Wood clear coat suggestions

CRJ Driver

CRJ Driver

Active Member
Messages
74
Reaction score
15
Location
Camp Hill Pennsylvania
Just stained my driver's side door. Want that dull/flat oem look, not sure what to get. Have Minwax poly clear 'satin', but it just doesn't look right....do I want matte?..semi-gloss? Any name brand suggestions from the masses?
 
wood finish

Before you go too far, I assume that you have a test sample that you did with the satin polyurethane...? If so, once completely cured, wool it down with 0000 steel wool...might give you the matte look that you desire, without jumping through hoops.... In the furniture mfg biz, we would call the OEM coupe topcoat a "zero" sheen at best.
 
I have been pretty Happy with Lee Valley Tools rub on Polyurethane on other wood finishes. Very forgiving and easy to apply. I'd get a lot of info from the experts before picking a system though.
 
For automotive applications I'm a fan of:

Minwax Helmsman Spar Varnish, water and UV resistant. It is high gloss, adjust sheen with steel or bronze wool and butcher's wax, or topcoat with satin poly, steel wool and wax.

Waterlox Original, a linseed oil based finish that has the close to the perfect sheen. Finish with 0000 steel/bronze and wax.

Water based poly's will not mellow or darken with age as oil does. I prefer oil based finishes for the warmer tones. It's like a cool florescent light compared to a warm incandescent.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. I have used the spar varnish on an E12 full wood set a few years ago. It was great for that application, as that wood had much more of a gloss sheen than the E9 wood. The previous owner was nice enough to make the driver's wood piece out of solid wood! No clear coat removal of the old one needed....so nice! I'm not familiar with 'wooing' the top coat down with 0000 froze/steel...This doesn't mar or cloud the end result? And a finish wax? Does this go over the final clear coat? Like to try it, but alas-I'm lazy and like the idea of applying the top coat & being finished-if it's right. Thanks for all of the suggestions guys!
 
I used Epifanes wood finish matte. Worked very nicely. Brushed and sanded between build coats. Sprayed final coat. Great product to work with and a perfect sheen for the coupe, IMHO.
 
CRJ Driver said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. I have used the spar varnish on an E12 full wood set a few years ago. It was great for that application, as that wood had much more of a gloss sheen than the E9 wood. The previous owner was nice enough to make the driver's wood piece out of solid wood! No clear coat removal of the old one needed....so nice! I'm not familiar with 'wooing' the top coat down with 0000 froze/steel...This doesn't mar or cloud the end result? And a finish wax? Does this go over the final clear coat? Like to try it, but alas-I'm lazy and like the idea of applying the top coat & being finished-if it's right. Thanks for all of the suggestions guys!
Click to expand...

Damn auto correct....meant to say wooling and 0000bronze/steel
 
Clear coat for wood

After Re Vaneering and staining I used a product called Deft Water Based Polyurethane with all weather UV protection. I applied 5 coats and it looks really good.


GBel

73 Chamonix
 
In the 80s, we had a condo neighbor that drove a 600 Benz, the big old limo. I watched him remove the wood trim and go after it with steel wool, then wax and buff it up to a very nice luster. I'd suppose you'd have to have a good varnish base to do that, but it was quite impressive when he was finished, and it went quickly too.

Don't know what grade of steel wool he used, I would suspect 000 or 0000.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top