Poly spray-ons

I am currently painting both finished and unfinished furniture for our nursery. I'd like to put some sort of protective coat on the furniture when I'm finished. I'd like to use a clear satin coat that is safe. I have a few questions about this step:

1. What is the difference between polyurethane and polycrylic
2. How good are the polys you can spray on? This seems much more efficient than the liquid polys.
3. Are all polys safe to use in kid's rooms
4. Do all polys yellow?

Any advice is much appreicated!

Catherine

 

Catherine,
If you use a good quality semi-gloss latex paint you shouldn't have to put anything else on your furniture. It can be easily cleaned off just as if it was on a wall.
To answer your questions:
1) polyurethane is an oil base poly, and the polycrilic is a water base finish.
2) spray on polys are very good for small pieces you want to finish.
3) the oil base polys do have the usual lingering smell. The water base polys have a diffeent odor, but they dry in a couple hours. Use either with some ventilation. After they are dryand cured they are both harmless to children.
4) the oil base polys will have the golden/yellow cast. The polycrilics are purported to stay clear.
If you paint and then poly, it will be more of a problem down the road. If you paint only, all you need to do is clean and re-paint
fred.

 

Thank you for your reply, Fred. I have on more question...is the paint likely to get scratched down to the wood or chip off with every day use if I don't use the polycrylic (I used Behr premium flat paint)?

Thanks again,
Catherine

 

Cathy:

Flat paint, regardles of the manufacturer, is not as durable is semigloss. I would suggest (rather than the polycrylic) you apply an additional coat of semi-gloss as a finish. It has a lot more durability.