"Puff Griffis" wrote in message
...
Thank you all for your responses. It looks like poly win's it's place on my
stairwell.
Puff

Caution--that post about slippery finishes is worth your consideration. My
wife and I have gone horizontal a couple of times on our oak treads, so we
asked on the rec. and found Skid Safe, a water-based finish from New
Dimensions (www.ndclean.com). It works--we can take the steps in our socks
now, like many Yanks. It comes only in a gloss finish, however, and will
show wear after a couple of years. And it's about $40 a quart.

Bob