swo17 wrote:Would you guys recommend oil or water based stain and polyurethane?
And what about a combo stain & poly vs. applying them separately?
I use Lundia shelving, plain pine (the cheapest option) and coat them with water- based polyurethane, which is very quick drying. I only do one coat, just to give it bit of protection, and gives a matt finish. Not an interior design classic, but nobody can really see the shelves once they’re full!
Oil-based takes ages to dry and further ages for the smell to dissipate, and usually I’m in a hurry.
I think my family used polyurethane on the staircase in our home - it was carpeted, but there was still exposed wood on the sides/edges than needed to be stained as they were still susceptible to wear, and the handrails needed it too. tbh I don't think it's aesthetically pleasing because it looks like a layer of nail polish or hardened clear plastic (which it basically is) and it didn't "settle" in a way that made it a smooth, water-like finish, if anything it accentuated the texture and irregularities of the wood surface. However, from a utilitarian perspective, it was extremely durable - they've never had to re-apply it after all these years, and it was extremely stable, never getting softer or sticky even in a house that often approached a muggy 90 degrees during the summer because they never wanted to turn on the AC (much to my annoyance). It was also pretty slick - for our stairs it was okay, but if there was no carpeting, it would be extremely hazardous, especially if for whatever reason your feet or the stairs were wet. With that in mind, it's possible it'll reduce friction and shelf wear, which may be desirable.
