Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Aerosol, 11.5 ounce, Semi-Gloss

I use this on all my refinished antiques and it is an excellent finish when used properly with multiple thin layers applied between light sanding . The finish has depth and retains the character of my antique cedar chests , chairs , tables , wicker and 1800’s furniture while also leaving me a lot more free time. The finish can be singed off with a damp sponge , no worries about water rings, scratches are easily swiped out , it adds a bit of warmth over time , does not peel off and I don’t have to deal with waxing , varnish lifting , or any kind of buildup on my furniture now . I have used both semi gloss and high gloss on many 1800’s and early 1900’s antiques . Done in thin fine coats you cannot tell the difference between varnish and spar urethane . This way I can damp sponge my table tops and legs and still enjoy my antiques that stay clean and easily maintained . I have not had problems with bubbling or using this product ever . If anything it brings out a richness and the patina of old wood that cannot be replicated . And I still use furniture polish a few times a year on all my furniture even over the spar varnish finish . I have also rattan seating on ice cream chairs , rattan baskets that I can then wash with a spray in the sink or shower and dry quickly , kitchen tables so I can sponge those off with water , a stickley rocker , 1700’s cedar blanket chests , 1930’s end tables solid cherry , even my papasian chair when new got a few coats or this spar varnish and 25 years later it looks brand new and is super easily cleaned and dusted . For use on things that will be outside do expect some maintenance and up keep as nothing lasts forever outside . But even my wooden bar spacer on my double hammock has lasted for 30 years just because every couple of years I’ve scrap any peeling off and apply a quick coat of this spar varnish with a cheap sponge brush . The spacer bar looks brand new still . I love my old furniture and I love my new furniture . I like to able to use them and keep them clean and protected for generations to come . This spar varnish is amazing for that . It makes antiques usable and prolongs their life . It makes new furniture last longer and super easy to keep clean . Plus the spar varnish can be lightly sanded if needed and reapplied for a perfect finish on heavily used table tops such as kitchen tables . It is durable and contains a nice uv protection . And it restores furniture to its original shine . I’d be lost without this product and spending way to much time waxing and dusting and worrying about water marks and dents . This is quite durable and with some practice is very easy to apply .

Good product, protects your door so it doesn't look like crap.

Would recommend Highly, much bettter than brushing .So I brushed aand sanded the first 3 coats , and sprayed the last.Turned out beautiful.

Goes on super smooth with my LVLP sprayer and leaves a nice semi-gloss finish. Only downside: while drying, it attracts flies, so apply when bugs are minimal. Overall great product.

An awesome product! We redid our wood dining table and this stuff is super impressive. Easy to clean and no sticky residue and holds up with lots of spills from our kids. Easy to apply as well.

Used 3 layers to cover a weathered palm wood tiki statue. Now looks fantastic.

Perfect for weather proofing my homemade outdoor ornaments.

I selected Helmsman Spar Urethane as a finish for my top-quality bee-hives many years ago.I wanted a finish that protects the wooden hive equipment while preserving and showing the valuable wood grain and showing off the joinery and warm colors.What ultimately sold me on this product was the fact that it's used on the Bluenose Schooner II, which came in with the Tall-ships as they did a Great Lakes Tour. If it can hold up as a preservative for seagoing vessels, then it's good enough for my bee yard hives.With Hoop-Pine, the finish appears clear and the wood color wasn't altered.With Cedar, it definitely darkened the wood and made some of the pyrographic art difficult to see.So I recommend getting a small can and testing the finish if the ultimate darkening of the wood is a serious issue for you.I live in the snow-belt and we receive horizontal rains along with long snowy seasons with days that go from17 deg f at night, to 51 degrees f on the same day. That rapid warming with wood definitely challenges the finish and this min-wax product is flexible enough not to fail.I highly recommend it and consider it to be the best available!