Debating Between Poly Urethane and Deft Lacquer - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Iamdusty · 09-27-2009, 08:27 PM

Please give me the pro's and con's between Polyurethane (Minwax) and Deft Lacquer (both in spray can) for the finishing coats on fretwork such as portraits and also for finishing boxes and baskets. I most often use Watco Danish Oil (natural) for the initial treatment.

Thank you all. I have so much to learn and so little time. I wish I had taken up woodworking when I was a young man. I am now 75, but enjoying scroll sawing very much.
Dale

lucky788scroller · 09-28-2009, 01:20 AM

I prefer the Deft, it doesnt seem to be as yellowing as the minwax, it costs a little bit less per can, and because I have never had any issues with it. And yes, I use it over danish oil as well.

Sally · 09-28-2009, 02:24 AM

I'm trying to eliminate spray products in my life - they are hard on the lungs, I think.

Ocelot · 09-28-2009, 02:31 AM

I like wipe on poly if I make furniture type stuff and Deft lacquer for scrolled items.
I've never really liked spray on poly. On intarsia, I think the deft keeps aspen whiter than poly.

Ray

Iamdusty · 09-28-2009, 11:47 AM

Thank you all, as usual, for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Dale

Mick Walker · 09-28-2009, 08:36 PM

Dale, oil base products will turn the wood a slight amber color. Minwax has a water base poly in a spray can but the first coat will raise the grain of the wood. You then have to give it a light sanding. I have used it if I want a quick finish as you can recoat it every 30 minutes. I have never used Deft so can't comment on it. I am right behind you at age 74.

JohnB · 09-29-2009, 12:38 AM

G'day Dale,
I don't know the brands of those products, but in general I much prefer to use Lacquer.
As previously mentioned, it doesn't yellow the timber, and I love the speed at which it dries and can be re-coated.
As I use spray guns, I also like the easy clean up of the thinners based lacquer compared to oil based Poly.

Like Mick, I have also had good results with Water based Poly, but because of the grain raising issues, I now restrict them to being used over paint.

Jediscroller · 09-29-2009, 06:16 PM

Just my opinion here, but I FAR prefer Deft (or any other lacquer for that matter) over Poly. Poly takes longer to dry, requires much more sanding and care between coats, is more prone to bubbles and runs and just plain sucks. Did I mention I'm not a fan of spray poly?

wood-n-things · 09-29-2009, 08:45 PM

I prefer spray on lacquers, for all of the above mentioned reasons. I do not use a spray gun as I don't do the quantities of scrolled work to justify the cleanup time required and the waste of materials using a spray outfit.

Jim McDonald · 09-29-2009, 08:48 PM

I have had great luck with lacquers. Really fast tack time, recoating a breeze and a glass like appearance with enough coats of gloss--if that's what you want.

Poly is a limited finish for me due to the problems mentioned about color shift and dry time.

09-27-2009, 08:27 PM	#1
Iamdusty Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Utah and Arizona Posts: 106	Debating Between Poly Urethane and Deft Lacquer Please give me the pro's and con's between Polyurethane (Minwax) and Deft Lacquer (both in spray can) for the finishing coats on fretwork such as portraits and also for finishing boxes and baskets. I most often use Watco Danish Oil (natural) for the initial treatment. Thank you all. I have so much to learn and so little time. I wish I had taken up woodworking when I was a young man. I am now 75, but enjoying scroll sawing very much. Dale Last edited by Iamdusty; 09-27-2009 at 08:46 PM.

09-28-2009, 01:20 AM	#2
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	I prefer the Deft, it doesnt seem to be as yellowing as the minwax, it costs a little bit less per can, and because I have never had any issues with it. And yes, I use it over danish oil as well. __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

09-28-2009, 02:31 AM	#4
Ocelot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY Posts: 486	I like wipe on poly if I make furniture type stuff and Deft lacquer for scrolled items. I've never really liked spray on poly. On intarsia, I think the deft keeps aspen whiter than poly. Ray __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t=bdee7145.pbw

09-28-2009, 08:36 PM	#6
Mick Walker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 1,335	Dale, oil base products will turn the wood a slight amber color. Minwax has a water base poly in a spray can but the first coat will raise the grain of the wood. You then have to give it a light sanding. I have used it if I want a quick finish as you can recoat it every 30 minutes. I have never used Deft so can't comment on it. I am right behind you at age 74. __________________ Mick, - Delta P-20 The future ain't what it used to be.

09-29-2009, 12:38 AM	#7
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 4,859	G'day Dale, I don't know the brands of those products, but in general I much prefer to use Lacquer. As previously mentioned, it doesn't yellow the timber, and I love the speed at which it dries and can be re-coated. As I use spray guns, I also like the easy clean up of the thinners based lacquer compared to oil based Poly. Like Mick, I have also had good results with Water based Poly, but because of the grain raising issues, I now restrict them to being used over paint. __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" I got holes in both of my shoes Well I'm a walking case of the blues Saw a dollar yesterday But the wind blew it away Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

09-28-2009, 02:24 AM	#3
Sally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Renton WA Posts: 1,024	I'm trying to eliminate spray products in my life - they are hard on the lungs, I think.

09-28-2009, 11:47 AM	#5
Iamdusty Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Utah and Arizona Posts: 106	Thank you all, as usual, for sharing your knowledge and experience. Dale

09-29-2009, 06:16 PM	#8
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,174 Blog Entries: 5	Just my opinion here, but I FAR prefer Deft (or any other lacquer for that matter) over Poly. Poly takes longer to dry, requires much more sanding and care between coats, is more prone to bubbles and runs and just plain sucks. Did I mention I'm not a fan of spray poly? __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

09-29-2009, 08:45 PM	#9
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,471 Blog Entries: 1	I prefer spray on lacquers, for all of the above mentioned reasons. I do not use a spray gun as I don't do the quantities of scrolled work to justify the cleanup time required and the waste of materials using a spray outfit. __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

09-29-2009, 08:48 PM	#10
Jim McDonald Workin' for the Weekend Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the Other Side of the Monitor Posts: 940 Blog Entries: 6	I have had great luck with lacquers. Really fast tack time, recoating a breeze and a glass like appearance with enough coats of gloss--if that's what you want. Poly is a limited finish for me due to the problems mentioned about color shift and dry time. __________________ Jim Exuberance can be corrected; dullness is incurable. --E. Deters "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

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