how to apply polyurethane

What I learned was that brushing on poly is not at all like and oil based paint. There’s a bunch of different tools that are needed for the project that we will talk about, and we’ll walk you through the different steps of … In this case, 95% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. If the wood you're working with feels especially rough, you may want to go over it with medium-grit sandpaper before you move onto finer stuff. Most projects will be ready for normal use in 24 hours. And then follow the grain for brushing. Don't use a roller because it will not go on evenly or dry smoothly. Use the razor blade to gently scrape away drops of polyurethane. Wait until the 30 day mark (after that last coat) before stressing the finish with wear, heat, chemicals, etc…. Shake for 10 seconds occasionally during use. Why the blue nitrile gloves? It could be anywhere from a week, to a full 30 days. Can I use a paint pad for the second coat? The more dust that settles on polyurethane before it dries, the less even the finished surface will be. If you really want that mirror finish, spray the final coat. Step 4 - Sand and Repeat. Basically, any part of the project that is not going to be seen, tends to get ignored in the finish process. About The Author Adam has been woodworking for the last 10 years. Vacuum, mop, and/or wipe every surface clean. Read on for another quiz question. If you’re not set up to spray, then you can’t get the full benefits of a Lacquer finish, so polyurethane is a great alternative, and it takes less setup and less equipment to apply. Guess again! For more information see my disclosure page. With the lack of time, space, and proper tools, he always finds ways to get great results without over-complicating or over-thinking the process. However, it is also unbelievably finicky. [2] X Research source 5.4 Permit the coat to dry out completely. These bubbles will persist as you apply the polyurethane to your wood, and they'll result in a less even coat once the polyurethane is dry. Start coating at the far side of the room and slowly reach the doorway. FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST I keep all my pinterest boards updated with great and helpful content. Not exactly! When using a foam brush, you don’t really need gloves as you would when applying a wipe-on poly. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. After the second coat, you’ll want to start giving it about 24 hours to dry (for each coat). Wipe it onto the wood, following the grain. Using two coats is typically advisable because this provides better protection and a more even finish. If you do prefer to use a fan, clean the dust off, and also make sure it’s not blowing towards anything that has dust on it. It creates an incredibly durable top coat that can withstand years of heat, cold, cleaning chemicals, and abuse. However, there's another reason you shouldn't shake it, so even preventing spills by closing the can doesn't make this a good idea. This means when you’re done, if you did it correctly, you will not see any streaks or row-lines. Regular oil based polyurethane goes on much thicker than finishes like wipe-on poly, or lacquer. God has blessed him with a beautiful family, as well as a passion for teaching others about woodworking. This will stir up dust in the air and it will no doubt end up on your wet finish. Note that performance degradation due to temperatures up to 93°C (200°F), even when end… Whether it is oil-based or water-based, it comes in a variety of finishes, from glossy to matte. After that, give the polyurethane 24 hours to air-dry. Let the polyurethane sit for about 10 minutes after stirring to allow the foam to settle. How to Apply Water Based Polyurethane on Wood Floors Applying polyurethane to wood floors without bubbles can be a time-consuming task that requires multiple steps. If you want to start with gloss and end with satin, just make your final 2 coats satin. Purchase a respirator with an organic cartridge if you are unable to improve the room’s ventilation and/or if you are sensitive to fumes. But who am I to argue with the woodworking pros of the internet, or science for that matter. Not necessarily! For water-based polyurethane, dampen your cloth with water. If you go too fast, it simply will not lay down evenly, and you can restart the row, just go slower. I switch to my regular electric quarter-sheet finishing sander, and I’ll use that for 120 grit, 180 grit, and 220 grit sandpapers. Once dry, sand it again with a 220 grit and apply the second coat. Because this is an oil-based finish, it’s slow to dry and tends to blend well into the preceding rows. So in a nutshell, plan on 1 day to dry between coats, and plan on 30 days to fully cure. Give it 7 days before bringing it into the house. Sand very lightly using a fine grit sand paper. Usually I prefer a satin-finish, as it creates a nice sheen that reflects light, but not in the way a wet surface or a piece of glass would. The finish at that point will probably feel a bit rough. Most will try to apply polyurethane with a paintbrush, making the delicate finish all the more difficult to use . Jun 25, 2020 - Explore Fred Bernhardt's board "How to apply polyurethane" on Pinterest. But medium sandpaper isn't the best choice for sanding off scratches once you're done with the bulk of the sanding. Approved. Because this creates so much sanding dust that the shop vac can’t catch, I don’t normally use it for the remaining sanding. In a nutshell, the “Dry Time” of polyurethane is about 24 hours. In general, polyurethane’s dynamic performance properties become significantly degraded at temperatures above 93°C (200°F). If I’m putting on something oil-based, I’d rather just trash the paraphernalia. Can I use a sander between coats, or should I do it by hand? Wipe contoured surfaces with a clean cloth, going with the grain. Can you apply polyurethane over a painted wood trim to get a glossy finish? The next row you want to overlap by a quarter inch, or really just enough to make sure you don’t accidentally leave a gap. I like having light in the backdrop of my work area, so I can easily find the glare as I look for the wet line. In general, you should expect to apply twice as many coats via wiping as you would with the thicker method. I’ll link to my article on applying wipe-on poly below. Step 3 - Apply. After it dries, sand lightly. Use a spatula for application. Reduce the number of particles that might end up sticking to your coats of polyurethane. At that point, the finish is fully cured and the protection is at 100%. You still absolutely need to ventilate, but a fan doesn't act as anti-ventilation. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. (I don’t always do this, but it is the best way to remove the final dust). … A 6-in. This can be done with compressed air or a shop vac. There’s always a bit of leftover lint, but only on the first coat. I’ve written a more detailed article comparing the major finishes, and when you would want to use each. didn't even know where to start. Polyurethane kitchen countertops – Polyurethane is a synthetic compound used to seal wood and other materials which is commonly used in shipbuilding and other construction projects. Dust and other particles that dry in the polyurethane will result in an uneven surface. Thanks. It is a remarkable step to ensure the stability of the surface shine. You can usually reapply another layer after waiting for two hours. When applying a gloss finish, there’s really nothing you have to do to the polyurethane itself. I personally have never seen it happen, but it does make sense. Correct! But depending on the type of wood you’re using, this can either look like a glass surface, a plastic coating, or wet wood. Click on another answer to find the right one... {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/57\/Apply-Polyurethane-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Apply-Polyurethane-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/57\/Apply-Polyurethane-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid1566046-v4-728px-Apply-Polyurethane-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"