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I'm refinishing the exterior front door on an old farm house – I'm confused on my options – any suggestions would be appreciated

I'm partial to Minwax products (good price + good results). For exterior woodwork, I like their Helmsman Spar Urethane. First thing is remove the old coating (shellac, lacquer or varnish). After you have the door cleaned-up and sanded (the grain was raised during the stripping process) apply a Tung Oil finish to add additional oils to the door surface before applying the urethane.

Let the Tung Oil cure for 30 days.
Lightly scuff sand the door with 220-grit sandpaper.
Remove sanding dust using a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with pure mineral spirits.
Let mineral spirits evaporate (door dry off)
Apply 1-3 thin coats of urethane following the label instructions

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