Behlen Rockhard Table Top Urethane Varnish Gloss, Quart

Not hard at all. This product has a very nice appearance and is aesthetically pleasing. However, for live edge work I would not recommend it. I have used a variety of finishes for tables and bar tops and I recently made a dining room table that I wanted something a little more "hard", being a dining room table, it would have more use and wear and tear than a bar top. This finish looked good on the first coat but the crack and voids were not filled. Even small cracks left seams in the finish. But that is normal, nothing a few more coats won't fix right? Well, after sanding my sample piece the top got gummy and cloudy. I though perhaps it was too hot, so I replaced the sanding pad and sanded much slower and less aggressive, which eliminated the cloudiness but, even after 48 hours I could still penetrate the surface with my finger nail and it would leave a huge gash in the surface. This is unacceptable to me especially for the application. I wanted something that could be written on, have forks and knifes slid or dropped on, and this was less hard than a two part epoxy like crystal sheen. I sanded the first coat as instructed on the label and applied another coat, the cracks and voids eventually started to seal and level out but every coat after the first one got more veiny and "hammered" looking. when the light shines on the product it was full of dimples and not smooth at all. I tried several applicators and for the first coat a sponge brush worked best, but every coat after got worse and worse. sanding it off was a chore because it gums up the sanding pads right away. I think this would be a great finish for cabinet doors or something of that sort, but not at all a table top. I might have messed up applying the finish but with no instructions other than what is on the label, I would be guessing at trying to dilute the mixture, add this or that, who knows how to make the finish actually "rock hard". For $100 a gallon, I would expect a much more superior product, I would have been better off with minwax. I also tried filling the crack and voids with clear glue and wood filler, which helped the leveling of the product, but not the appearance. If you get this product just know that it is not "rock hard" and good luck applying multiple coats. For best results (in my opinion) use on a solid piece, with no cracks, and apply one coat with a sponge brush, let dry for a LONG time, (72 hours) and don't over handle once finished. That being said, I recommend spending the money on another product.

Just like the first quart that I bought, this product was shipped immediately after I purchased it. It works well and didn't appear streaky after nine coats on my countertop. If it's humid when you apply it, it'll need extra drying time. I used 320-grit sand paper in between coats because otherwise it'll create bumps in the surface. I used a soft-bristle Purdy brush when applying. There were a fish-eye areas, though, but it's probably because I was on a strict timeline and had to get it done. Sometimes in the 80 degrees to 90 degrees when I had to apply it (perfect conditions are 60-70 degrees and not humid). If you need to apply it indoors, you certainly need to have proper ventilation for it to dry and so you aren't sick from the fumes: windows open, doors open, and fans on for a day. Overall, nice product. So far it seems to repel water quite nicely.Picture of final results here: [...]

I have used this on several projects now with good success, but the last project I did this finish developed horrible fish eyes on the third coat. Very strange. I worked with the manufacturer, but never did quite figure out what caused the fish eyes. I had to sand everything down smooth and I ended up putting several coats of General Finished Arm-R-Seal on as top coats.

Great job! I tried using products from my local area and nothing did the job I wanted so I ordered this one and it was perfect. No runs or white foamy streaks. I used to paint and vanish things with the grandpa--my project turned out perfect. And I know he'd be proud of my work and Behlen's.

The finishes available in California are very limited. I wanted Behlen's original table top formula but it is impossible to get here. Tried Behlen's new formula and I put a glass like finish on my walnut dining table. It provides a very hard durable finish with absolute professional looking results.

Good product that I have been using for many years. I use the gloss for the base coats and finish it with the Satin to dull the sheen. A little trouble with shipping, but it was resolved.

Easy to use, beautiful glossy finish. I put a few coats of shellac down first, then of few coats of this on next. Finished product looks awesome.

Dries hard and fairly quickly. Used on table top