"AL_z" wrote in message
...
"Spamlet" wrote in
:

In my experience this is a case for the diamond hard polyurethane:
and, conveniently, that comes in 'old/antique' pine: though try some
first, as I've noticed some are a nice brown colour, and others rather
over the top yellow. Especially if you have some nice grain on the
stair posts - polish it well with sanding paper first: comes up a
treat. Eggshell is what I generally use, but on those post tops some
gloss shows off the grain to perfection.

Ordinary varnish always feels tacky and picks up the dirt - especially
on those posts! -, but the diamond hard feels nice and dry and is
fairly easy to clean. You don't really want to wax or silicone type
polish, unless you particularly want the kids to use it as a slide: it
is there for *grip* after all: you don't want your granny to fall when
she goes to grab the rail with her gloves on.

S

Thanks. Is this the stuff you used?: http://tinyurl.com/2uvbj4d

Wow - it's expensive!

Al

Yes it can be expensive, but you have found about the most expensive I've
seen it. It does go a lot further than paint though (In fact, it requires a
different technique to normal painting as it is runny and needs to be put on
as thinly as poss, and I've mentioned before that I have found it can even
be put on with wide, thin, flat, very fine-haired, 'artists brushes' you can
pick up in cheapo kids toy shops like 'The Works' for next to nothing, and
they wash out in water afterwards which is very handy.)

Price wise: keep your eyes open, some of the cheap 'sheds' and shops like
Wilkinson often have the stuff for only a fiver or so. Note that there are
two versions of Diamond Hard: you do not need to go all out for the one for
floors, which is often even more expensive.

There are cheaper options here - though you have a hefty postage, so try
your local cheapo shops first:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...onseal&x=0&y=0.
Nothing stopping you using the floor version if it turns out to be cheap and
they don't have the other: just don't use non floor versions on the floor
itself, the other way round is fine, but usually overkill.

There seems to be something of a glut of cheap offers for cherry colour, but
more choice if you include the floor type:
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=r....c0.m270.l1313

Like I said, your local cheapo shops my be selling off the odd few tins more
cheaply.

S