Minwax Water Based Helmsman Spar Urethane, Gallon, Semi-Gloss

Refinished the outside door and applied three layers. The door is facing the sun, in direct sunlight. For 8 months, it has held good. By the way, the application was easy, and it dries fairly fast.

This is one of those products that if you use it correctly it is excellent. It isn't something you just throw on and expect a great result. As they say, prep is everything.. I have used many different sealers- oil based, water based , wipe on products and spray urethanes. All work well depending on project. This is super easy to apply, dries quickly and you can layer many coats in a single day. It also is simple clean up vs oil based products. I have applied with sponge brush as well as high quality nylon brushes and all when used correctly leave great result. For previously stained or sealed wood I sand lightly with with 220 or higher grit sandpaper and make sure it is wiped super clean Absolutely MUST stir very well before and even during application to get good results. First coat should be super light and don't worry about how it looks at this point. Just keep it thin and don't over brush Wait 2+ hours before next coat. Another quick sand, repeat. You will notice each coat goes on easier as it builds and those spots you may have missed now disappear. I didn't sand at all after first two coats. For indoor wood I get great results with 3-4 coats,.outside furniture I put 6 coats on teak and final result was excellent. Living near the beach in Southern CA nothing survives the constant sun and salt air. This does excellent job preserving teak furniture. It DID slightly add a warm amber "tone" to the teak which I like. I have also used on walnut vaneer bath vanity which does get wet and this has worked out very well. You can thin slightly with water if needed but I found the consistentcy very easy to work with and again unlike oil based super easy clean up. I believe anyone who.is having problems is not following directions. I used semi gloss on outside furniture and satin indoor just as a personal preference , both produced great results.

I wasn't sure if this would be a good match for the Huber AdvanTech subfloor OSB that I used as the floor of my Harbor Freight trailer, but it worked great. I sanded all sides of the OSB with 80 grit, blew off as much dust as I could, wiped it down with a damp rag, let it dry, and applied this stuff with a foam roller. I did 3 coats on the top side and 2 on the bottom side, which was plenty. A full 4'x8' sheet used up a little more than a quart. It goes on looking pretty thin and watery, so I wasn't super confident it would create a durable finish layer, but it certainly did. It dries to a hard plastic skin that seems like it should last quite a long time, especially since I'll store the trailer under a tarp. Before I could cover it after installing the floor, we got a good storm that soaked it, and while the water didn't really bead up, most of it wiped off easily and the remainder dried with zero issues. I wasn't concerned with appearances so I can't comment on the smoothness or quality of the finish if you're aiming for fine woodworking. For my application, though, it looks just fine and worked better than expected.

I had EXCELLENT results using this project on a 50 year old solid oak door. Absolutely no brush marks visible after the job was completed. Make sure to follow the directions closely. I applied three coats to the door, sanding lightly with 220 grit sandpaper between coats. There is no odor and product is water based. Very easy cleanup. Highly recommend.

Have been preferring Minwax finishes for years and they remain consistent top quality.

First time painter and this product was great for entry door. Water based paint flows easily while applying, very little absorption, presumed water based product would seep into wood but I was proven wrong. Barely used one fourth of a quart for a full entry door, both sides, two coats. No dripping, no mess, no stickiness, no toxins, no smell, dried in 30 minutes. Got the semi gloss finish which really looks nice, not too glossy or not too bland. Recommend to try the water based, it does not flake like the oil based paint as time progresses. West facing door, hoping to get 4-5 yrs of protection from texas sun.

I prefer this water-based version of Helmsman because it is easier to apply than oil-based version of Helmsman. The cleanup is also easier and there is very little smell from the product. Keeps color of the wood intact with little to no ambering which is common with oil versions.

This is about a perfect product for protection and easy clean up. I would have gone water based years ago. Water based places a protective coating on the wood. Oil based sinks into the wood. Both provide protection unmatched.