Deft Finish

[Scrappile]

Deft has been my favorite finish for several years.  I heard rumors that it was changing, and I have not been able to find it locally for quite a while.  So I searched the internet the internet and found I could buy from Amazon and by purchasing a 6-pack I could get it for around $9 - $10 a can versus the $13-$17 a can locally.  The pictures of the product on Amazon looked the same as they always have.  I ordered a case of gloss and a case of semi-gloss.  They arrived today.  This is what I got.  The semi-gloss is the same as it has been for years.  The Gloss is a new name, a new look. It says on the can "same DEFT Formula New Name"  I want to believe, however, in all the years of using DEFT, there was never a marble/bearing in the gloss cans.  A something is rattling around in the new can.  Same formula, why is a marble now needed in the same formula?  I should be happy, it means more marbles or bearings to add to the coke bottle.  I will see.  I think DEFT has been sold.  I don't care as long as it is as good as the old.

By the way las,t time I needed some and  could not find DEFT, so I purchased a can each of WATCO crystal; clear Lacquer.  Not real sure if I don't like it better.  Dries a little faster, but smell even worse than DEFT to me.  It says it in more scratch resistant than others.

 

[kmmcrafts]

Use to be a lot of good finishes.. but these days with the environmentalist cracking down on anything that might have a smell or anything that doesn't smell but dries they've gotta save the world.. I get it really but at the same time they're making it so we're going to have to pay a higher tax if we fart more than once in a days time, LOL

I've done the water base poly in the blue / teal colored can.. used to like the stuff but the last several cans have done nothing but clog up and spit and sputter the stuff and ruin the finish.. I've now been using the Lacquer, and like you I'm finding I like the Lacquer best.. at least for now.. other than the smell.  

[OCtoolguy]

There is a special place in Hell for the environmentalists and the politicians that allow this crap to happen. We still can't buy mineral spirits in the county where I live. I managed to buy a gallon through Amazon and it was shipped in from Georgia.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

To me there is no better finish than a good coat of lacquer when you want a top coat that is durable and easy to apply. Poly is a plastic and many times it looks like it when applied on a nice piece of wood. I have used Deft for many years but when Lowes stopped carrying it in 2013 and Deft stopped making it I switched to Watco and found that to be as good. I use alot of lacquers over the years. This new can is suppose to be the same formula but there is no talk of it on woodworking sites for proof. everyone tells people to call the company to find out for sure. Why the marble I do not know but to me that is an indication the formula must be different if it needs a strong mixing. You get that with marbles to break up the solids. 

[dgman]

Iv’e used Deft spray Lacquer for years. When it became scarce I started using  Minwax spray lacquer. In my opinion, it actually finishes nicer then Deft. Lately though, I’ve been spraying Minwax brushing lacquer. I purchased a spray gun and dilute the brushing lacquer with lacquer thinner. It finishes so much nicer than spray cans. 

[kmmcrafts]

Yes, a spray gun is way better at atomizing the fluid.. I keep thinking I need to use my spray gun and buy the quart size etc.. way better results, especially on larger surfaced projects. That being said many of my items are most times done as a one off order or very small batches that isn't really worth the time and effort to have to clean the spray equipment etc.. so that is my reasoning behind spray cans.. Cost per oz is way better if you have the ability to use spray equipment. For a small batch of small items such as ornaments.. spray can in my opinion is the way to go.. NOW if I was able to do large batches and was in my production mode to where I was able to spray a few batches per day then that might be different. With the slowed down economy I'm not really been working a lot.. most things are in inventory from years of building a lot of stock.. so the last couple years I've been only working on a few items here and there.. not really any need to do large batches.