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Wipe on poly.

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Wipe on poly.

#1

Is thinning regular off the shelf polyurethane 50% acceptable for use as a wipe on finish? The directions have an all caps warning not to thin. VOC related?

Re: Wipe on poly.

#3

There are more than numerous posts/articles about making your own wipe-on poly by thinning regular poly, However, this seems to apply to oil-based poly rather than water-based (WB). Some do make water-based wipe-on but I think their dilution is much less than 50-50 since WB is thin and dries fast already.
Thinning does not allow the product conform to the label description such as number of coats, drying time, etc. which may be a reason that it is not recommended or are you looking at WB poly?

Re: Wipe on poly.

#4

This is satin oil poly. Thinned with mineral spirits.

Re: Wipe on poly.

#5

I've been wiping on unthinned Minwax oil-based poly right out of the can for years.

Re: Wipe on poly.

#6
Dave Bair wrote:

I've been wiping on unthinned Minwax oil-based poly right out of the can for years.

I've done this as well when doing trim.

Re: Wipe on poly.

#7

While it isn't poly, I use undiluted LV polymerized tung oil as a wipe-on finish all the time. Lots of turners do. The do sell the same product pre-thinned but label it as a "sealer" presumably because the thinner mixture gets into the grain/pores easier.

Re: Wipe on poly.

#8

Rafael from PA

It's sold formulated for wiping on.

Minwax-Wipe-On-Poly-Oil-Based-Polyurethane-Finish-Satin-Clear-1-Quart_119353c4-8ddb-4667-b935-148e3b34768f_1.e37c9f89ef3fbcf961fb37615d65b755.jpeg?odnHeight=640&odnWidth=640&odnBg=FFFFFF

Re: Wipe on poly.

#9

The Minwax poly labeled "wipe-on" is $5-6 more per quart. The regular version works just fine for me.

Re: Wipe on poly.

#10

The cost for the pre mixed poly was double than the regular. I had the thinner already. Two coats of the 50/50 on now.

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