128 Products
Per Minwax / Rust-Oleum technical data, Wood Finish is an oil-based penetrating stain for interior projects only. Coverage is about 400 to 500 sq ft per gallon. At 77°F and 50% RH, dry to touch is about 2 hours, recoat about 1 hour, and dry to use about 6 hours, with VOC 315 g/L (Minwax data sheet MWX132, rev 5/1/2023). Soft or porous woods such as pine, fir, and spruce benefit from Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner first; Minwax notes the oil-based conditioner is not for use with water-based stains. Gel Stain is a thick, non-drip gel for wood and for non-wood surfaces such as fiberglass, metal, and molded fiberboard.
For clear protection, Fast-Drying Polyurethane is an oil-based finish for interior wood such as furniture, cabinets, doors, and floors, covering about 125 sq ft per quart with a 3 to 4 hour recoat. Polycrylic is a water-based, crystal-clear topcoat that cleans up with soap and water, covers about 125 sq ft per quart, and recoats in about 1 to 2 hours; Minwax does not recommend it for floors. Wipe-On Poly is wiped on with a cloth for a thin, hand-rubbed look. For floors, Minwax points to Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors, about 600 to 700 sq ft per gallon with a 3 to 4 hour recoat and no sanding needed between coats if you recoat within 12 hours. Professional Formula Sanding Sealer seals bare, unstained wood in about 1 hour before polyurethane (not under lacquer).
| Line | Use (maker) | Coverage (maker) | Dry / recoat (77°F, 50% RH) | VOC (maker) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Finish oil-based stain | Interior penetrating stain; half pints, quarts, spray cans, and stain markers | ~400-500 sq ft/gal | ~2 hr touch; ~6 hr dry to use | 315 g/L |
| Water-Based Semi-Transparent and Solid Color Stain | Interior only, not for floors; one-coat color, thicker than traditional oil stain | ~100 sq ft/qt | Touch under 15 min; recoat 1-2 hr; dry to use 6 hr | <250 g/L |
| Gel Stain | Thick, non-drip color for wood, fiberglass, and metal | ~200 sq ft/qt | Recoat on wood 6-8 hr; topcoat after 24 hr | 550 g/L |
| PolyShades | Stain and polyurethane in one for doors, trim, cabinets, and furniture, even already-finished wood; not for floors | See label | Recoat 6 hr; final coat 24 hr for light use | 550 g/L max |
| Fast-Drying Polyurethane | Oil-based clear finish for interior furniture, cabinets, doors, and floors; brush-on and spray | ~125 sq ft/qt | Recoat 3-4 hr | 550 g/L max |
| Polycrylic Protective Finish | Water-based clear topcoat for interior wood; brush-on and spray; not for floors | ~125 sq ft/qt; spray ~20-25 sq ft/can | Brush-on: touch under 15 min, recoat 1 hr, use 24 hr | <275 g/L (brush-on) |
| Wipe-On Poly | Wipe-on clear coat for interior wood | ~62 sq ft/pint | Recoat 2-3 hr; dry overnight before use | 600 g/L max |
| Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors | Interior hardwood floors | ~600-700 sq ft/gal | Recoat 3-4 hr; no sanding if recoated within 12 hr | 450 g/L max |
| Professional Formula Sanding Sealer | Seal bare, unstained wood floors, furniture, doors, and cabinets before poly; not under lacquer | ~350-500 sq ft/gal (~125 sq ft/qt) | Dry about 1 hr, then sand and topcoat | ~182 g/L |
| Helmsman Spar Urethane spray | Interior or exterior wood exposed to sun, water, or temperature changes; not for floors | ~20-25 sq ft/can | Recoat after 15 min, or wait if past 2 hr | See label |
| Aerosol Lacquer | Interior wood, over bare or stained wood; not for floors | See label | Touch 30 min; recoat 2 hr, no sanding between coats | See label |
| Tung Oil Finish | Hand-rubbed interior finish for fine wood and furniture | See label | See label | 600 g/L max |
| Paste Finishing Wax | Luster on interior stained wood that does not need a poly coat | ~500 sq ft/lb | Dry 10-15 min, then polish | See label |
| Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner | Even stain on soft or porous wood; not for water-based stains | ~500 sq ft/gal | Stain after 15 min, within 2 hr | 350 g/L |
| Color Wash and Design Series Wood Effects | Water-based layering color and aged-wood effects for furniture, cabinets, doors, and trim | Color Wash ~100 sq ft/qt; Wood Effects ~275 sq ft/qt | Touch 30 min; recoat 1-2 hr | Wood Effects 0 g/L |
| Wood fillers, putty, and Blend-Fil pencils | Stainable Wood Filler, High Performance Wood Filler and Hardener, Wood Putty, Blend-Fil | n/a | See notes below | Wood Putty 0 |
Repair notes from Minwax data: Stainable Wood Filler is a stainable, paintable latex filler for indoor and outdoor unfinished wood; shallow repairs dry in about 2 hours and deeper ones 2 to 6 hours. High Performance Wood Filler is a two-part filler for split, damaged, or rotted wood indoors or out, carvable after about 20 minutes and sandable after 30; prep rotted wood with High Performance Wood Hardener, which hardens in 2 to 4 hours. Wood Putty is a non-hardening, pre-mixed putty color-matched to Wood Finish stains for nail holes in finished wood, and Blend-Fil pencils fill shallow scratches after the wood is stained and topcoated.
Shop related: pre-stain wood conditioner, wood finishing oils and paste wax, every Minwax Wood Finish stain color, spray polyurethane and clear spray finishes, polyurethane for wood, wood stains and gel stains, General Finishes gel stain, protective finishes and topcoats, Varathane, Watco, wood filler and wood putty by job and color, and the furniture refinishing cart.
No. Minwax labels Wood Finish for interior projects only, such as furniture, cabinets, doors, trim, and floors. Use a dedicated exterior deck stain for outdoor decks and siding.
Polycrylic is water-based, crystal clear, and cleans up with soap and water, which suits light woods and painted pieces; Minwax does not recommend it for floors or over red mahogany stains. Fast-Drying Polyurethane is oil-based, may amber slightly over light woods, and is rated for interior floors as well as furniture.
PolyShades combines stain and polyurethane in one step. Minwax recommends it for doors, trim, cabinets, and furniture, including already-finished wood, with a 6 hour recoat and 2 to 3 coats. It is not recommended for floors.
Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors is made for interior hardwood floors and can go over Wood Finish stain. Fast-Drying Polyurethane is also rated for floors. PolyShades, Polycrylic, Helmsman spray, and aerosol lacquer are not recommended for floors.
Yes on soft or porous woods such as pine, fir, and spruce. Minwax says to let it penetrate 5 to 15 minutes, wipe off the excess, and apply stain after 15 minutes but within 2 hours. It is not for use with water-based stains.
Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner goes on before oil-based stain to even color on blotch-prone woods. Professional Formula Sanding Sealer goes on bare, unstained wood before clear polyurethane; Minwax says dry about 1 hour, sand, then topcoat, and not to use it under lacquer.
Use Stainable Wood Filler or High Performance Wood Filler on bare wood before staining, since both harden and sand. Use Wood Putty or Blend-Fil pencils after the wood is stained and finished; Wood Putty stays soft and does not sand.
No. Minwax lists Water-Based Semi-Transparent and Solid Color Stains for interior use only and not for floors.
Use this collection to choose the core product, then add the prep, applicators, cleanup, and finish supplies from Weekend Project Carts. For a common starting point, open the Paint Cabinets Project Cart, or read the Project Guides.