[Don Parker]

Just bumping this thread. I’m not very active here, but I might chime in more going forward.

I have recently been experimenting with the Clean Armor instrument finish products, and so far, I like what I am seeing. I’m coming from experience with shellac, EnduroVar, Royal Lac, and Cardinal UV cure finishes. The Clean Armor has all the good features I want, and no real downside other than cost. I don’t want to give a full throated endorsement yet, because I am still fiddling around with it, but it sure is ticking all the boxes so far. I don’t have to put on my respirator or a Tyvek suit. Just rubber gloves to apply it by hand. It cures in minutes, with the recommended lamp (which they also sell). If you give it a few minutes to rest after curing, it sands to a powder (nothing gummy). For certain woods, using the sealer is very important. After that, the pore filler does a nice job, and after that, the top coats go on well. All by hand with a lint-free fad or pad. I did burn through a few spots on my test board while buffing, but that was pilot error. And I was using the original instrument top coat. I have since bought some of the instrument top coat that is supposed to be easier to buff.

Like I said, early days, but so far, this is just what I want. Easy to apply by hand, fast cure, sands well, durable, looks great.

I would love to hear if others are using this finish, and if so, how it is going.