Brushing Varnish added to Waterlox for more protection???
I often use Waterlox as a finish which gives some protection for a table top as it has some varnish in it. I am thinking of adding some brushing varnish in a 3 to 1 ratio to the Waterlox for the last two coats to get more surface protection. That is 3 parts Waterlox to 1 part Varnish. Any thoughts about this idea?
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A coupla more coats is the same thing, no? Definitely test it first.
Waterlox is plenty durable by itself. You can get good build with it depending on the number of coats-as already stated by MJ.
Why create problems where there aren't any?
Thanks for the good advice
Why not just use a good quality polyurethane and get even better protection. Or, if you just want the look of the Waterlox, put on 2-3 coats of it and then add a coat or two of poly. Best of both.
It depends on what you mean by protection. Waterlox is a bit softer and less scratch resistant than polyurethane. However, I've used it a fair amount on table tops as well as other furniture. I assume I will put at least 6 coats on a top. First three are fairly heavy, either with a brush or a foam brush or a piece of towel. I don't sand at all until at least after the second coat, usually after the third coat. You DON'T want to sand thru to the bare wood! Fourth and fifth coats I apply with a lint-free rag; they are to fill in the scratches from the sanding. After the fifth coat, I sand with very fine sandpaper around a block, to re flatten. Then I steel wool with 0000 to refine the scratches. Then I make a "mouse" like is used for French polishing. I use a piece of an old men's handkerchief, put a ball of cotton inside it, wrap the cloth around the cotton and rubber band it with no wrinkles in the working end. Then I moisten it in the Waterlox and rub a very thin coat of finish on the piece. It dries almost instantly so no dust can attach. I have found that sometimes there are areas that are still a bit dull from the steel wooling, in which case another thin coat with a mouse is needed.
There was an article in FWW on how to put a flawless finish on furniture using Waterlox not too long ago. It details how the author rubs out the piece after the Waterlox hardens sufficiently.
If you do use poly, be prepared to strip the table to bare wood if you ever need to repair the finish. If you use Waterlox alone, you can repair with a good cleaning, possibly sanding, and re-coating.
Thanks for the advice. I use Waterlox in about the same way with several coats etc. I don't really like polyurethane as it gives a very plastic look to wood. I know it is tough but the look to me is not desirable. I suppose I am after the look of an oil finish that is also very protective of the surface. I think Waterlox is a good way to go and was trying to add a bit more Varnish to give a little harder final coat.
Waterlox is a varnish. It's made from heating oil and a resin as are all varnishes. The original was used for gym floors.
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