FWW Poll: Your Favorite Topcoat
Wipe-on poly edges out shellac and lacquer in the latest Knots poll
Wipe-on polyurethane is the favored type of topcoat, according to the latest poll on Knots, the user forum on FineWoodworking.Com. Shellac and clear lacquer also turned in a strong showing, preferred by 40 percent of those who voted. The graph below gives the specifics.
A total of 439 people voted in the poll, which ended on Feb. 8.
Some respondents had no single favorite. As one said, “it really depends on what I’m working on. On the insides of things, I like shellac, and I use shellac washes for transitioning different finishes. As a whole on the outside of most wood projects, I’ve become a big fan of Waterlox.”
Another respondent said, “I love the durability and repairability of lacquer, but my personal preference is for an oil finish and not a film finish.” He added, “don’t limit yourself. Try them all.”
And a third respondent–who uses shellac, stain or dye, wipe-on polyurethane, and wax– acknowledged a common problem with any kind of finishing: “I stink at finishing. It usually turns out OK or better, but I’m sure I could do better if I had the space to do it in.”
The poll is an unscientific (but, we hope, entertaining) regular feature on Knots. There’s a new poll posted on the home page.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Osmo Polyx-Oil
Odie's Oil
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