Polyurethane vs. Polyacrylic

[OhYea]

I'm putting together a set of utilty shelves for my garage using sanded plywood I got at Lowes for the shelf surface. I had planned to polyurethane them to protect them and put some painted trim around the edge. But I saw polyacrylic at Lowes today and it looks like I can put that over a painted surface and I thought I could use that over all of the surfaces.

I don't have any real expiance with either one. So does anyone have any recommendations? Which is easier to apply and which is more duarble?

[cgallery]

Very similar durability, slight edge to solvent-based polyurethane over water-based polycrillic. I prefer water-based for no odor, and ease of clean-up. It also doesn't cause an amber shading like polyurethane. I would suggest testing b4 applying any finish over paint (use some scraps).

[Jeffrey Schronce]

You probably noted that polyacrylic is a good bit more expensive. Both are easy to apply, most likely brushed on your project.

You state that you noticed polyacrylic could be used over painted surfaces. Why not just use a durable paint and skip the poly?

[drumpriest]

Polyacrylic doesn't really change the tone of the wood, the urethane will alter the color of the project. The urethane is stronger, but dries slower, and the solvents smell worse. The acrylic is water cleanup, dries in 2 hours, doesn't smell as bad. Urethaine can be wiped on, acrylic is a brush only product.