Waterbased table top varnish

[Tom Gattiker]

My neighbor wants to restain and refinish his (oak) kitchen table top. He is not a woodworker but he is a very competent guy. Anyway he needs something that:

dries fast (water based, I'm thinking) because it will be difficult for him to isolate the table from the kids (4 of them) and from dust

is fairly forgiving and easy to apply

I can walk him through the mechanics of finishing, but I pretty much always use oil-based varnishes so I am no use to him for recommending something. Any suggestions?

[Dave Arbuckle]

Even if he goes waterborne, he needs to protect it from the 'gang' for a period of time. The waterbornes I'm familiar with don't achieve full toughness for about a month, similar to oil-based. It's like a conspiracy...

I use and recommend General Finishes "High Performance Poly" as an excellent waterborne, subject to the preceding.

If neither of you have applied waterborne before, you really need to practice first. It doesn't apply like an oil-based.

Dave

[Tom Gattiker]

Dave
Thanks
Where do you buy that? I dont recognize the name from the usual collection of WW catalogs.

[Dave Arbuckle]

I get it from Woodcraft, Tom. Their dealer locator is at http://www.generalfinishes.com/dealers.htm . Don't confuse their Polyacrylic with HP Poly, by the way. Polyacrylic is so-so, in my experience.

Dave

[Carl Eyman]

Fuhr's #355. I used it on a dining table and am pleased as punch. You have the choice of satin, gloss, and one other (I think) you can order it from homesteadfinishes.com. Jeff Hewitt will answer questions either on phone or at his forum. If you want to see what it looks like, go to www.eyman.org/table. (Moderators: this is a non-commercial site, no banners, no nothing except pictures. If, however, I've sinned by including this site, tell me how I should have done it.)

PS This can be wiped on!

[Phil Phelps]

Even if he goes waterborne, he needs to protect it from the 'gang' for a period of time. The waterbornes I'm familiar with don't achieve full toughness for about a month, similar to oil-based. It's like a conspiracy...

I use and recommend General Finishes "High Performance Poly" as an excellent waterborne, subject to the preceding.

If neither of you have applied waterborne before, you really need to practice first. It doesn't apply like an oil-based.

Dave
:p The reason Dave uses waterborne is he is allergic to the fumes of lacquer and such. Good reason on his part. And, the application of the waterborne polly is harder to work with. It wont lay out as even as oil base products. Take this in consideration. A few years back I refinished a pool table in the house. Each evening I'd apply a coat of oil base Varathane to the rails. The next evening I'd lightly sand and apply another coat. Did this four days running. Super job. (drying time can differ with weather conditions, of course.) Dave is dead on about the cure rate of water base products. Fastest finish would be precatalyzed lacquer.

[Ken Salisbury]

(Moderators: this is a non-commercial site, no banners, no nothing except pictures. If, however, I've sinned by including this site, tell me how I should have done it.)

No problem with the link Carl - since the link is germain to the thread topic and is not a link to another public forum.