Clear coat choices are too numerous to list here, but the majority are simply not designed for wood.  Over the years, my clear coat of choice has been the old reliable Clear Wood Finish from Deft.  It’s a coconut alkyd, food safe, non-yellowing lacquer bar finish that I’m absolutely in love with. Up to now I wouldn’t use anything else. But...times change and Deft has also changed with the times.

Brand new to the marketplace (it’s only been available for a few months) is a new waterbased acrylic clear wood finish from Deft.  I’ve had a chance to use it on a couple of wood bases and a bathroom vanity that I’m building.  As a result, I now have two favorites.  Either one does a superb job of producing a quality clear finish, bringing out the beauty of the wood in the process.  How long lacquer will be available is an open question and can probably only be answered by the EPA.  But if and when that happens, we won’t be asking what can we use in it’s place.  It’s already here.

Deft’s new product is available in both gallons and spray cans.  Open the gallon can and you’re in for a surprise. It ain’t clear.  But before you scream “It’s supposed to be a clear finish!”, read a little further.  Granted, the stuff isn’t clear...in fact it looks like nothing more than weak milk.  But stir it with a stick, pull the stick out and watch it drain off the end. Running off the end of the stick, it’s white, but what’s left behind is clear.  Also, when you spray it, it sprays clear and stays clear.  Weird it may look, but it works like a charm.

How does it work?  Beautifully.  Depending on the wood, you’ll need anywhere from two to five coats (and sometimes more).  The more porous the wood (for example pine or cypress needs five and up) the more coats it’ll take. Walnut only requires two or three. In all cases, and whether you spray it or brush it, the first coat will raise the nap of the wood (it’s the water content in the acrylic that does it), so plan on lightly sanding the first coat when it’s dry.

When dry, you really can’t tell it from my old favorite lacquer based clear wood finish...with one exception.  After it dries, it’s twice as hard as lacquer.  It has a pleasant odor while drying and is odorless when dry.  As a result of long experience with their products, I can sum up this new clear coat in exactly one sentence.  If it's Deft, you can’t go wrong.  Go buy some.

One final thing. Many’s the person (modelbuilder or otherwise) who thinks that acrylic paints and clear coats are safer than enamels and lacquers because they’re waterbased.  This isn’t true.  While you don’t want to inhale any kind of paint particles, it’s especially true for acrylics.  Why?  Because all paint particles will adhere to the lining of your lungs. Enamel and lacquer will eventually turn loose and be coughed up. Not so with acrylics.  Whenever you’re spraying paint or clear coat of any kind, play it safe. Sit near an open window, crank up an exhaust fan/spray booth or use a double element respirator.

The next time you need to clear coat a wood base...or any other wood project...pick up some Deft Acrylic Clear Wood Finish from your nearest full service paint store. Gallons sell for around $39.00 and 13-ounce spray cans for about $5.99. Available in Gloss, Semi-gloss and Satin.