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I tried KTM9. I thought it was OK. What other water based finishes have you guys tried. Any worth trying? Any to stay away from?

Minwax has a Water Based Polyurethane.
Tripp has Safe & Simple Water Based Polyurethane.
Target coatings has their EmTech® 8000 PreCatalyzed Waterborne Conversion Varnish and a 9000 Series Super-Clear Polyurethane One-Part Hybrid Copolymer.

555 Ultra Clear WB Lacquer from Topcoat Supply sounds good -
Typical dry time to touch in ambient conditions is 5 minutes, light handling in 10 minutes and sandable in 20 minutes. 555 is a good choice as a water based alternative to nitrocellulose lacquers

Hydorcaote polyurethane is recommended for floors. I'm thinking that would be nice and hard.

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Steve I have found that most of the over the counter stuff like Minwax, Zar, Tripp etc. to be very blue. Keep going back to KTM-9 I found Targets PSL to be too soft. Havn't tried the others.

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Steve,

On curiosity alone I bought a quart of Aqua Borne brand Ceramithane clear waterbased finish. It is crosslinked, so it supposedly forms a full-thickness finish with multiple coats. I'll know more about that when I try finish sanding it. It's carried by Highland Hardware & it's not too dear at about $16 per quart.

I'm testing on a few different woods & it looks pretty darn good on Sapele, Walnut, & Maple. Note that these test pieces were first fully sealed with a few coats of dewaxed shellac - which really popped the grain well. Also, I have wiped the Ceramithane on with a soft cloth & it was thinned 15% with H2O for this application. With a few thin coats I must say it looks & feels pretty darn nice. Not blue, & pretty hard already. After a few weeks, I'll know more about how sturdy & hard the stuff is but as far as looks ... I could use it & be happy.

This is not a wholesale recommendation yet - just a testing report. I hope it holds up & I can use it cause my wife won't let me use "that stinky crap" varnish again (Minwax polyurethane or Tru-Oil). Gee, I like the smell of those finishes - especially when thinned with turpentine! Good luck,

Skip

I've used the StewMac waterbase with good results. It sprays nicely, with good flowout. Polishes to a nice finish.

Al

StewMac wb is Target it is a good wb finish but does have a bit of a blue cast to it. I noticed it more on darker woods. That is why I like KTM9. No blue cast. Some have said they have seen some in it, but after 10 guitars with it now I have seen none. It is my standard finish. It may not be as hard as nitro or Cat. Poly but is hardrer than any other wh I have tried. Amazingly hard for waterborne.