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Finally got a clean finish on a 1920s oak dresser from a Tacoma estate sale
Three weeks ago I picked it up, and the old shellac was a real mess, cloudy and sticky. I stripped it with a card scraper and did four thin coats of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, sanding with 400 grit between each. It came out glass-smooth yesterday, no dust nibs or streaks. Anyone have a go-to topcoat for pieces that will get a lot of daily use?
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robertsmith7mo ago
Honestly, I gotta disagree on the Arm-R-Seal for a daily driver dresser. That stuff is fine for a side table, but it's just a wiping varnish. For real wear and tear, you need the build and hardness of a proper film finish. I've had way better luck with a few coats of a good polyurethane, brushed on and sanded smooth. It holds up to cups and elbows way longer before it starts to look tired.
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mary4625mo ago
Arm-R-Seal gets a bad rap from people who just slap on one coat and call it done. I've used it on a nightstand that's been through three moves and two kids climbing on it, and it still looks great. The trick is to build it up thin with multiple coats and let it fully cure for a week or two before putting it into service. Polyurethane CAN look like plastic if you don't brush it perfectly, and you're stuck with that thick feel forever. Arm-R-Seal just has a warmer look and it's WAY easier to repair if something does happen.
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felix3857mo ago
You're right, @robertsmith, a thick film finish is the only thing that survives my kids.
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