Durable End Table Finish- Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Chris. He writes:
I was watching your Episode 21 – Pare Essentials. I am making a end table with a walnut top and I am looking to protect the top from water rings, accidental spills etc. Do you have a suggestion for
something that will provide a little more protection or would a oil -varnish blend work? A buddy of mine mentioned that I could use wax as a final protective coat that would be easy to reapply as needed. Thoughts? Thank you for the great shows and you are really doing a great job helping to teach other woodworkers.
And here was my reply:
“Hey Chris. An oil/varnish blend is ok, but probably not the right finish for a heavily used table. Your best bet would be full-strength varnish. So start with a coat or two of Seal-a-Cell or similar product. Then lightly sand between coats. Then follow up with 3-4 coats of Arm-R-Seal or similar varnish. This will leave you with a beautiful finish that protects the wood from the abuse it will most likely see. And skip the wax. Wax is pretty useless in terms of protection. And not to mention, once you apply wax, you are committed to a regular waxing regimen in order to keep the surface looking good. Eventually you will have that wax buildup issue too. So save the wax for your car. :) Good luck.”
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General Finishes Original Seal-A-Cell Clear An unusual combination of oils and urethanes, Seal-A-Cell Clear is the ideal solution for achieving a natural look on beautiful woods that are not stained. |
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General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Urethane Topcoat Arm-R-Seal topcoats are made with only the highest quality urethane resin, making them extremely durable and long lasting. |
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