Questions tagged [polyurethane]
Polyurethane is a synthetic resin used in some modern finishes.
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Why does my workpiece become rough again after applying polyurethane varnish when it wasn't before?
I am in the process of applying polyurethane varnish to a finished workpiece and have been sanding between coats as advised by the manufacturer instructions.
I initially wondered why this was ...
9
votes
3answers
40k views
How do I de-nib polyurethane after it dries but still maintain its finish?
Sometimes when I apply polyurethane, for whatever reason, it's not completely smooth. Maybe a brush mark here and there, or a couple little nibs, etc.
The advice I see often is to sand the area ...
8
votes
5answers
393 views
I polyed my paintbrush then procrastination left me in a predicament
I was using a nice paintbrush with polyurethane and it seems that I set it down then forgot to clean it. I have since run into it and I have a shiny, relativity tough, paintbrush now. Needless to say ...
7
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1answer
347 views
What is causing this poor refinishing result and how do I fix it?
I followed the procedure of stripping, sanding, staining and then polyurethaning the top of two antique, about 75 years, dressers. The one came out beautifully. The other has questionable results.
...
6
votes
2answers
15k views
Polyurethane clear coat is thickening to a jelly in the can!
I've been refinishing wood cabinet doors.
I've sanded down to the bare wood, then applied a pre-stain. After 1 coat of stain I'm putting on 2-3 coats of polyurethane clear coat. I'm using mineral ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the difference between wiping polyurethane and wiping varnish?
I make my own wiping polyurethane by thinning regular oil-based poly from home improvement stores with mineral spirits. According to Bob Flexner, the only difference between this and polyurethane-...
6
votes
1answer
630 views
Should I use a router before or after my finish is done?
First time poster so forgive me if my question is worded poorly.
I have a wood art piece that I'm coming close to finishing. I plan on routing out the back of the piece to lay in some LED lights to ...
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votes
1answer
2k views
Is this mask sufficient to filter polyurethane fumes?
I'm learning how to apply polyurethane and am very bothered by the strong fumes.
Is this mask from Harbor Freight sufficient protection for health purposes and will it help to filter out the smell?
...
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1answer
1k views
Flat polyurethane finish for tabletop
To protect a reclaimed table top, could I use gloss poly as the first coat and then top it off with a flat poly? I've heard that gloss gives better protection, but I want a flat finish.
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votes
1answer
109 views
Veneering with construction adhesives (PL Premium, etc)
I have one curved staircase riser I need to veneer or otherwise match with hardwood floor. All the other risers are going to be done with thin plywood and clear coated (treads will be assembled from ...
5
votes
1answer
67 views
Applying finish over furniture repair wax
I have a panel made from recycled lumber - there are a number of 10mm holes from some sort of fixtures in the woods previous life. These are not nail holes, but clean drilled out holes. I'm not ...
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2answers
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Water-based polyurethane Vs. Oil-based polyurethane
What are the key differences between a water-based polyurethane and a oil-based polyurethane? How would one be better than the other? What lasts longer on wood, penetrates, Etc. When should there be ...
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2answers
5k views
Do I need to add natural stain before applying polyurethane for natural finish?
I have an unfinished desk and want to keep the natural color of the wood but I want to protect it with a clear polyurethane finish.
I am wondering if I need to (or is it preferable to) add a clear or ...
4
votes
1answer
170 views
Is low-formaldehyde plywood important if the wood will be finished with polyurethane?
I'm willing to pay a premium for low-VOC materials to improve indoor air quality. Recently, I've been using PureBond plywood, which uses a soy-based adhesive instead of urea formaldehyde.
This surely ...
4
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1answer
4k views
Didn't let wood dry between coats of stain & poly. How to correct?
I attempted my first ever woodworking project this weekend and thought it was going smoothly until I realized I was supposed to let the minwax oil based stain dry for 4-6 hours between coats.
I had ...
4
votes
2answers
8k views
How many coats of polyurethane?
I am finishing oak trim (casing, baseboards, and quarter round). I am using Minwax fast drying polyurethane clear satin. The instructions call for 2 or 3 coats. If I ensure that the 1st and 2nd ...
4
votes
1answer
146 views
How to get an even sheen with wiping varnish?
