Waterlox Original Sealer Finish, 350 VOC, 1 Quart

My hubby used some leftover wood from our flooring to make a countertop for our off grid cabin and I was so worried about finding something to waterproof it. After reading countless threads on Reddit and different woodworking forums, I finally decided on Waterlox. I am SO glad I did!I watched several videos on how to apply and we went with the wipe on wipe off method to keep the sheen down because we’re on a tight budget and I didn’t want to have to buy the matte topcoat. It didn’t come out truly matte, but I’m still so happy with it!We found Waterlox to be a very forgiving product that was really easy to work with and we could not be happier with the finish and durability! It’s definitely not the cheapest thing out there, but this stuff is GREAT and so much easier to apply than any poly I’ve ever used!It’s only been a month and I don’t expect any issues, but I’ll be sure to update this review if anything changes.

I LOVE this stuff! It is fantastic! We built custom countertops out of pine boards and used Waterlox to seal them. I used a very light shade of stain mixed with the first layer of sealer as directed by the manufacturer, then 2 more coat of the sealer and a final coat of this satin finish. It was VERY smelly even with the low voc formula so I definitely recommend good ventilation and a respirator. I did sand very lightly with some 300 grit paper before the last coat because we had a little bit of dust In spots that I wanted to get off. We have been living with them for 2 months now and they are very sealed. Water has dried up on it in spots around the sink without staining or damaging the wood. I haven’t had any problems with newspapers or plastic bags leaving ink behind or anything. I will say that it does highlight any imperfections in the wood, the nail holes and cracks the we used wood putty on stand out, which I don’t mind but something to consider depending on what look you are going for. I am very happy with it, totally worth the money.

I did quite a bit of research before finishing our butcher block island countertop. I wanted something that would last, especially around kids.I am not a woodworker or handy person so I read a lot of reviews, tips, guides, etc. Here is what I found.- We sanded and vacuumed the wood first, then used mineral spirits to wipe down- We added some stain to our Waterlox according to website directions. This layer was put on with a rag, other layers used a natural bristle brush- AT LEAST 24 hours between coats with ventilation. We used our garage, partially open, with fans- The first few applications might look uneven. It will even out.- The best description of application thickness I found was “thick enough to write your name, but not so thick it puddles” - this is a very fine line to walk! Try to blend drips and puddles ASAP before it dries or you will have to sand.- We did not sand between coats until just before the final coat a very light sanding with fine sand paper. 4 coats total for us.- It is very glossy when it dries. This will lessen as time goes on. While it is dry enough for a second coat after 24 hrs it takes several days to harden and then even longer to fully cure.Overall, lived the result and the long lasting seal! Highly recommend!

This is the only sealer we use. We have done two kitchens with wood top counters and a bathroom vanity and have not had any issues with water damage. IThey look great and we get several compliments on them. We love it!!

It would be good to review this product a year from now, when I can truly see how it has stood up to abuse. However, so far, we are pleased with it. We used it for a butcherblock countertop that is near a sink and will get LOTS of splashes. Although there is protection underneath the sink area, this will be important on top of it. It DOES smell (bad) when you put it on (a good deal of ventilation important) but it dissipates rather quickly (days). We put on 3 or 4 coats (more in some areas), with drying time between them. Then (with a trick we learned online), polished with a print-free paper bag. Looks good. Despite what seemed to be shown on the site, the product we got from Amazon WAS the (relatively) environmentally-friendly kind allowed for use in California (we aren't in CA). We were happy for that, but are told it smells more than the 'bad' kind. Always trade offs. We assume that there will be need for re-application around the sink, which would be reasonable. We even sanded some of our older cutting boards and applied Waterlox. After much searching, it seems this is OK as far as food safety; they look much better. For now, we are happy with this product.

Multiple coats but the surface is perfect and very water tight. Just rubbed in with a micro fiber towel, let it dry and reapply. Did a steel wool hit a couple times to knockoff the high spots then gave it a final coat.

Great bowl finish if you do lathe work. Easy to get a great flawless shine.

I enjoyed using this product. It went on easy and looked great when dried.