Hi Toller,

I can only attest to my success with
commercial wipe-on poly
(I too use Minwax satin & gloss).

I have applied up to 7-8 coats on some projects
with not a problem at all - use #0000 steel wool
between coats in general.

Although I have read posts that "wipe-on" is just
diluted poly, I have not tried that. Maybe lazy, maybe
skeptical - maybe both.

Lou

In article , toller
wrote:

When I ran out of the Minwax wipe-on I usually use, I decided to make my own
by diluting Var poly with 25% more mineral spirits. It did just fine until
I did my 5th and final application. It was not at all satisfactory; lumpy
and varied appearance. I went at it with steel wool and put down another
final application. It was just as bad. More steel wool; this time I
diluted a bit thinner, but the result was the same. (I expect the first 5
applications were uneven also, but I wasn't expecting them to look finished,
so it didn't matter)

I bought some Minwax wipe-on and it went on as even as can be.

Presumably I am doing something wrong, since so many of you talk about
making your own wipe-on. Any hints as to why I had problems? The home made
is about half the price of prepared, so I would like to keep using it; but I
have a feeling it is more than just dilute regular. Thanks.