>I just built a Cherry kitchen countertop. The finish is to be High Gloss WaterLox tung oil which I purchased directly from them (no store near me carries WaterLox products). The can arrived yesterday and the instructions state that a couple coats of their sanding sealer should be applied first. When I ordered the finish, I wasn't aware that a sealer was needed.
I'd prefer not to wait another 5 days to order/receiv their sealer so I'm wondering if I can apply the finish without a sealer. Or can I use another company's sanding sealer (i.e., Minwax or Formbeys's) which I can easily purchase at a local store.
>Tom, I don't believe you'll need to use a sanding sealer prior to the Waterlox. If you feel strongly about it, just apply your first coat thinned, wait until dry - lightly sand with 320 wet/dry, and proceed normally thereafter. I've never used a sanding sealer prior to Waterlox and have had no problems yet.
>The Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish is nothing more than a high oil content mixture of their standard finish. It's not necessary to use it. Just thin the first coat of the standard varnish thinned 25-30% with thinner. Apply, let fully dry and sand flat with 320 paper. Then apply a couple of more full strength coats.
BTW, Waterlox is not "tung oil". It'a a varnish made with phenolic resin and tung oil. Once it is heated, it becomes a new compound called varnish. Like bread which is a mixture of yeast and flour which becomes bread, resin and a drying oil becomes varnish when heated.