This looks like an excellent evaluation providing lots of info for you to make personal decisions, also, versus expecting you to simply accept his conclusions. Well documented and kind of amazing that of all the high dollar finishes being marketed a "lowly" little $5.95/qt ends up as Best Overall Choice.
I've seen you guys talk of all kinds of finishes. Your overall thoughts of his conclusions. Your reasons for differing - i.e. certain woods, certain finishes, etc.
I don't know of a way to see this article online to avoid having to find the magazine.
Why not believe? I use the Wipe-on a lot. Hint: use a paper towel - cheapest sort, as an applicator. Anything else around here is likely to contain dog hair after an hour of storage.
I wasn't trying to be mysterious. It was a detailed article with 6 pages of info.
Some of the conclusions were: Minwax Wipe-On Poly Best Overall & Best Value; the Waterlox Original High Gloss Finish was a close second; the worst performer was Tried & True Varnish Oil; the ugly award went to Hydrocote Danish Oil.
For instance, I'll quote Chris A. Minick, the author, "I would select Watco Wipe-On Poly Finish at 29% solids over Sam Maloof's Poly/Oil Finish at 85% solids for a tabletop, because the Watco product penetrates more deeply and dries flat in four hours."
and another: "Waterlox Original High Gloss Finish (0.745 in.) is a better choice than Sam Maloof's Poly/Oil Finish (0.430 in.) for popping subtle figure from a piece of wood. Conversely, J.E. Moser's Polymerized Tung Oil varnish (0.439 in.) is a better choice than Minwax Antique Oil Finish (0.746 in.) for finishing blotch-prone woods like cherry (less penetration means less blotching.)"
He has a page of pictures of each so a color comparison can be made. A spreadsheet report compares Viscosity, Dry Time, Color, Sheen, Penetration, Measured Solids, Water Resistance, Cost/Quart, and where you can source the
17 different finishes tested.
Without rewriting the entire article, this gives you an idea of its content.
I'm still in the "not newbie but still learning" stage, so I tend to try a finish for a while and then add another to my methods of madness... Most of my early turnings ended up with stain and minwax wiping poly, or just the wiping poly... I still do some in my old stand by, Johnsons wax... after reading here, I've been through periods of wet sanding with mineral oil, soaking in Danish oil, turner's/friction polish, etc... I use one to death until I feel comfortable with it, then pick the finish that seems right for the wood for a while, until the next interesting thing comes along..
I definitely agree on the Minwax poly.. I use both gloss and satin..
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