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Watco poly

Dean Center

Dean Center

Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
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Bozeman, MT
My wipe on poly had gotten old, so I tossed it and stopped by Home Despot for a fresh can. There was no longer Minwax poly on the shelf, but instead they had Watco, which I had never used. I foolishly assumed they would be the same, but they are clearly not.

Poured onto a white rag, the Watco is gray, instead of golden. I'm not sure, but there may be tiny particles in suspension. It also seems to have a higher viscoscity and may be stickier, though that could be the viscosity. I have the sense that it dries faster, but sadly, that has not translated to fewer bits of debris in the dried finish.

You guys are very analytical and seem to know how to find out what's in what. Can someone explain the Watco? For those of you who have used it, how does it work? Any adjustments you've needed to make compared with other wipe on poly?

Thanks for the help.
 
The TDS for watco wipe on poly here https://www.rustoleum.com/~/media/D.../CBG/Watco/WAT-07_Watco_Wipe_On_Poly_TDS.ashx

In the future go to the mfr website and look around, then we wont look like such geniuses.

If memory serves correctly, mw wipe on is about 30% solids, the watco is ~43%, so thinning it about 3 parts poly 1 part ms should get about the same solids. As for particles in it, did you get the satin? If so its probably clumps of the flattener. With the container shape there is no way to mix it except shaking, but for a can that was on the shelf for a while that wont do it. Pour 1/2 of it out, recap it and shake the hell out of it, then see if the particles go away. Stir the 1/2 you poured out and check for particles. If all good put them back together and shake the can to distribute the flattener. If you got gloss return it unless you contaminated it some way.

As for the color, possibly due to the oil part used. Says its a urethane modified alkyd resin, which is what all polyurethane finishes like these are. MW use linseed oil which gives the amber color. Other oils, such as tung or soya, are more clear, resulting in less color imparted by the finish.

I use a lot of MW for wipe on application, but use the regular full strength and mix 1:1 with ms. About 1/2 the cost vs mw wipe on buying quarts of poly and gallons of ms. I only mix small amounts as needed. Store might have regular mw poly.
 
Dean Center said:
My wipe on poly had gotten old, so I tossed it and stopped by Home Despot for a fresh can. There was no longer Minwax poly on the shelf, but instead they had Watco, which I had never used. I foolishly assumed they would be the same, but they are clearly not.

Poured onto a white rag, the Watco is gray, instead of golden. I'm not sure, but there may be tiny particles in suspension. It also seems to have a higher viscoscity and may be stickier, though that could be the viscosity. I have the sense that it dries faster, but sadly, that has not translated to fewer bits of debris in the dried finish.

You guys are very analytical and seem to know how to find out what's in what. Can someone explain the Watco? For those of you who have used it, how does it work? Any adjustments you've needed to make compared with other wipe on poly?

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Dean Center said:
My wipe on poly had gotten old, so I tossed it and stopped by Home Despot for a fresh can. There was no longer Minwax poly on the shelf, but instead they had Watco, which I had never used. I foolishly assumed they would be the same, but they are clearly not.

Poured onto a white rag, the Watco is gray, instead of golden. I'm not sure, but there may be tiny particles in suspension. It also seems to have a higher viscoscity and may be stickier, though that could be the viscosity. I have the sense that it dries faster, but sadly, that has not translated to fewer bits of debris in the dried finish.

You guys are very analytical and seem to know how to find out what's in what. Can someone explain the Watco? For those of you who have used it, how does it work? Any adjustments you've needed to make compared with other wipe on poly?

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
I also tried the Watco and tossed it after the first use! Ace seems to only carry the one liter size of Minwax wipe on poly, but Lowe’s still carries the pint size
 
As too poly and oils getting "old" and or hardening in the can, get some Stop Loss bags. I just finished a bag of polymerized tung oil that had been in the bag for two years and was good to the last drop. I've also got a bag of poly and a homemade "Danish oil" that are both over a year old and as good as the day I poured them.
 
Dean Center said:
Dan, can you expand on your experience? What was bad about it?
Click to expand...
Sure. First, I’ve used many other Watco finishes which I’ve been quite happy with, such as their danish oil finishes. The wiping varnish was way too thick and did not penetrate hardly at all on the first coat. It was also “sticky” and left the equivalent of brush marks from my wiping cloth. This probably could have been cured by thinking, but then, why buy wiping finish to begin with. My major issue was color. The Watco definitely gave a grayish cast to maple whereas the Minwax wipe on poly is almost colorless on light woods with maybe just a hint of amber.
 
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