Apply at least two coats to achieve an even sheen. Learn more about refinishing older furniture here. Need an intricate project? Standoffs allow you to wipe finish all the way down to the ends of the legs. Minwax PolyShades is a combination stain and polyurethane finish for wood. Then remove all the sanding dust and apply a second coat. A while back I talked about wipe on poly in a Craftsman's Corner video, well. Start at one end of the wood and follow the grain toward the opposite end. If your old furniture or woodwork looks dull and lifeless, try renewing it with a few coats of wipe-on finish. 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. — SLOW BUILD. Then, with a clean rag, apply mineral spirits on the rag and wipe down the project, ensuring you cover the entire surface and corners. Look more into our favorite wipe-on polyurethane here. For most of us, polyurethane provides a combination of cost and durability that’s hard to beat. After applying the first coat of stain, the user needs to wait for 15 minutes before applying a lighter second coat. Apply a second thin coat, then lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by The Family Handyman editors, who aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting. If rags wet with finish are wadded up, they can heat up, smolder and catch on fire as they dry. Then lightly Brushing a rounded, contoured or vertical surface is more likely to create drips. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. If there are bubbles, brush back over the finish lightly to make them pop out. RAGS. Hold the can 8-12 inches from the surface. Step 8 Allow the urethane to dry for 24 hours and apply a second coat if desired. Just dispose of the cloth, container and gloves. + EASY. We welcome your feedback. Always Use a Primer. Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. — EXPENSIVE. Spread the varnish over the entire surface with long, even strokes. It’s relatively easy to apply, provides excellent protection, and gives the wood a beautiful luster. Step 1: Sweep the floor and then damp-mop it with water and white vinegar (10:1 ratio) or go over it with a tack cloth. Keywords: Wood, Finishing, Finishes, Refinishing, Polyurethane, Wood Restoration, Scratches, Innovations, Techniques. Then go ahead and repeat the process, laying on another coat. The end result is the same polyurethane finish you get with a brush, but much thinner. Then get yourself a clean cotton rag (old t-shirt material works great), and fold it into a nice square applicator pad. Let dry 4-6 hours. 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. Drips happen, so use resin paper, a drop cloth or newspaper to protect your worktable. Apply the finish to a limited area, then wipe it off after a few minutes using dry rags. Thin the varnish 50% with mineral spirits, paint thinner, or naptha. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. With the lid in place, the poly will remain fresh for a couple days. Get a paint pad at any home center for about $5. That said, the speed of wipe-on application often makes up for those extra coats. You can put on many coats and get the same durability as a brush on. Don't use a 25 cent brush that you throw away after you apply the sealant. With the lid in place, the poly will remain fresh for a couple days. Do you have to sand between coats of PolyShades? Apply the First Coat of Polyurethane. Applying polyurethane with a brush is pretty straightforward. Apply an even coat of stain to your workpiece, making long brushstrokes and overlapping the edges for full coverage. Unlike brushing, wiping on a flawless coat of poly doesn’t require skill or an expensive brush. Drag the brush along the wood’s grain to apply the stainer. They poke holes in the wood, so if you have parts that must be finished on both sides, such as a shelf, set them on blocks covered with cloth instead. Some looked great at first only to fade over time. Don't slop the finish on by brushing back and forth. Prepare the polyurethane by reducing it about 10 percent with mineral spirits, unless you're using water-based polyurethane, which doesn't need thinning. Apply the first coat of polyurethane using the best technique for the surface. Next, don't paint the finish on, "lay" it down. Place the lambs wool pad on the surface of the wood and begin applying the urethane in long, even strokes with the grain of the wood. We apply wipe-on polyurethane with a cotton rag, and provided you use the correct quantity of finish evenly on the surface of the wood, you will quickly get good results. It’s a versatile finish that is thin enough to wipe on, but dries hard even when applied in thicker coats. Within 24 hours of applying the seal coat, brush on a coat of finish right from the can. A paint pad holds more finish than a rag and wipes it on faster. Quick Tip! The topcoat protects the wood from wear & tear, scratches, … Sanding too hard might cut through the finish and leave bare wood. Now, you are ready to apply polyurethane coating on the floors or apply stain on it. Then use this as the applicator, it works awesomely. Sand by hand instead. Ugly! Finally, clean all the dust off the edges and corners of the room using the same cloth. Step 7 Continue applying urethane until the entire surface of the wood is covered. Then when I close the can, that freezes into a nightmare to open because of the child-proof gadget on the lid. Just to prove it here’s the result when I applied Polyshades stain with a foam brush in the past. Some took weeks to apply. When using Minwax PolyShades instead of a separate stain and varnish, you save time and effort as you protect and beautify your furniture or trim with a quality, lasting finish. For added durability, a third coat can be applied. After a few days, the solvent will begin to degrade the plastic, so don’t use plastic for long-term storage. Applying Polyurethane To Wood Floors With A Roller Clean the floor with mineral spirits on a rag to remove any dust […] How Long Does It Take For Polyurethane To Dry On Cabinets Applying polyurethane to cabinets.. Brush-on Polyurethane. Applying Wipe-On Polyurethane : Wipe-On (also called oil-based) polyurethane blends the best of both worlds of finishing: the high durability and protection of polyurethane with the simple wipe on application of an oil finish. I bet you can imagine how many manufacturers send me products hoping that I will put them on TV. Learn how to stain and varnish wood without getting those annoying