Minwax Wipe-On Poly??

[Mr Brush]

After reading all the raves about this stuff, imagine my sad little face when I found that I can't seem to buy it anywhere....

I've searched a few threads on here - none of the Bunnies in our area stock Minwax products, and none can get it. I believe that someone posting here claimed to be bringing the stuff into Oz, but none of the contact details posted by him seem to work.

Can anyone confirm once and for all the status of Minwax products (and Wipe-On Poly in particular) in Oz? Is there still a local distributor?

If the Minwax Wipe-On Poly is gone for good, can anyone suggest a similar product from one of the bigger concerns like Feast Watson, etc. that we can actually buy? I realise that Neil doesn't really compete with this class of products, so hopefully no skin off the U-Beaut corporate nose !

[BrettC]

Hey Basil why can't Bunnies get it ??? - they have it in Canberra surely they can get it in down where you are

[Mr Brush]

Hi Brett - unfortunately, we don't have a REAL Bunnies here. They are planning to build one of those intergalactic mega-Bunnies in the Southern Highlands soon, but the current Bunnies Moss Vale hadn't even heard of Minwax. No luck in Campbelltown either.

Maybe I have to order from Bunnies in Canberra (!), but before that I thought I'd see if Minwax actually have a distributor.

Also, I'm a bit wary of starting on a product which (by all accounts) is slowly disappearing from stock in the Bunnies that have it, and shows no signs of long term availability.

You Canberra blokes have all the luck.....

[Pat]

Basil, come down from the highlands to the coast and check out Wollongong/Warrawong Bunnies. They have it and it maybe closer to you than Canbra

[fletty]

Basil, Campbelltown Bunnies definitely has MinMax poly, bought 2 tins there last Saturday. If you walk into the paint section from the front door it's in the left hand aisle,
Fletty

[Mr Brush]

Thanks Fletty (& Pat) - Bunnies Campbelltown didn't know they had it when I called them.....had never heard of it.

I'll do a run next week and pick up a couple of tins

[Pat]

Basil, when you ring Bunnies, ask to be put thru to the paint section. Normally the person answering the phone does not know the stock.

[gabacus]

Thanks Fletty (& Pat) - Bunnies Campbelltown didn't know they had it when I called them.....had never heard of it.

I'll do a run next week and pick up a couple of tins

i had the same problem with bunnies at villawood. i called them and they said they had never heard of it but after being transfered a few times they put me on to someone who would order it for me. it arrived at bunnies 6 weeks later and when i went in to pick it up i found about 20 tins sitting on the shelf

great product though and so easy to use it was worth the wait.

after the finish has dried, give it a polish with EEE. it really does make all the difference. and if your in the mood, put on some traditional wax. i dont think it enhanced the minwas/EEE finish all that much but the smell is just fantastic (its one of the first things people comment on).

cheers,

gabacus.

[munruben]

If you can't get Minwax, you can make something very similar yourself. I got this recipe from the net some time ago and it works.

3 parts Polyurethane (any brand, any sheen)
2 parts Mineral spirits.

1. Apply finish with a clean, lint free cloth.
2. After drying, buff with 000 steel wool.
3. Repeat until desired gloss is achieved.

For the final finish I use "U-Beaut Traditional wax" with the steel wool and then buff with a clean cloth. Brings up a great finish.

[Lumber Bunker]

West Gosford has it... ;p

[oldbob13]

Got mine from Bunnies at Warrawong, the Nowra store didn't know about it.
BobT

[Mr Brush]

Thanks to all for their help with this. I'll try the real thing from Bunnies Campbelltown as a starting point.

Intrigued by the idea of making your own though (thanks munruben). Does this mean I can take satin finish Estapol (my finish of choice), dilute with mineral spirits per the recipe, and end up with a thin wipe-on Estapol? I realise that several coats would be required to build this up a bit (rub down between coats with 320 grit?), but worth a try. Any suggestions for what to put on top of this finish while maintaining a fairly satin look??? U-Beaut Traditional Wax?

[Pat]

Bas, I refer you to pg64 of Neil's A Polisher's Handbook "Satin Finish the piece is sanded wet with 600grit. When dry it is rubbed with 000 steel wool which has been loaded with wax polish (Ubeaut Polishes Traditional Wax is ideal for this). Use long straight strokes and go with the grain. The excess polish is removed from the surface with a clean soft cloth, leaving a beautiful satin sheen . . . "

This section deals with brush applied poly. I have tried it with Wipe on Poly and it works well.

[Mr Brush]

Thanks Pat - I have Neil's book (haven't we all?? ), but had forgotten about the section on "Finishing The Finish". I'll give this suggestion a go.

I note also that Neil suggests sanding with 240 grit + soapy water between coats, but that is for brushed poly. Given the thinner coats you get from Minwax Wipe-On (or the homemade brew), I think 320 grit + soapy water should suffice between coats.

[Pat]

Then the 600 for the last coat etc. With the the 240 grit you are trying to remove the brush marks, which we do not have to worry about. If you can see marks, 240 or 320 grit should do. If you cannot see any marks etc, I would use 400 grit to start the polishing of the poly.