Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 27, 2010 08:22am | #1

   It does depend somewhat by what you mean by a sealer?   In general, however unless there is a specific need for a sealing coat to act asa barrier between incompatible finishes or incompatible woods and finishes, or to pay a role in modifying the color of the wood, there is no benefit in using a sealer, even dewaxed shellac.  Varnishes are their own best sealer. In particular products labeled "Sanding Sealer" have almost no occasion where they are desirable, save a few cases where they are used under certain high tech finishes. 

   I can't say that Minwax wipe on poly, or any poly, would be my first choice of finish on furniture.  Non-poly varnishes all of which can be thinned to be used as a wipe-on, are easier to use since they dry harder, are more easy to rub out, and have fewer problems with adhesion than poly varnishes. 

1. 
   jphelps7 | Oct 27, 2010 09:41am | #2

   finishing cherry

   Thanks for your response.  What product do you use to finish cherry?

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 27, 2010 11:16am | #3

   Personally, I use shellac,--that's because my furniture interests are 18th century reproductions. Shellac is the finish with by far the longest potential life, though it is subject to damage from strongly alkaline household cleaners including ammonia. 

   For a varnish finish, the lighter color alkyd/soya varnishes such as Pratt & Lambert 38 or Cabot Varnish (8000 series, not the poly)  work well for cherry. 

1. 
   jphelps7 | Oct 27, 2010 11:52am | #4

   Finishing cherry

   Thanks, Steve, for the finishing information.

3. 
   bones | Oct 27, 2010 01:25pm | #5

   I tend to go with mfg reccomendations

   My brother (and others) reccomended a long time ago that waterlox is great with cherry.  I used it and have been a huge fan since.  I like the more flat finish that non plastic look so I use the satin finish.   MFG reccomends a coat of their sealer and I've followed that  reccomendation and it's worked flawlessly and the finish is stunning and strong.   Some like to brush it on, some will wipe it on with lambswool applicator.  I prefer to spray with a HVLP.  I use a turbine system, but a non-turbine sprayer would work as well.   It's all good.  TM2CW.

4. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 27, 2010 02:21pm | #6

   Waterlox is an excellent varnish.  The "Original/Sealer" isn't really a sealer--it is just a semi-gloss version of the Waterlox varnish, thinned to be a wipe-on finish.  You can use it as final finish just as well as you could use any of the other Waterlox sheens.  The only difference is that as a wipe on it takes more coats to reach the same film thickness as brushed on varnish.  Satin is a relatively thin brush on, and the Gloss is a bit higher solids content brush on varnish.