Review on 🌊 Water-Based Wipe-On Polyurethane: Enhance Your Surfaces with a 16fl oz Solution by Donnie King

I make a lot of furniture and have relied on oil based rubbed polyester for years. The most important thing to know about this product is that it is completely different from oil-based wipes, so you cannot try to apply it using the same methods. This product is much thicker than an oil based product and dries MUCH faster. You have about 30 seconds to work it after it touches the wood before it gets sticky. You have to work very fast to keep the work area moist on the surface in order for your strokes to blend together. If there is a defect, just ignore it and sand it down later. The key to looking good is to build up lots of layers and then use very fine sandpaper to buff/buff the surface until it has a smooth finish. For the pattern in the picture I applied 7 coats and then sanded it with 600 grit sandpaper. You need to create a thick enough layer so that you can sand any imperfections and not touch the bare wood. After that you can polish it further or use wax paste over it. The instructions on the box say to use a cloth to apply the top coat, but I've found that a foam brush makes applying an even coat much easier. Coat the entire area as quickly as possible, then quickly go over the entire area again, making overlapping strokes in the same direction to even it all out. The great advantage of this water-based polyester is that it is odorless. With oil based polyester I have to wait a week or more for the furniture to be delivered because the smell is overpowering. This material can be used once it has dried. I think oil based products are more reliable but the difference in smell makes me prefer a water based product.