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Honestly, I switched from oil to water-based poly on table tops about 2 years ago
Tbh, I used to swear by oil-based for that deep amber look on oak. I'd spend a whole day just on the drying and the smell was awful. The change came after a client in Phoenix wanted a finish that wouldn't yellow their white oak over time. Now I use a water-based product, it dries in 2 hours and cleans up with soap. Has anyone else made this switch and found a brand that doesn't leave a plastic-y feel?
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the_nancy21d ago
My first water-based attempt looked like I'd wrapped the table in cling film, it was a real learning curve. I've had better luck with the method @avery_flores mentioned, using more thin coats. It takes patience but finally got a finish that doesn't feel like a cheap toy.
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General Finishes is solid, but their high performance top coat is the one that avoids that cheap plastic look. It self-levels really well, so you don't get brush marks. The key is building it up with thin coats, sanding lightly with 320 grit between them. Three coats gives a decent depth without that fake film feeling.
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