Shoutout to the old guy at the hardware store who saved my tabletop

I was finishing a walnut slab and couldn't decide between a hard wax oil or a traditional polyurethane for the top coat. The oil looked amazing on a test piece, but the client needed it to handle hot coffee mugs. I went with three coats of a water-based poly, and after letting it cure for a full week, it's holding up perfectly. Anyone have a favorite brand for a really durable, clear finish on dining surfaces?

2 comments

2 Comments

charlie2691mo ago

My uncle's a cabinet maker and he swears by a 50/50 mix of spar urethane and mineral spirits for any table that gets real use. It's thin enough to soak in a little and builds a film that doesn't feel plastic. The trick is sanding with 400 grit between coats when it's just barely dry to the touch.

faith_torres831mo ago

Oh sure, @charlie269, just casually drop the perfect finish recipe like it's no big deal. Now I have to explain to my own table why its thick, plasticky coat is suddenly inadequate. Your uncle really just gave away the secret handshake.