Try for a thin, consistent coat over the entire project. Woodworkers are of two minds when it comes to polyurethane. A greater buildup of polyurethane yields better protection but may also cause the wood to become less natural in appearance. Then when I close the can, that freezes into a nightmare to open because of the child-proof gadget on the lid. The end result is the same polyurethane finish you get with a brush, but much thinner. The end result is the same polyurethane finish you get with a brush, but much thinner. Because I tend to just dump it from the can onto a clean rag for small jobs, I get some on the outside of the spout. Place the project in a well-ventilated area. With the lid in place, the poly will remain fresh for a couple days. Sand your project with progressively finer grits of sandpaper. Spray less accessible areas with aerosol polyurethane. Wipe away the dust with a damp rag and apply your finish. I have fallen in love with this stuff. So now you’re ready to apply the finish, and if you’re like I was, you’ll get the … Apply a minimum of three coats in this manner. If you have a very light hot cup mark in a table, first test to see if it is a lacquer finish that can be totally repaired with "furnisher refinisher" -- but if it is a plastic finish, take "00" steel wool wetted with Wipe-On-Poly and very gently use the steel wool to remove just a fraction of the discoloured finish. As with any varnish, polyurethane can also be tricky to apply, with brush strokes and bubbles being common complaints. Here’s how to gauge which approach is best for your project. You would have to put a lot of coats on to make it strong enough to walk on or use on a serious wear surface, but for non-wear surfaces it is great. Brush-on Great for broad, flat, horizontal surfaces—floors, tabletops, chair seats. Dampen a lint-free rag with mineral spirits and wipe the surface of the wood clean. A remodeling and repair specialist with over 20 years experience, he is also a Certified Pool Operator and holds an EPA Universal refrigerant certification. Well, here is one where I called MinWax and asked them to send me over some Wipe-On-Poly. Polyurethane is so durable and water-resistant, it has largely replaced shellac and varnish as a wood finish. Note: Paper with a … Don't sand woods such as pine or maple using too fine a sandpaper, especially if you intend to use a pigmented stain. Last Updated: Friday, January 4th, 2019, Created: Friday, January 11th, 2002. When sanding a coat of polyurethane before adding another coat, a fine white dust should form. Sand the wood smooth through a progressively finer series of grits, starting with a coarse grade such as 100 or 120... 3. I bet you can imagine how many manufacturers send me products hoping that I will put them on TV. I have learned to very carefully wipe off the threads on the can before putting the lid back on, and occasionally clean them off with steel wool to get the lid on and off easily again. Wipe on a second coat of polyurethane. Brush flat surfaces with a thin coat using a bristle brush. After a few days, the solvent will begin to degrade the plastic, so don’t use plastic for long-term storage. It is simply a clear polyurethane finish, but formulated to not gum up when applied with a rag. His credits include novels under the Dell imprint and for Harlequin Worldwide. Fortunately, you can avoid many of poly's shortcomings by following the proper steps to apply a wipe-on version of the product. Why would you want to work with so many coats, because it never drips or sags as it goes on so thin. Regardless of the type you use, if your project will see a lot of wear and tear, few finishes are as appropriate as polyurethane for the protective topcoats . Sand the Surface. Alternatively, pour a small amount into another container and dip the rag into that. You also want to do the back and underneath sides of all the pieces, this way the board absorbs varying humidity levels evenly and reduces the chance to … Wipe that clean with a cloth and let dry, then apply more coats of the wipe-on poly with the rag to build the finish back up. So the process is basically this. You can literally dab it into cracks and then wipe the excess right off. Sand the wood smooth through a progressively finer series of grits, starting with a coarse grade such as 100 or 120 and working toward 220. Brushing a rounded, contoured or vertical surface is more likely to create drips. Sand the wood lightly with 320-grit sandpaper. Overlap each stroke slightly to ensure complete coverage. It doesn't  always work, but it usually does a fair to fantastic job. Always test any finishing method on scrap wood before using it on your project. Apply the Polyurethane. Polyurethane soaked rags can self-combust and cause a fire. Allow the finish to dry for the time recommended by the product manufacturer, or at least two hours depending on temperature and humidity. Stain the wood if desired, following the directions provided by the stain manufacturer. While this wood finish is favored for the tough, durable film of protection it provides, that same film is frequently criticized as looking too much like a plastic coating. If not, or if the sandpaper turns gummy, the previous coat needs more time to dry. To give a more natural appearance to the wood, choose satin or semigloss polyurethane. The Steps to Applying Polyurethane 1. If you want to just put a very light refresher coat over a regular poly finish, it will pick up those little scratches and smooth the finish out with much less work that a brush coat that you have to be so careful with. On day one, I take a rag and I apply a coat everywhere on the furniture. Open the can of wipe-on polyurethane and pour some onto a clean, lint-free rag. Remove all the dust from the wood using a tack rag or vacuum. What Is 220 Grit Sandpaper Normally Used For? Popular Woodworking: Finishing for First-Timers, The Wood Whisperer: A Better Way to Apply Spar Urethane, Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information Website: Guitar Finishing Using Wiping Varnish, Woodworker's Journal: Wipe-on Finishes and More, How to Apply Polyurethane to Interior Oak Doors. Apply the first coat of polyurethane using the best technique for the surface. If you apply only one or two coats of it, it almost looks like an oil finish, but much more water resistant and washable. Wipe contoured surfaces with a clean cloth, going with the grain. Now I do have one complaint about the product. Remove all the dust from the wood using a tack rag or vacuum. Work one section at a time, such as the top of a table or one side of a cabinet. Dip your rag into the finish, squeeze out the excess and wipe on. You would have to put a lot of coats on to make it strong enough to walk on or use on a serious wear surface, but for non-wear surfaces it is great. Keywords: Wood, Finishing, Finishes, Refinishing, Polyurethane, Wood Restoration, Scratches, Innovations, Techniques. Look more into our favorite wipe-on polyurethane here. Remove the dust with a tack rag or vacuum. You might impair the ability of the wood to take on color. You can put on many coats and get the same durability as a brush on. Steve Hamilton has been writing professionally since 1983. It is simply a clear polyurethane finish, but formulated to not gum up when applied with a rag. Place the project in a well-ventilated area. Standard polyurethane is applied with a brush, but there are also wipe-on formulas that are applied with a rag, as well as a spray finishes in aerosol cans. Flatten them out and spread them to dry in a safe, well-ventilated area before throwing them away. How to Refinish Hardwood With Mildew Stains. Polyurethane, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor formula, takes a little finesse to apply without bubbles or brush strokes. Originally, it had to be brushed on, but different formulations mean it can now be applied as a spray or by wiping it on with a rag. If you like working with oil but you need a polyurethane finish, try Wipe-On-Poly from Minwax. When you are working with sculptured surfaces, or spindles, this can really make a difference. Allow the finish to dry, then sand and clean the wood as before. You need to use the right brush and it takes a little practice to get the technique right. Applying another coat before the first has dried may cause the finish to fail. Wipe the wood clean with a lint-free rag lightly dampened with mineral spirits. Apply the poly by wiping it onto the wood in smooth, even strokes. 2. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc.