Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | May 13, 2003 05:49pm | #1

   What don't you like about polyurethane varnish? Is it the oil based or the waterborne? What performance are you looking for? What will be stored on the shelves?

   There are lots of choices of finishes.

   For ultimate durability, nothing beats oil based poly varnish or standard varnish (unless you want to get into spraying some pretty dangerous two part stuff).

   For eash of application, nothing beats an oil/varnish product like Watco.

2. 
   forestgirl | May 13, 2003 06:12pm | #2

   What did you use to make the shelves with?  Plywood?  Solid wood?  Answer will influence finishing recommendations.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   garytarrant | May 14, 2003 10:51am | #3

   oh sorry its made from 3/4 inch plywood.

1. 
   forestgirl | May 14, 2003 06:30pm | #4

   Plywood can be pretty hard to "finish" because it really tends to absorb very unevenly and stains can blotch badly.  A washcoat is definitely in order -- 1# cut shellac before applying anything else.  Personally, I'd go with poly, but not knowing what it is that you don't like about poly, am not sure what to suggest.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)