I am making my own wiping varnish by following Bob Flexner's recommendation of mixing polyurethane varnish (in my case, Minwax semigloss) with odorless mineral spirits. Everything seems to be going ...
4
votes
1answer
117 views
polyurethane finish krinkles?
I've been having the hardest time with one little section of a table I am finishing. I am using Varathane oil based clear polyurethane.
I've been spraying it on with a 20% turpentine / 80% varathane ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
How do I finish-off pine wood after issues?
I'm trying to finish a pine dresser. Here are the steps I have taken so far:
Sanded
1 layer pre-stain wood conditioner (Varathane)
2 layers of wood stain (Varathane Classic)
1 layer of water-based ...
4
votes
1answer
355 views
Best TOUGH clear finish for fragile wood-shaving flower?
I made a rose from Poplar planing scraps; the arranged, concentric, shavings are tissue-paper thin.
I wanted to somehow seal and finish the flower so that it would have some degree of durability, ...
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votes
2answers
3k views
A beginner's question about sanding, stain, and polyurethane for a SMOOTH finish
I'm doing to hobby pieces using 3/4" pine ply.
On my faces, I've sanded with 80, then 120, then finish with 220 using random orbit sander.
To the touch, it's very very smooth. I'll give it a good ...
3
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2answers
739 views
How are bubbles avoided when brushing on Polyurethane?
I have used polyurethane a few times. Each time I've tried to be more careful about creating bubbles, but the finish was still riddled with bubbles. Just the act of dipping the brush in the can and ...
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2answers
8k views
How to fill in holes and gaps after applying polyurethane
I'm finishing a very rough piece of scrap wood for use as a tabletop and to practice applying polyurethane. I've since found that the holes and gaps aren't really "filled" by the material and that I ...
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votes
2answers
2k views
Polyurethane rub down problem!
I'm in the final stages of finishing an oak poker table. I have applied 3 coats of deep mahogany oil, which went on OK but didn't really soak in well after the first coat.
Now I am applying 3-5 coats ...
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votes
1answer
100 views
Waterproofing Wood With Left Over Polyurethane (Aesthetics irrelevant to project)
So I know the off-the-cuff answer is you cannot (or should not) use Indoor Rated Poly to weather proof wood as the sun's UV will discolor the wood and other issues visually. This wood though is being ...
2
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1answer
3k views
When can I sand water based polyurethane?
I've applied Water Based Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane to some desktops. I intend to apply 3 coats. The instructions say drying time is 2 hours. Can I sand the finish after 2 hours or do I have to ...
2
votes
1answer
20k views
Minwax “One Coat Polyurethane” — does it work? [closed]
I stumbled across Minwax's One Coat Polyurethane on their website. It purports to built a finish equal to 3 coats of regular poly in a single application. I'm curious if anybody has used it and has ...
2
votes
1answer
993 views
Finishes over mineral oil
Over the past few days I have been refinishing a cedar chest. I used stripper and a razor blade to remove most of the old finish before starting to sand. I sanded it up to 600 grit.
I was reading ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Does water-based polyurethane affect paint color?
I recently painted a dresser. I originally painted it a darker gray than I wanted so after putting the initial two coats on I took the paint back to Home Depot and had them lighten the rest of the ...
2
votes
1answer
8k views
Can I use #0000 steel wool for final polish of water-based polyurethane?
I'm finishing my first woodworking project — a tabletop that I hope to mount on a sit/stand desk mechanism.
I've stained and applied 4 coats of Varthane water-based polyurethane in matte finish. I ...
2
votes
1answer
828 views
Do I need to sand off old finish completely before applying polyurethane?
I want to add polyurethane to wood floors to protect them from wear. The floors were already finished and looked fine. I sanded one floor with 120 grit sandpaper, and now the finish looks patchy. I ...
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1answer
1k views
Rough polyurethane job.
I applied poly after staining what I thought was a smooth surface pine board. Rough when first coat dried. Sanded it lightly and is fairly smooth. I want to apply another coat but dust is sticking to ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views
Minwax poly stain still sticky
I'm new to this forum and new to woodworking as well...I'm renovating my daughter's bathroom and she wanted the cabinets stained darker. I thought that would be pretty simple (😳😩) and inexpensive so ...
