Minwax Water Based Polycrylic Clear Gloss Wood Finish, 1 Quart

I researched a lot of the woodworking store brands. They were very labor intensive, many steps, and almost operating room conditions needed. I have always used Minwax products only projects in the past but thought I'd give the expensive products a try since reading about them in the trade mags. Made up samples, (4), and asked my wife to pick the finish she wanted on her walnut table and benches. . . Guess what, she picked the Minwax finish over all the others! I even mis-tabled them to add to the drama ! ! ! She still picked the Minwax finish. . . and I'd have to agree with her. Easy to apply, used a painting pad and couldn't ask for a better result.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I am so pleased with this product. This is very quick drying and so easy to apply. This really does provide a nice finish. Having a very low odor is a plus. This is the perfect solution to add protection to any project. I love how it really provides a great clear coat with no yellow tint. The best part is that it is easy clean up, just soap and water is all you need. Great quality product that I plan to continue using and recommending to all my family and friends. This will not disappoint!

I am currently installing cherry picture frame paneling in our former dining room, which we've converted into a billiards room (who REALLY ever uses their dining room anymore anyway?). I just finished 12 4x8 1/4" cherry plywood panels with 2 coats of Polycrylic over a coat of Minwax water-based sanding sealer, and the results are simply incredible. The Polycrylic has been a joy to apply, brushed out very nicely to a completely even finish, and left NO brush marks at all. It dried very quickly, and I was able to apply the next coat in a couple of hours. A quick sand with 220 is all that's needed before the next coat. In the past, I've always used 2 coats of dewaxed shellac, then two coats of nitrocellulose brushing lacquer - but I am now a believer in the Minwax water-based products. Shellac and lacquer are much more difficult to apply, and they produce no better results than Polycrylic. In fact, I think I actually like the look of the Polycrylic on cherry better than lacquer - and it produces NO FUMES AT ALL (lacquer fumes will literally knock you out). It doesn't even need to be rubbed out like I have always done with the lacquer. For my future cherry projects - or any projects - Minwax Polycrylic will be my go-to finish! I'm very impressed and quite pleased with the results. Pictures are of the finished panels glued on the walls. The “picture frame” trim will be next. It will be 5/4” solid cherry. Can't wait to see how it finishes with the Polycrylic!

I built a kitchen table out of birch and when the kids saw it, I ended up making three more out of eastern red cedar (juniper). I really like the clear finish that didn't amber the natural color. (However, eastern red cedar changes from purple to brown when finished.) One thing I learned was that I needed to apply thick coats that looked milky to reduce brush streaks. Contrary to your recommendation, instead of using a synthetic bristle brush I ended up using a high dollar natural bristle brush. The cedar is bad about having lots of tiny holes and imperfections from its many limbs. I would have liked for the polycrylic to flow more than what it did to help fill the imperfections. It was indoors during winter time and the woodstove no doubt lowered the humidity greatly, which may have accentuated the problem. However, the lack of odor made the projects possible. Couldn't have done it outside in the shop with rain, snow and fog. I'll use polycrylic on my next projects.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This was a very nice finish coating on a coffee table I vamped up. I took it from solid wood to painting it black and painting a chess board on it. I even used a glitter tape as a boarder and this sealed everything in. It didn't even make the tape bubble up or anything. It was easy to use and didn't leave any brush strokes. I like the amount of shine it gave off and that it really was clear and now yellowed discoloration. It also cleans up really easy since it is water based. It didnt have any tacky feel after it was dry like some others I have used. It made the table easy to wipe down and the chess pieces don't leave marks or scratches. It protects very well. I can't wait to up-cycle more furniture

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I got this Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish and I am glad I did. This was very easy to use and looked great when finished. Dint have to wait forever for it to dry as it dries quick. The clean up was easy with some warm water. I love the way thew finish looks.

I just did a mahogany coffee table. Dries super fast. I did have a tiny bit of issues with drying too fast but I think the weather is too warm right now. I have minor shiner streaks. Wondering can put a coffee cup on it without coaster or will that cause rings? I have 2 end tables to do and would like it to go smoother. I did 4 coats trying to get it right. Don't think the issue is the product but my application.

I used this product in Satin Finish on a new cherry table. As a sealer it is good. The final finish coats however are not high quality. I am an experienced furniture finisher. Lacquer, french polish, spar varnishes, brushing and spraying. Polycrylic spray cans seem to have some inconsistency of product possibly due to shelf time. They (I used 5 from 2 different sources) sometimes spit globs which sometimes level out; and tiny solid particles. Followed instructions as to shaking and kept a moist cloth to try to wipe off nozzle periodically when I had globs on the first try for a nice finish coat. No Luck. It seems that if you try long passes on large areas the cans splatter. I have used the Helmsman Urethane with great results. The nozzle is of much higher quality.

I bought the aerosol version of the polyacrylic. The cap is extremely difficult to get off. I could not do it, so I left it outside by my project for my husband to get home. He's a big strong guy and he, too, struggled immensely to get off the cap. Unfortunately, in the short time I left it outside it froze a bit and it can't be used. I'm going to let it warm up and see if it's useable, The label does say “keep from freezing “, so that part is on me. Even if I can use it, I'll never buy product with the same type of cap again. Awful.

I applied this to a painted piece that had dried for several days. I tried to not put it on too heavy. It caused the entire piece to dry with cracking in the poly. The entire piece needed to be stripped and sanded and refinished. Disaster! Be careful before applying and definitely do a test spot before using on your whole piece.