Polyurethane Versus Catalyzed Finish for Residential Trim
Finishers sound off on the benefits of the catalyzed product. June 28, 2006
Question
I have a customer who really wants poly on his doors and millwork. I would really like to spray Magnamax on this project. Is there somewhere that will give me some good backup on Magnamax? My customer is concerned on the durability.
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor J:
I can only say from experience that Magnamax is very durable for residential millwork and it looks better then poly too. I'm on my way out the door to trim a house with cherry trim and Magnamax.
From contributor C:
I just pre-finished 50,000 linear feet with Magnamax. It was palletized, trucked, and installed. Poly was specified, and we submitted Magnamax. It was approved, and its durable and it looks great. You can't beat the turnaround time, and poly would take forever.
From contributor E:
I just finished my fourth job with Magnamax. The first two were custom white tints, and the last two were stain with clear matte and dull. I'm really sold on the material it has a beautiful silk feel and my clients are thrilled.
From contributor M:
I use Magnamax all the time and love it. It is just as physically durable, and a lot more chemically durable than polyurethane. It does not turn the wood an ugly orange color like poly can and it dries in 30 minutes. Labor costs will skyrocket; our shop would likely have to charge twice or more the cost of finishing if someone required polyurethane. Polyurethane will collect tons of dust while drying, even in the most pristine environ - it has 8 hours to grab it up. Magnamax cures in 30 minutes to a dust-free finish. Note also that polyurethane cures by oxygen reaction. Magnamax cures by a powerful acid catalyst already added to it.
