On 19 Mar 2007 12:14:22 -0700, "Oughtsix" wrote:

Water based poly does not do nearly as nice of a job
in bringing out the grain as oil based finishes do.

Not to pick on you, the following is for general information. G

"Waterbase poly" as offered to the consumer market by Minwax, Benwood,
etc... is not the same thing as the waterbased "lacquers" sold by
Target, Fuhr, Oxford, ML Campbell, etc... and aimed at the pro market.
There are distinct differences in application and in the appearance of
the final, finished product. Some of the waterbased lacquers will
even "burn-in" just like solvent lacquer.

Lack of burn-in is one of the big problems with any polyurethane
finish, oil or water based. If a polyurethane (as well as certain
varnishes and catalyzing products) finish is wet sanded enough to rub
through a layer, white "witness lines" can appear.

To "pop the figure" under good waterbase finishes, the finisher can
simply use dewaxed shellac as a sanding sealer, dye (Analine, NGR,
etc...) or BLO. BLO needs a good week to cure before an overcoat of
dewaxed shellac under water base. Dyes can fade, or be moved or
removed, by carelessly applied water or alcohol based top coats.