Question about poly

[WhatAmIDoing?]

I have a table that was refinished a couple years ago with water based stain and poly. It now needs some touch up on the table top.
I was able to get some of the stain that was used before but none of the same poly.
Do I have to use a water based poly with the water based stain?
Reason I ask, is that I have lots of poly and don't want to buy any if what I have will work.
Thanks!!

BTW: Cool forum, wished I had found this place long ago. :)

[ubeaut]

The worst thing you can do is usw water based poly with water based stain as the stain will most likely bleed into the poly.

Any other poly will be fine. Makes you wonder just how good the water based poly is if the table needs to be refinished again so soon.

Cheers - Neil

PS you will need to strip off the old stuff back to bare timber first or nothing will work.

[WhatAmIDoing?]

Thanks ubeaut!
I've never used a water based stain or poly before this job and don't think I'm ever going to again. LOL!!
This is a table that my G'friend's mother refinished before I meant my G'friend. We have been wondering just why the finish didn't hold up any longer than it has.
Stripping it back to bare wood won't be any kind of problem.
Thanks for the help!!