4
Just realized my oil finish choice ruined a perfect maple cabinet
I know many cabinetmakers love oil-based finishes for being strong and easy to apply. But I put one on some maple cabinets I made, and it made them look yellow after a few months. The client was not happy and asked me to fix it, which was a big mess. I had to sand everything down and start over, losing a lot of time. Now I feel like water-based poly is a better pick for light wood, even if folks don't talk about it much. It stays clear and doesn't change color, so you avoid problems later. I guess not every popular tip works out in real life, lol.
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
carter.troy2d ago
Man, I've been there with the oil finish yellowing! I once turned a beautiful birch table into a vintage mustard relic, haha. Your point about water-based poly staying clear is spot on for light woods. It's a tough lesson that costs time, but now you know for next time. At least we can laugh about it now, right?
8
chen.casey18h ago
Test finishes on scrap wood first.
6