Good article on sanding sealers.   I don't use them unless you count dewaxed shellac.  I use SealCoat frequently, especially in refinishing to avoid fish eye due to silicone (Pledge) contamination, on woods with problem resins like teak and cedar, and use it  enhance the figure of the wood.

 

I had one bad experience with these.   A retail customer had an end table that apparently had a too thick coat of sealer on it.   While in the showroom, some minor impacts caused dents that were very white in the undercoat.   I did a lot of repair to it.   A few weeks later, more were back.  I tried to talk the owner into letting me strip and refinish just the top.  He wouldn't go for it.   So another round of repairs that included removing a lot of the sealer in damaged areas.   A third repair trip before it finally got sold.

 

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/flexner-on-finishing-woodworking-blogs/flexner-on-finishing-sealers-what-are-they/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=105914024&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8KvvAA4C_68OGcC81Bl0_PtSXQeAhC9FJ7VCc-sMlOyGUbIHF__S07S6cEgrQzpI7YK6QdM5sspCzKFzWHYg1anM6Wu32Hjd4ET-fr_77fGB8ZgPE&utm_content=105839944&utm_source=hs_email#

Thanks!

Only time I use sanding sealer is for shop made stuff.  Easier to get 2 coats and sanding inbetween in short order.  Then just need 2 coats of poly and done.  BUT, shop projects, like drawers and parts bins and such.  I like that it seals and gives that soft yellow color, stain and build coat all in one so to speak. 

 

Can't say I ever used it on anything for the house.  

I’ll use MinWax sanding sealer when I’m working with cherry or poplar to stop the blotch.

23 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said:

I’ll use MinWax sanding sealer when I’m working with cherry or poplar to stop the blotch.

I would consider that use a "washcoat".  Not that there's anything wrong with doing that.

 

Here is an article on that http://www.refinishwizard.com/washcoatsolids.htm

 

I think the problem I had at my customers is that the factory left it on way too thick, and ended up with the problems Flexner described 

15 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

I’ll use MinWax sanding sealer when I’m working with cherry or poplar to stop the blotch.

That's what I use. Because 20 years ago I bought a gallon.  Just now getting down to a qt left.