Minwax PolyShades, Satin, Classic Oak, 1/2 Pint

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Worked well. Looks great. Made cabinet look brand new.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] So, I have been in the wood working hobby for over 20 years, and I am glad I tried this one out. So, most stains are the same at least the process, time cure etc. But, I have found with this brand the coloring is more gradual, so you don't end up with a dark walnut immediately, you can gradually make it darker which is great if you are trying to match colors with other furniture in your house.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Top piece was before. Goes on easy. I used an old rag to rub on. I prefer a rag to paint brush because it is easier to apply. I used two coats in the pictures. The stain brings out the grains in the wood. I like this stain a lot and plan to use it for other projects.

I do not enjoy painting and staining in general, but also am very particular about the quality of the finish, so I sometimes do projects myself to ensure quality outcomes. I chose this product because I found that the new sliding doors I thought only needed varnish to match the room actually required stain. Since I now had a coat of Minwax polyurethane one the wood, I searched for a stain that I could apply over the existing varnish. Enter PolyShades. I wish I had read the reviews first. This product is HORRIBLE to apply, especially on vertical surfaces like a door. It starts out very watery, which runs badly, and then it quickly turns gummy as you try to fix runs, leaving splotchy areas that are darker - once this process starts, you can't recover. Critical mistake on my part was to go back to an area and try to even out the color. I will now have to sand the wood back down, and start over. I want to cut my loses and switch to a regular stain, but now have to worry about color matching the trim that I have to redo with the door frame that actually turned out ok.

Our house was going on the market to sell. The kitchen cabinets were tired and needed refreshing. After much research, we decided on the Polyshades in Mission Oak to give our cabinets a new look. Because the cabinets were vertical, I chose to wipe on the stain/finish with a soft cloth. I let that sit for about 10 minutes and went back with a clean, soft cloth and wiped off the excess. The doors remained tacky for about a day and a half. The results were perfect! We changed out the hardware and our cabinets looked fantastic. We got lots of compliments on the cabinets from potential buyers going through. Well worth the time and effort, and the house has sold!