM ChairMan spake thus:

Good god, man, did you even look at that page? It's *white* varnish. Sheesh.

Now this stuff might be closer:

Try Pettit, Interlux, and Epifanes. All have oil based varnishes. Good luck finding any of them if you're Californicated though.

Perhaps if you explained exactly what result you were going after it would help people steer you to an appropriate product.

I guess my original response was to point out that the more modern finishes regardless of brands are better than they were 10 years ago. Not all brands are created equal. General finishes has oil based poly finishes, you may or may not like this particular brands oil based poly finish. Personally I dislike a high closs finish.

Concerning the General Finishes Arm-r-Seal "Gloss" oil based poly varnish, I get great results with wiping on a base coat to seal the wood followed up with a "single" final coat. That final coat goes on with, " and several years ago I thought I would never say this" a premium quality Wooster "foam" brush. Using a 3" brush you can normally cover 1.5 - 2 sq feet with a single dip to the can. That really helps to eleminate lap and brush marks and the surface settls out nicely.

You really have to try the better brands to decide iwhether you like the finish or not.

And what prompted you to use a foam brush? Considering the poor reputation that many/most have as a finishing tool, why take the chance?

i'll stick with my varathane water based poly. Dries in three hours and looks like glass. Cleans up with water. done.

Acehardware is the "official" online store for the Ace hardware chain. Acehardwaresuperstore is the online site of an individual franchisee. If I remember correctly, they pre-existed the launch of the chain's official store and were granfathered in. While Ace franchisees are relatively independent, I don't believe that new ones are allowed to open their own online storefronts using the Ace name.

Instructions on the can. And it specified a quality foam brush.

I guess ransley is not going to tell us the secret brand varnish he considers superior to all others. Unless it was just an attempt to tear down someone else' preference.

Scott.

On 7/24/2009 8:03 PM Leon spake thus:

Well, that's another thing that's so great about my old-fashioned varnish: It doesn't matter what kind of brush you use.

Since the stuff flows out so nicely, one isn't required to get a 100% Mongolian yak-hair brush for $200, and use just the right length brush strokes.

I do use a good brush (a nice ox-hair one), but so long as the brush doesn't shed bristles, you can use just about anything. As opposed to brushing lacquer, which totally depends on brush quality and brushing technique.

I'm trying to finish furniture here, not achieve Zen satori with my brushing technique.