Clear, Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane, Matte-262074, Quart

Fantastic! Follow all the directions carefully (they really aren't difficult to remember once you get the hang of them), and you've got a highly protective surface to protect special household objects like: --Paintings --Frames --Wooden furniture --Raw wooden accent pieces/beams/archways --A sealant for stained wood --Protector for painted wood furniture at risk of being banged up during moving or daily use I've had great success with this product, including a table I personally painted and used melted crayon, embossing glitter, and other materials on.

I used it to protect paper ornaments. I like that it didn't leave a plasticky look like some other “matte” varnishes can.

This was my third can. I like a matte look. I did some projects with matte paint and wanted a completely matte finish. This polyurethane is almost matte but adds a slight sheen that does make a richer look, so I was okay. I also used it to tone down semi-gloss bathroom paint. That way, you keep the protection in the moisturized room. I painted my red brick fireplace matte black and added this so there is no difficulty wiping it down. Rather than pay an expensive price for matte black light and outlet covers, I spray painted them with Matte black paint/primer, then sprayed with matte black enamel…then covered with this for durability. I did the same with new white bathroom fans, new living room fan, escutcheons for the pipe hole covers, gate handles, heater vent covers and more. Everything just looks rich. Stop paying more to get something in matte black. Paint it, yourself and finish with this. Never shake the can. It will cause air bubbles. Carefully stir it. It goes on shiny and milky white but dries to a near matte finish.

My Go-To for sure and there's a good reason. Does the job well, covers nice, and the results are great. Just follow the directions and POW!! Greatness…

Easy clean up with soap and water. Goes on smooth and leaves a nice matte finish.

Just what I needed. The finish isn't shiny, keeping with the updated look we wanted. Great coverage, seems durable. Used on a dresser I refinished.

Loved that this is water based and dries quickly. Seals very well and is perfect my outdoor wood projects.

Easy to use. Sealed in the paint without any discoloration.

I found this was easy to use with my hvlp sprayer from Harbor Freight. I rate it 4 stars only because I couldnt buy it by the gallon which makes it more expensive and less convenient. The trick is to use multiple thin layers rather than fewer thick layers or you will get the "orange peel" effect because a "skin" will form as the part of the layer in contact with the air will dry before the bottom part of the layer so youre trapping moisture in.. i found this out the hard way which meant i had to spend more time waiting for it to cure before sanding it all down again and then reapplying thinner layers.. i used it over the butcher block oil and stain (which i also recommend) to give my desk some extra protection and to keep from having to maintain it every year with more stain/oil. The hardest part was keeping the bugs from landing on it while it was drying as I had to work outside in the late afternoon and evenings after work. If you have the ability to work indoors, do it. I actually used the matte initially and liked the way that turned out but i needed to do one or two more coats and they didnt have any more of that so i opted to finish with the satin. Overall it turned out pretty good and I would use it again.

Water base is not a durable finish. Tht it would be like a polyurethane