We have covered six different finish types.  How do you know which to use, when?  As I've probably said before, you don't need the same finish for a clock, a dining table, a breadboard, and a pickled white cabinet.  The answer won't be the same for you in your garage as your buddy with his spray booth and nice exhaust (or vice-versa).  If you live in an area with VOC restrictions or have a limited source of supply, or limited space to apply a finish, that may limit your available options. Many people, frustrated with getting a finish to work, find one and use it for everything.

My Finishing Rule #2

      When you pick any finish, you select an attribute or two you want and you get all the other attributes that come along with that choice.  There is no finish that's perfect for every need.

• Color or lack thereof

• Resistance to abrasion, UV, water, other chemicals, heat

• Ability to apply with your skill level -- spray, brush, or wipe

• Ability to apply in your in your environment -- fumes, dustiness, temperature, humidity

• Time to complete finishing -- number of coats, time for each coat to apply and dry,  and time between coats

• Repairability

• Gloss level

• Film thickness

• Hardness

• Chatoyance

• Cost

• Availability

• Compatibility with existing finish, if any

There is really no right answer, as long as the answer is not “use the same finish for everything.” Unless you are making the same thing over and over.  

Rather than paraphrasing the experts, I’ll just link to their comments.

 

Additional reading:

http://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/choosing-a-finish/

 

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/jun13/flexner-on-finishing-how-to-choose-a-finish

 

 

Thanks for another informative post!

What! You mean I shouldn't use "poly" on everything......that almost seems blasphemous. Seriously, good stuff.....

Sorry, but my terms of service prohibit me from poly-bashing or using the word, "Polyoneverythane"   There was no mention of avoiding the phrase, "Friends don't let friends use Minwax," though.

 

I occasionally get a customer who informs me that their (factory-finished) furniture has "poly" on it.  I sometimes inform them that there is virtually no chance that that furniture has poly on it.  "A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Edited August 15, 20178 yr by kmealy

21 hours ago, kmealy said:

Sorry, but my terms of service prohibit me from poly-bashing or using the word, "Polyoneverythane"

You're the best Keith, thank you!!!!