2
votes
1answer
5k views
What can be done to correct wipe-on poly that is still tacky after 24 hours?
The project is an oak dining table top. The varnish had worn off in spots. After stripping a few spots that had been exposed for longer still had a gray, aged look. It is a veneer so I didn't want to ...
2
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1answer
1k views
Blotchy Water based Poly
Got new unfinished dark walnut cabinets. Used water based poly after a thorough light sanding and cleaning. After two coats the cabinets look blotchy. What can i do? Thinking about sanding them down ...
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votes
1answer
2k views
Can I salvage a paint brush with dried polyurethane on the bristles? [duplicate]
I bought a nice Wooster Pro nylon brush to use for applying water-based polyurethane to some projects. After the last application, I forgot to wash the brush and it has since dried and hardened. I can ...
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2answers
1k views
How to fix polyurethane finish peeling off furniture
So I recently bought a piece of furniture which (based on my research) has a polyurethane finish. After it arrived I discovered it had scratches, which I believe is polyurethane flaking off (you can ...
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0answers
92 views
Sun damaged polyurethane-finished dining table
So I have this Italian made marquetry dining table which has a polyurethane finish. I acquired this as a used item and I noticed after purchase that in the light I can see streaked areas where it has ...
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1answer
3k views
Removing oil-based polyurethane residue
I have been working with polyurethane often and I get some on my hands but mostly my brush. I try to wash it out right after I am done using it but it does not seem to work, even with simple soap. ...
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vote
2answers
62 views
Clean and protect cabinets and railing [closed]
Wanted to clean and protect the cabinets and railings in our house. They feel very dry to touch and ones in the bathroom look dirty. But first I want to understand what kind of wood was used for these....
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vote
1answer
194 views
Best way to glue two finished surfaces
What would be the best way to glue two surfaces which have already been finished with Danish oil and then wipe-on poly?
One surface would be the cut edge of ply, the other surface would be solid wood....
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vote
2answers
515 views
Polyurethane a box (vertical sides)
I was originally going to use spray lacquer for my speaker cabinets which are essentially large cubes. However, I've switched to brush on Poly. Is it possible for me to apply the poly on the ...
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vote
2answers
4k views
Using Tung Oil and Polyurethane on Maple?
I am getting close to completing a desk I am building. This has been a very ambitious project for me as this is the first time I have ever built any furniture (shelving not counted) and this is a ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Best waterproofing method for bathroom project?
I'm somewhat of a beginner woodworker and I'm looking at building a small caddy of sorts for my bathroom counter to hold my razor, razor blades, shaving brush, toothbrush, etc. because my bathroom isn'...
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vote
1answer
48 views
Refinishing over different polyurethane
I have a lot of door and window trim that I finished with a satin polyurethane. I recently started a project to finish trim in another location in my house. I somehow managed to use a different satin ...
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1answer
6k views
Can I put a clear polyeurethane coat on top of teak oil?
I have an outdoor bench that came with instructions to coat it with teak oil once a year. I've done the teak oil one year so far. If I put on another coat of teak oil this year, do you think I can ...
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1answer
1k views
Water based oil modified polyurethane finish beading when applied over stain on pine
I applied Minwax Wood Finish penetrating stain to white pine cabinet. Wiped stain thoroughly, waited 60 hours before attempting to apply Minwax water based, oil-modified polyurethane, using synthetic ...
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2answers
130 views
Top coat poly makes other sides rough
We're restoring some old furniture - sofas with a lot of carving, whole wood book shelves, et al. We've stripped the old varnish and are redoing the job with poly. We did 2 coats of PU sealer and 2 ...
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1answer
2k views
Can I use linseed oil and water-based polyurethane on opposing sides of a 1/2" board?
I know that linseed oil and water-based polyurethane won't work together. But I have 1/2" poplar paneling that I am installing in my van and am hoping to get the best of both synthetic and natural ...
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1answer
2k views
Should I use a conditioner on maple before applying tung oil finish or polyurethane?
I am getting to the end stages of building a desk out of maple. Should I use a wood conditioner on my maple wood before applying tung oil finish or polyurethane?
I have tried a bit of both on a test ...
