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The Pros & Cons of Wipe-On Poly

The best choice for a clear coating is often a specialized finish like pre-catalyzed lacquer—but that assumes you have a spray booth outfitted with high-end equipment. For most of us, polyurethane provides a combination of cost and durability that’s hard to beat. With wipe-on poly, you also get goof-proof simplicity, speed and convenience.

+ FAST. You can coat a project in less than half the time it takes to brush on a finish.

+ EASY. Unlike brushing, wiping on a flawless coat of poly doesn’t require skill or an expensive brush.

+ DUST TOLERANT. Because the coating is thin and dries fast, “nubs” caused by airborne dust are much less likely. That makes it great for on-site finishing.

+ NO CLEANUP. Just dispose of the cloth, container and gloves. No brush to clean!

— EXPENSIVE. On average, wipe-on poly costs twice as much as brush-on poly.

— SLOW BUILD. As a rule, it takes three coats of wipe-on to match the buildup that you get from one coat of brush-on poly. That said, the speed of wipe-on application often makes up for those extra coats.

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Set the Stage

Drips happen, so use resin paper, a drop cloth or newspaper to protect your worktable. If your project has legs, make standoffs for them to perch on. Standoffs allow you to wipe finish all the way down to the ends of the legs. They poke holes in the wood, so if you have parts that must be finished on both sides, such as a shelf, set them on blocks covered with cloth instead.