Honestly, I went with a water-based poly over oil for a big dining table job

Everyone at the shop said I was nuts, that oil-based is the only way to get a deep, durable finish. The client wanted it done in their house over a weekend, and the smell from an oil finish would have been a real problem. I used three coats of General Finishes High Performance, and it dried hard enough for light use in just 6 hours. Has anyone else made that switch for a big piece and been happy with how it held up?

3 comments

3 Comments

jakel251d ago

Yeah, you made the right call for that situation. The fast dry time and low smell are huge when you're working in someone's home. I've used that exact finish on a few big tables now, and they're all holding up fine years later. It doesn't get that amber tone like oil, which some people actually prefer. The key is putting on enough coats and letting it cure fully before heavy use. Those old-school guys at the shop are just stuck in their ways.

anthonynelson1d ago

Honestly, my buddy had the exact same argument with his boss about that finish. The old guy swore it would peel in a year. Tbh, my friend followed the steps like @jakel25 said, with enough coats and cure time. That coffee table still looks brand new after three years of his kids beating on it. It just proves some guys won't change their mind even when the stuff clearly works.

lewis.brian1d ago

How many times have you had to argue with the old guard about finishes? I swear they'd still be using shellac on everything if they could.