blotches by clicking here. You can usually reuse them two or three times before they get too gummed up. Brush with the grain of the wood when possible. Click here for some amazing steel wool tips and tricks. Polyurethane is so durable and water-resistant, it has largely replaced shellac and varnish as a wood finish. When you reach one end, start again at the beginning. If your project has legs, make standoffs for them to perch on. Using a rag to apply stain, you’ll both apply and then remove any excess stain in one step. Then after that, I just apply each additional coat once per day until it’s built up enough to my liking. You can coat a project in less than half the time it takes to brush on a finish. Try these folding Adirondack chairs. Well, here is one where I called MinWax and asked them to send me over some Wipe-On-Poly. I tie mine off. A thin coat of bonding primer is going to be an essential ingredient to painting over polyurethane. Step 2: Use the 5″ to 3″ brush to apply polyurethane to wood flooring edges, and use the roller or pad to apply it to the center of the floor. It is simply a clear polyurethane finish, but formulated to not gum up when applied with a rag. Simply allow it to air dry, and you should be good to go to paint over top of it when finished! After a few days, the solvent will begin to degrade the plastic, so don’t use plastic for long-term storage. Wash it first with dish soap and water, then lightly sand the old finish with 220-grit sandpaper. To capture the grit and to maintain an even sheen, use a bunch of dry rags to wipe off the finish before it dries. Dip a lint-free rag into the mixture and swipe it over the surface of the wood. These aren’t the only easily accessible finishing standoffs in your shop. Applying Polyurethane for a Durable, Beautiful Finish. You can reuse a paint pad, too. But after the 4th or 5th coat, I take my 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper and apply the coat using the sandpaper with a block of wood. It will remove too much finish. The end result is the same polyurethane finish you get with a brush, but much thinner. squares. If you like working with oil but you need a polyurethane finish, try Wipe-On-Poly from Minwax. On average, wipe-on poly costs twice as much as brush-on poly. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Just wipe it off. Depending on the project, I use either wipe-on or brush-on polyurethane on most of my work. 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. Don’t use an electric sander between coats. Polyurethane is one of the most common, durable, and best all-around finishes for the everyday diy-er. However, wet rags are safe if you dispose of them properly. If you’re using an oil-based finish and you want to make a surface smooth as glass, apply the last coat with “00” steel wool. Roll a lambswool or synthetic paint roller in the polyurethane to saturate it with the finish. I prefer foam brushes and rags over staining pads because of the low price and ease of use. The non-absorbed stain should be wiped off from the surface with a clean rag. The answer is wiping varnish. As a rule, it takes three coats of wipe-on to match the buildup that you get from one coat of brush-on poly. No brush to clean! This way, you don’t have to worry about accidentally smearing finish on an area you’ve already covered. Check out this simple sanding trick for touch to reach places. Rub hard. Dip your rag into the finish, squeeze out the excess and wipe on. Another great use for the foam brushes is to use them when staining a large project. Application is a straightforward practice of sanding the surface area, applying … The Spruce / Chelsea Damraksa Now I do have one complaint about the product. Fold each square in half, twice, to make applicators. A margarine or cottage cheese tub is just right for wipe-on. Vacuum off the dust, then apply the finish as usual. Finally, I’ve found a finish that gives me the durability and flawless look I want along with easy application. Wipe contoured surfaces with a clean cloth, going with the grain. Three thin coats of wipe-on finish will look smoother than one or two thicker coats. 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. 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. (You might sand through it!) When you are working with sculptured surfaces, or spindles, this can really make a difference. Clean the floor with mineral spirits on a rag to remove any dust or debris before applying polyurethane. 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. Whether it is oil-based or water-based, it comes in a variety of finishes, from glossy to matte. I’ve used them for both stain and polyurethane application. Wet the applicator with your thinner and then dip it into your diluted finish. First thing is to ensure you use a quality brush. Read this article for some tips on preventing home fires. Dip your rag into the finish, squeeze out the excess and wipe on. 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. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. Brush the polyurethane just like brushing paint. Remove the dust with a tack rag (a sticky cloth you can buy at paint stores) or a vacuum and apply a second coat full strength. Ensure you are wearing Nitrile gloves while using mineral spirits and varnish. As you are applying oil-based polyurethane, moisten the cloth with mineral spirits. With wipe-on poly, you also get goof-proof simplicity, speed and convenience. Check this out. It is recommended for interior wood surfaces such as furniture, molding, doors and cabinets. Apply Polyurethane: The last step will be to let the stain dry completely before applying a top coat of polyurethane over the wooden surface. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), how to stain and varnish wood without getting those annoying blotches, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Most projects will be ready for normal use in 24 hours. Spray less accessible areas with aerosol polyurethane. Be sure to keep them away from kids and pets. You can get adequate protection from brush-on polyurethane with two coats. The steel wool will cut through any nibs or dust on the surface. I have fallen in love with this stuff. 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. Start with a low-grit sandpaper to smooth […] After that, mop the floor top with a lint-free rag or microfiber cloth. After it dries, sand lightly. 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