Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Smooth Polyurethane finish
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Steve in Vegas
10-16-09, 11:12 AM
I am finishing a table with polyurethane and seem to get little particle in the finish. I am using satin. I do use a tack cloth before aplication. What can I do to get a smooth surface? can I do a light sand and polish? Wax? Help...
marksr
10-16-09, 03:38 PM
Welcome to the forums Steve!
How many coats of poly have been applied to the piece? If 3-4 coats of poly have been applied and you are still having problems, then yes, you can sand and wax. The wax will prevent any further coating of the wood with poly unless the wax is first removed!
How many coats of poly have been applied to the piece? If 3-4 coats of poly have been applied and you are still having problems, then yes, you can sand and wax. The wax will prevent any further coating of the wood with poly unless the wax is first removed!
Steve in Vegas
10-16-09, 04:04 PM
I have put 3 coats of polyurathane on already. Do you have any recomendations on which wax I should use? Do I need to sand with 600 wet/dry or is 400 ok? Will I need to re-wax often?
Thanks for your help
Steve
Thanks for your help
Steve
marksr
10-16-09, 04:34 PM
400 grit should be ok, just be sure to sand with the direction of the grain. Cross sanding can produce scratches that might show.
The few times that I've had to finish with wax, I've used Johnson's paste wax for floors. I wouldn't think it would need rewaxing other than what you do with furniture polish although that isn't exactly my area of expertise :D
The few times that I've had to finish with wax, I've used Johnson's paste wax for floors. I wouldn't think it would need rewaxing other than what you do with furniture polish although that isn't exactly my area of expertise :D
fewalt
11-05-09, 08:33 PM
just a tip for the future, if you used oil base poly.
next time thin your poly 50/50 or so.
it will level quicker and actually even dry quicker.
fred
next time thin your poly 50/50 or so.
it will level quicker and actually even dry quicker.
fred
marksr
11-06-09, 05:33 AM
Fred, don't you think a 50% reduction is pretty drastic? I agree that sometimes it's a good idea to thin coatings and it can make them flow together better but generally thinning shouldn't exceed 10% Coatings that are over thinned also tend to run :eek:
fewalt
11-06-09, 05:55 AM
Not really, a drip or run right from the can is much worse. Thinned poly can simply be wiped on. They don't run at all. It just takes an extra couple of coats for good cover.
fred
fred
gqlefty
11-06-09, 07:55 AM
just use paint thinner in the poly???
mitch17
11-06-09, 11:22 AM
Mineral spirits in oil based polyurethane, yes