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Just had a major finish failure on a walnut table from a house in Portland
I used to mix my own wiping varnish from oil and poly, but after this piece clouded up in under a year, I switched to a pre-cat lacquer system. The old mix just couldn't handle the humidity shifts there. Anyone else have a go-to finish for the Pacific Northwest?
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robinp895mo ago
Yeah, pre-cat is a total game changer for that damp air, right? I mean, the real trick is getting your shop temp and humidity dialed in before you spray, or it can get a bit fussy. It's a pain to only have that short pot life, but honestly, the trade-off for a finish that actually survives here is worth it. I'd never go back to an oil mix for anything that needs to last.
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lily_cooper5mo ago
Pre-cat lacquer is the only thing that works here.
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the_robert5mo ago
Heard a woodworker on a podcast say pre-cat is the go-to for high traffic stuff like restaurant tables or bar tops. He mentioned it cures way harder and faster than regular lacquer, which is key when you need furniture ready to use. Honestly, the trade-off is the shorter shelf life once you open the can, so you gotta plan your project around that. Makes sense why it's the only real choice for a tough finish.
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