Quoted from yellowghost:I will take your word about the oil based over water-based. I am a painter by trade and I tell ya, at least when it comes to trim-work, you can't beat it. Even the high end acrylic " enamels" have a rubbery feel to them and almost no open times. Paint stores around these parts cannot sell oil-based anymore.
we are on the same page. In my last days of being a house painter back in 98 they were making waterbourne and products to replace oil based because califorina was making it illegal. In my experience back them, the expensive enamels only made a really good option in the best situations, like a really good existing foundation, new construction, ect.
I think the key to the oil based polys is getting something that wont tint, but the good thing is for the most part you are not in the wood. So you wont be absorbing it much, and if you do thin coats, you can get a really hard, very durable finish. if you have a HVLP sprayer, and you are good with it, use it on your last coat, and you will have less work blocking it down and polishing it out. If you do a great last coat you dont have to block sand and polish after. That is what all of the manufactures do (or dont do), but if you want it level, and slick... its elbo grease. If you are a painter you all ready know in most cases its not rocket science, its not being lazy, or afraid of a little effort.
The gal of varathane I have in the shop that I use on the backs, has a purple tint to it rather than brown. I kinda dig it because the waterbourne finishes have a purple/blue tint to them also.
The last thing is, like I mentioned before, if you can get a line on some pro floor finish rather than home owner, there used to be a huge difference for some reason, and the price was not much more at all. IF I remember it was the same with wall paint. For some reason they make professional/commercial paint that is easier to use and looks better, and is around the same price. Sooo... It confuses me. Why buy the home owner stuff?
Maybe you can answer that, if you are in that world.