Minwax Water Based Helmsman Indoor/Outdoor Spar Urethane, Gloss, Clear, 1 Quart

I really like this product! It is easy to work with it doesn't smell at all maybe just a little but not as bad as the other stuff that I have used in the past. This dries super quick! I'm so impressed with this!! I could put numerous coats on and it looks like glass, like a mirror. It's just beautiful it dries fast and it doesn't really smell what else can you ask for !?! Hesitated, at doing a lot of projects and now that I know I can do it quickly and without it smelling up my whole entire house I'm definitely going to do these projects now that I can use this stuff.

well done only one can needed item returning 1 unused.

I've been a woodfinishing professional for over forty years and I've been using this product since it first came out and recommend it for all wood finishing projects. The best way to apply it is by the spray method to allow a more evenly flow.. it will never turn “yellow or amber” because its a waterborne product and doesn't have the same resins that the He “oil Based” products have that cause that “yellowing/amber” tone over time. Because its a coalescing film it does not dry the same way as a reactive or evaporative coating and will not “flow' out as smooth as those coatings why it's applied by the brush or roller technique therefore, I recommend spraying or adding an extender or floetrol to allow for a smoother finish for brush and roller.

Over the past few years I've used this on a number of occasions. Since I was skeptical the first use was on shelves for the inside of a closed cabinet. The finish went on well over unprimed yellow pine. It raised the grain with the first coat but sanding as recommended resulted in an excellent, durable finish. Next I finished the exterior of cabinets. The wood was stained but otherwise bare. Two coats resulted in an excellent and durable finish. Red oak floors with an existing urethane finish needed touch up. Some damaged areas were sanded. A coat of this urethane was feathered into the surrounding finish. It looked good though the distinction between finishes was obvious. This urethane was applied to the entire hallway after only cleaning the existing finish thoroughly. It was a test to see how durable the finish would be; the plan was to sand it all off once it was clear how well it would hold up. That was several years ago; 2 coats of this urethane have adhered and are holding up very well on a heavily trafficked surface. Clean up has been quick and outgassing minimal.

Window finishing I replaced all windows in my house with Anderson wood framed. The window wood and trim are pine and I conditioned, stained and applied 4 coats of the Water Based Helmsman® Spar Urethane. It looked great 10 years ago when I did this project and it still looks great now. One window is right above the kitchen sink where it gets often splattered with whatever is in the sink. All it takes is a quick wipe with a sponge and it looks like new. The product is made to last!

One of the best products I have purchased. Used for my picnic table and benches, both looking brand new for at least two years in the northern outdoor weather. Was worth every penny. Also used on indoor staircases - very pleased with the results.

Easy clean up and beautiful finish.

I have been very happy with Minwax Helmsman Indoor/Outdoor Oil Based product. I bought the water based one and it is terrible. As others have noted there is no way to apply this without visible brush marks. I have applied it on different woods with different brushes with the same result. I will be sanding off the water base and applying the good old oil base product. I believe the issue is that it dries too quickly and there is no chance for the product to self-level and have the brush strokes disappear. I hope they do not remove the oil base Helmsman from their product line because it is the only one that works.

I purchased this product to finish a walnut custom vanity. I followed the directions, sanding with 220 between each coat and applied 6 coats instead of the recommended 4. The sink was installed a full week after the final coat. Water initially "stains" the surface and is absorbed rather than beading up. I'm at a loss : (

I am an experienced refinisher. I followed the directions to the letter and used a top-quality brush. I applied four coats to a countertop. I had difficulty with brush marks, despite extremely careful application. After s i x days drying in excellent conditions, the finish still is marked by water. If I had read similar negative reviews previously, I never would have used this product.