Arm-R-Seal over gel stain OK in a bathroom?

[Michael Donahue]

Hey folks. I need to plan what finish to use on a pine vanity and medicine cabinet that I'm building. I've had good luck with General's gel stains before so I was thinking of going that route with Arm-R-Seal as a top coat. Do you think this should hold up OK in the bathroom? If so, how many coats do you recommend? 5-6 anyway, right?

Thanks!

[Scott Holmes]

It will be OK. There are better finishes for a bathroom.

Something with phenolic resin/tung oil would be much better at water and water vapor protection. Waterlox Original is one such varnish.
There is a reason it is so much more expensive. It cost a lot more to prooduce a superior varnish.

Phenolic resin & tung oil are costly ingedients, used to make varnish.

Urethane resin & linseed oil are cheap. Most Poly's are made this way.

Any question why polyurethane is so heavly marketed?

My guess - the bottom line.