What finish to use

[Reboot]

I made a coffee table. I stained it with Dark Walnut. I would line to put a finished on it that is not to shinny, but had a finished look to it. What do you suggest.
tks
Reboot

[MilDoc]

How much protection are you looking for from glasses, water stains, possible hot cups, scratches?

[gerti]

Rockler has a very easy to use (wipe on, wipe off) Gel Polyurethane. What is nice about it is that it does not give that plastic-like look man PUs do, but you get the protection. I only used it on smaller projects, but think it would work well for this.

[JTimmons]

I am kind of partial to General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, they make it in satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Woodcraft carries it.

[Wood_workur]

I second the arm-r-seal

[Tom Miller]

I don't have a wide range of finishes in my arsenal. Of the handful that I'm comfortable with, I'd choose a wipe-on poly for it's high level of protection.

As far as the final look, or sheen -- I think you can get a wide range from poly, either by using a satin on the final coat, or by rubbing with paste wax in 0000 steel wool, for example.

Regards,
Tom

[Ken Massingale]

What wood did you make it from?

[onedash]

I use wipe on satin poly for just about everything.

[MilDoc]

Have to admit I'm prone to anything General Finishes makes, too.