dishwasher-proof finish found?

[Wes Ramsey]

I've always heard and read that there's no surface finish for wood that will withstand the horrors of a dishwasher. Over time they all fail. I dismissed even trying for the longest time, but I may have found a winner. Two years ago I got my wife some wood-handled utensils for Christmas. Sure enough, they had no finish and were fuzzy after just a couple weeks of semi-daily washing. I sanded them down and sprayed them with rattle can Rustoleum spar varnish and now, two years later, they all look as good as the day I did them. Since we're coming up on gift making/giving season I figured this was worth sharing.

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[Tony Leonard]

Wow! That's amazing! I'm gonna have to try that. Thanks for sharing.

Tony

[Andrew Joiner]

Thanks Wes. Was it the oil base or water?

[Wes Ramsey]

Thanks Wes. Was it the oil base or water?

My apologies - had to go back and look at the can, but it is Minwax Helmsman spar urethane. Probably oil-based. For what it is worth I used clear semi-gloss.