Arm-R-Seal

[Dave Novak]

I've been researching this forum for 90+ minutes and like everything I've read about subject finish. One question however; I'm finishing a table top that is 10' long and 40" wide. That's a lot of area for a wipe-on. Would this concern you enough consider something other than a wipe-on?

[John TenEyck]

Yes. As much as I love ARS, I've never been able to apply it on a surface that large w/o leaving some streaks. For a table top that large I spray WB. If I had to do it by hand, using varnish, I would brush on thicker coats, each coat as soon as the prior one is dry enough to do so. After 3 or 4 coats, I'd sand it dead flat and then apply one or two more coats. After that cures for a month or so I'd rub it out.

For a lot less work I'd use Osmo Polyox or Rubio Monocoat.

John

[Dave Zellers]

IMO, Arm-R-Seal is so fantastic I would find a way to use it on your project. Like apply 2-3 coats full strength with a brush, gently sand down with something like 600 grit paper, and finish with 2 coats of a slightly diluted wipe on, after planning every move, being totally prepared, and working quickly. The first coat will be a trial run for the final coat. Maybe do all the legs and sides first and then tackle the top with a wide pad. Then buff, buff, buff.

I have a walnut lav sink counter (I know, not a huge project like yours) that actually looks better ten years later because of how well we have cared for it - never letting water sit on it and always wiping it down. Ten years of wiping it down has actually smoothed the surface. All I'm saying is, A-R-S is amazing and I would choose that over any WB product out there.

[glenn bradley]

As John said, I have issues on larger surfaces with ARS. I am successful with a shop blend that is higher in BLO for the first coat. This allows padding a larger surface if padding is your preference. The down side is cure time. I add a bit of Japan Drier to help with that. Once the base coat is on a typical 1:1:1 varnish:BLO:mineral spirits blend works well for me.

[Dave Novak]

Do you guys start with Seal-A-Cell before using ARS?

[Prashun Patel]

I'd skip the seal a cell. I had the best luck with Arm R Seal or any wiping varnish by using semi gloss or satin.

[John TenEyck]

I've used Seal-A-Cell but see no point in it unless you like the reddish tint it gives.

[Dave Novak]

ARS add a bit of "warmth", doesn't it? Other oil based finishes I've used have.

[John TenEyck]

I'd skip the seal a cell. I had the best luck with Arm R Seal or any wiping varnish by using semi gloss or satin.

Yes, like all oil based varnishes. Here is ARS on walnut:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLWblau4vL2R2vmLJUIpjH1xlCsm4X25MGCcwODz3EaMv66SE xupKOLqy48bfJsD7m4MF3EUny0Wr3x0EBh0Auzids-ykEV6pqJAKnXSiIbVgYU931kbVlOsZWZpv3EoY3GXjLYZhs-xSs18ZdmDKnN4Bg=w640-h480-no?authuser=1


On curly maple:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLWX_veMUK25BxsCDhPFns5NjwvFAVdnwNIUWL5WL5ijlIfa5 iV908rbn3p0QIKK6ly1ROFZX1_bOxn9n68VGX7XbOfC64-20Dv6MqGo_1TPf-mb11dRKwTiW17VO4uiuCdOmf2xC60LZsOyWETpHfLW6g=w1190-h893-no?authuser=1

John

[Dave Zellers]

Wow that walnut pic is amazing.

[Robert Engel]

Can you spray ArmRSeal?

A water based lacquer would probably be my choice.

[Jim Becker]

Can you spray ArmRSeal?

Can you? Yes. Good idea? Not really a good idea to spray a slow drying oil based finish because the recoat time is long which can result in multiple cleaning efforts for your equipment and the overspray is a sticky mess.

[Jack Frederick]

When I refinished one of the floors in the house I used a sheepskin pad that was about a ft wide. On this table top would that not be a better way to carry the finish to the top for at least the first couple coats.

[John TenEyck]

When I refinished one of the floors in the house I used a sheepskin pad that was about a ft wide. On this table top would that not be a better way to carry the finish to the top for at least the first couple coats.

I would strongly contemplate that approach if I had to apply ARS to a really large tabletop like this.

John

[Christian Hawkshaw]

Arm-R-Seal works fine...I used a foam bursh for the top of this table:

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?260610-Walnut-trestle-table&highlight=

edit: I might not do such a large surface this time of year here in Florida....at least not in my unconditioned garage. I believe I finished the above table in the fall when it was relatively cool.