I plan to build Project #2, The Step Stool, in the forseeable future. I'd like to finish it with BLO, shellac and General Finishes Arm-R-Seal. However, I am not sure if it would hold up to normal use. I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks

Bruce

As a oil based urethane topcoat the Arm-R-Seal is about as tough as you can get out of the can. Your next step would be a catalyzed varnish or some sort of UV baked on finish.

It'll be more then tough enough but be sure to leave something for the finish to adhere to. Basically be sure you scuff up the previous coat of finish enough for the next coat to have something to grab onto. Otherwise you could eventually have bubbling and peeling.

Consider rubbing out the final finish and putting on a good coat of paste wax as well. The wax serves as a great final layer to protect everything that can be simply maintained over the years. It also gives that desired soft glow without being shiny.

Thanks Radioactive.. 1. What catalyzed varnish would you recommend? 2. By 'roughing it up' do you mean sand with something like a 320 grit paper?

Thanks again.

Bruce AKA Rat

http://www.valsparwood.com/valsparwood/ ... stovar.jsp

But unless you plan on putting this step stool in an extremely public place where it'll be used multiple times a day with women with high heels on I wouldn't bother with anything more then what you have planned.

Shellac and wax would probably be just fine and the urethane you're planning to add as a topcoat will be as tough as you'll ever need in home use. You sacrifice look for durability at some point along the way.