john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I've had terrible problems with miniwax wipe on poly and other hardening oil type finishes. I tried the various sprays that displace the air in the can and maybe it helped but not enough. My finish still gelled.
Then I tried decanting it off into smaller containers but still had trouble removing all the air and it eventually went bad in the small jars.
I've tried eliminating the air using marbles to take up the space. That's a pain and you have to find something to do with the marbles each time you buy a new can.
I tried putting saran wrap on top of the finish before putting the lid on the containers. It seemed to work but is messy and the finish will still gel in the small containers when half used if you don't put the saran wrap on top every time.
I think I finally have the solution but haven't put it to a full test yet. I bought some Coghlan's Squeeze tubes for storing foods and stuff for camping. I I didn't know if the it would be compatible with the finish so I filled a tube partially. Squeezed all the air out and put it in a plastic bin just in case it leaks or eats up the tube. That was about 6 months ago and it's still working perfectly. I think it's time for a full test.
Mahoney's oil so far has not gelled on me. It just takes too many coats to get the look I want. Most of my bowls are show pieces not users so I prefer either lacquer or one of the wipe on hardening style oils like Minwax wipe on poly or waterlox.
Then I tried decanting it off into smaller containers but still had trouble removing all the air and it eventually went bad in the small jars.
I've tried eliminating the air using marbles to take up the space. That's a pain and you have to find something to do with the marbles each time you buy a new can.
I tried putting saran wrap on top of the finish before putting the lid on the containers. It seemed to work but is messy and the finish will still gel in the small containers when half used if you don't put the saran wrap on top every time.
I think I finally have the solution but haven't put it to a full test yet. I bought some Coghlan's Squeeze tubes for storing foods and stuff for camping. I I didn't know if the it would be compatible with the finish so I filled a tube partially. Squeezed all the air out and put it in a plastic bin just in case it leaks or eats up the tube. That was about 6 months ago and it's still working perfectly. I think it's time for a full test.
Mahoney's oil so far has not gelled on me. It just takes too many coats to get the look I want. Most of my bowls are show pieces not users so I prefer either lacquer or one of the wipe on hardening style oils like Minwax wipe on poly or waterlox.