Anyone else use Miniwax Polyshades?

I've used it several times and had no problems. I know I'm typically going to put on 3 coats and it's going to get darker with each coat. For a pecan look, I get light maple. Steel wool with 000 & 0000 between coats. I use a tack cloth and a foam brush.

I have used it many times with zero issues. First off, you do nit need to cut it with mineral spirits, just mix it well. Second, it does not spray well, and using a brush will create nasty bubbles and imperfections. I use cut up pieces of old t-shirts. I soak it on heavy and spread it out, then wipe off the excess. Wait at least 6 hours, then repeat process. I put 5-6 coats. The other thing is, you are not going to get a glass like high gloss finish out of this product, it is more of a traditional slightly shiny furniture finish. I think it is a great product if used right.

I have attempted to use this product 4 times and have refinished hundreds of pieces of furniture and would NEVER go near it again. The colour is not consistent and settles even as you are applying it on a small surface. The first coat needs to be thin and I mean thin as they say in the instructions. That is nearly impossible with a foam brush or a bristle brush. You will be frustrated with the streaks in the poly and the colour streaks in the first two or three coats. The only time you can make this product work is if you are putting three or more coats on so you are really saving no time given the frustration. Stick to the old fashion tried and true. This is one of those new better ideas that isn't.

I have spent part of the day bawling at what this stuff did to the floor I'm refinishing. This wood is from 1955 and I was in love with it. Still, it was time to refinish. I can't go into details without it making me sick. Do NOT, under any circumstance, use this pathetic s*** for a product.

Learning how to achieve success with this project took a lot of patience. It really lays on top of the wood giving an even color throughout. I've found that spraying on had the best results. I used "Preval". It's been awhile but I think I had to thin it with mineral spirits. Hope it's still available because I was planning on using it on a Poplar stair rail. First I will try a rag application. Hope that wins me over. The entertainment center that's pictured was sprayed with Pecan Poly shade.

I see several poster's are trying to use this product as a stain and poly on new or refinished pieces. For those applications I would not use this product, use traditional stains where you will have better control and easier time in the application. Use a poly only when you are satisfied with the stain.

If you are attempting to change the color of a previously stained and finished piece then you can use this product to change an existing tone. I have used it to darken overly cherry stained woods to take the reds to more of an oak or mahogany look. I think limiting it's use to these projects is where it can be useful. It's a covering product, not a traditional stain that enhances the grain of wood.

It can be tricky to get a even finish on large areas, use it as thinly as possible to control lines and streaks as well as not having the color go too dark on the initial coat because you will need to do at least two coats and it gets darker with every coat.

Thanks to all who posted the issues they're having with the polyshades. I'm glad I read through all the info, so I'll go with two separate products on my refnishing project that's now sanded down to bare wood.