I am in the process of refinishing a set of kitchen chairs,?
Question:what finish should i use ,ex.poly,varnish,or shellac...please let me know..thank you
Answers:
Definitely not varnish or shellac. As others have noted, these tend to get tacky or crackle over a period of time.
Waterborne polyurethane is your best bet. Smells less and dries harder than oil poly. Much easier to clean up. As an added bonus, it dries clear and stays clear, while other finishes will tend to have a yellow cast to them.
If you are staining first, stick with an oil penetrating stain for this one. Waterborne stains are getting better, but tend to raise the grain a bit. For trim, this is not so much of a problem, but you may notice on something you will be sitting on.
The only downside to waterborne poly over oil stain is you will need to let the stain dry thoroughly before finishing, at least a couple of days. If you are not staining, this is not a problem.
poly will probably do you best. varnish and shella have a tendency to collect grease on their surfaces and get tacky after a little while
I refinished a bed not too long ago...I used poluerethane after asking my stepdad. He wasn't a big fan of varnish, as it can be weak, and shellac can make a big fat mess and crack once it's dry. Also, I'm not sure about the other two, but I know you can pick your finish with poly (i.e. matte, shiny, or really shiny). That's a plus.
In addition to garcias answer, you can also use polycrylic, comes in flat, satin, and gloss. Doesnt smell as bad as polyurethane.
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