I have been using Minwax poly for dipping for over a year. I decided to try the traditional approach and contacted Mike Brooks and he has helped me procure the correct traditional materials. I now have Walnut/amber varnish and Waterlox spar and was starting to use it the other night. I cracked the can of Turpentine and WOW!!! The smell on my hands took two days to leave and the smell is still in the basement. To make matters worse, my wife is 10 weeks pregnant and her good nose is even BETTER.

Question......any suggestions on dealing with the smell or should I stick with poly? To make things worse, her recently late father liked to restore furniture and maybe the smell is triggering things there too. She hasn't said for sure. This all started when I tried to mix up a little bottle for wraps and spilled a little turp on the top of the can when thinning.

Any suggestions?  (Barry Janzen)

I would suggest mixing this in a bathroom with the vent left on. I varnish in the basement bathroom, which is seldom used anyhow. I let the vent run for several hours. As you walk out and shut the door shoving a towel at the bottom of the door should minimize any odors. If there is a heat/ac register in the bathroom I would strongly recommend closing it to prevent dust from coming into the room. This has worked great for me so far.  (Scott Bearden)

Look for an odorless thinner at an art store. I found it at a Hobby Lobby.  (Winston Binney)

I got mine at Walmart in the Gallon size.  (Tony Spezio)

What is the thinner called? Is it odorless mineral spirits?  (Barry Janzen)

It is labeled  "Klean Strip" Odorless Mineral Spirits. It is in a white plastic container with a white label that has blue and yellow accents. Don't remember what it cost  for the gallon. On another note, I finally found some Naphtha and used it for the first time. I just used it to thin Helmsman for applying to wraps. Don Schneider mentioned it on the list. I found the Helmsman did not jell in the container like it did with Mineral Spirits. Personally I like it better.   (Tony Spezio)

How about a room, air-circulation unit with a big HEPA filter? My shop is heated and cooled by the home system, and several years beck, I installed a HEPA filter in the return duct. I'm not certain what the spec. sheets promise on these filters, but no matter what smells accumulate in the shop, nothing seems to make it back into the house.

On the other hand, no matter what finishes you use, the "best" one is probably the one you apply best. Potentially, this might involve a lot of things, as our list has shown, but just switching products isn't likely to give you the quantum leap you may be looking for. (Of course, we don't know what your complaints may be with your "old" system.) Your new results may be somewhat different, and it probably feels good to use traditional materials, but the end-results may not necessarily be better.  (Bill Harms)

My old system of poly worked well. Good finish but just chipped too easy and had a "plastic" look and too clear. I was wanting a more amber look and the ability to buff and polish in the future.  (Barry Janzen)

Polishing a poly finish is just as easy as a spar varnish. I use the Nova, three-part product, but there are many others out there. Any of them will knock the edge off that glaring, plastic look quickly and easily.

It's true that the Minwax poly is very clear, and lacks that nice, traditional, amber hue. But this, too, is easily altered. Just and a drop or two of your favorite coloring agent into the can, and you're good to go.

I'm saying these things, not because I think you should go back to your old system, but only to level the playing field a bit so you can decide.  (Bill Harms)

Thanks for those tips, maybe I should stick with my poly at least until I can make a "dipping room" to contain the smell. My wife would be more understanding later I think. Right now morning/day sickness is about to kill her. Any odor is sending her to the bathroom. How about the chipping problem. Wouldn't spar be more durable? A year ago, I decided that poly was the best option for me. Spar seemed to have too many problems. Maybe I should just pause and back up. (Barry Janzen)

Yeah, your chipping problems with a poly finish.... I didn't mention anything about that because I've never heard of it before, so I really don't know what to offer. Over the years, I've used a variety of polyurethane finishes on all sorts of woodworking projects (dining room tables, chairs, etc.), but I haven't had any chipping issues happen to me.  I wonder if anyone else on the list can chime in here with some insights or experiences.   (Bill Harms)

And the problem is??????? Turpentine smells GOOD!<g>  (John Channer)

Smell that?  Smell that??!

There's only one thing that smells like that.

That smell!  That gasoline smell! I love the smell of nepalm in the morning...

Sorry, couldn't resist!  I'll go hide now... (Dennis Haftel)

Kinda like hops.  I'm a hop-head.  I love the smell of hops in the wort while it's boiling.  Unfortunately, SWMBO doesn't.  Hence, my beer brewing, as well as my work on grass fishing poles, has been relegated to the "shop" and not the kitchen.  (Mark Wendt)

SHOULDN'T good beer be made in the shop anyway?

Barry...

As far as turps being something a wifething shouldn't smell...if she complains about the smell, just say "What smell?" and stick to it. "I don't know what you're talking about." If she eventually breaks you down and beats you, pull out one of those car freshener things that looks like a little pine tree and tell her it's that she smells. That you thought she'd like it!

Also tell her that the powered rougher in the living room is really a "Home Theater" unit. She'll thank you for being so thoughtful.  (Mike Shay)

I just recently had to touch up the wood rails on my pram. The product used by the manufacturer is Waterlox marine varnish and sealer. I had to order more than I would ever need for touch up so, I wondered if anyone has ever used this finish on their blanks or reel seats?  (Paul McRoberts)

I know at least one of the famous old-time builders used Waterlox on rods, and CSE ( I think) sold it for a while.  The formulation is based on tung oil, and it is damn fine varnish.  (Brian Creek)