It seems that non-poly varnishes are becoming rarer and rarer, after reading Fred's post.   Sherwin-Williams used to make a Fast-Dry Varnish that was non-poly.   It appears that has gone away, but may have re-emerged as a Minwax branded product.  I'm not sure, though, anyone used it?

What does GF has that works?

GF = General Finshers

See

https://generalfinishes.com/wood-finishes-professional/water-based-topcoats-and-sanding-sealers/enduro-conversion-varnish

 

Edited November 2, 20196 yr by Michael Thuman

I've been trying to find a can of that stuff and can't. But I haven't checked the SW store yet and they are next on my list. the old SW product was very good (IMHO), though it was quite a bit more amber than the soya oil formulas (Cabot, MCcloskey, and P&L).

I don't remember a non poly  product from SW....

I take it Fred you don't spray?

It was SW Fast Dry Oil Varnish. An alkyd resin/linseed oil formula, and a very good product. I just tried searching that name hoping to find a pic of it (and didn't), but I did get a link to WoodClassics Fast Dry Oil varnish. That link was running slow so I didn't get to see it, but maybe SW renamed it to the WoodClassics brand. No, I don't spray oil varnish, but I do spray shellac and waterborne finishes.

Edited November 2, 20196 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

Since SW bought Mini wax it's Possible SW made a fomula under the  SW name.....I always spread so I  never got into hand apllication methods..

Update: Wife went to the local S-W store for some paint chips and asked and they do carry it.   But I'm waiting to hear back from customer support about its resin type.

If it had urethane resins in it, they would surely put that on the label (probably all over it) since the woodworking world seems to think urethane is the best thing to happen since nighttime baseball (or is it sliced bread?). Of course the absence of the word urethane still doesn't explain what's in the stuff.

I got a reply from S-W regarding the Minwax product

 

"The product that you have referenced is an Oil Based Varnish- not a polyurethane.   I have shared a link to the Data page below for more details regarding the product, its use and the application instructions:
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/document/PDS/en/027426915107/ "

 

I wish these data sheets were more readily available for the finishing products we use.  This one is a good lesson on where, when and how to use a product.  This information is not usually available on the back of the can.

 

In case that link disappears or name changes, here's a copyMinwax Fast-Dry Varnish Technical Data Sheet.pdf

Edited November 7, 20196 yr by kmealy

And just for future reference and amusement :-) Minwax poly technical data sheet.pdf

Good to know, many thanks! I'll have to pick up a quart...I think SW is having a sale this week.

Moved from Tips to Finishing Forum

For anyone catching up on this post, I have found and used some of this (the Minwax Fast dry). You won't hear me say this about many (or any) Min-Wax products, but this one is very good (my opinion, of course). I wanted some satin for some picture frames I had made, I also wanted it to be a darker varnish than I have. My stash is soya oil based, and I wanted a linseed oil based product.  So I bought a can of this and tried it. The surprise to me was that it's not as dark as I remember the discontinued SW product being. After I applied it it looked more like the soya oil products I've been using. Still it went on nice and gave me the look I was content with. If you looking for an oil based varnish, you might want to give this one a try. I can only find it at the SW store, actually I couldn't find it there either...the lady there had to show me where it was.