After 40 plus years of finishing doors, woodwork, furniture etc I can tell you what I use and it's easy and comes out baby butt smooth. Do not buff the final polyurethane finish coat. Normally, the property of the floor surface also affects to the finish paint quality. Sand the coat lightly with 220-grit sandpaper when dry. Do this by sanding out the bubbles then apply a fresh coat of the product. For a smooth coating you’ll want the surface to be as smooth as possible, so prepare the wood by sanding it with a sanding block or orbital sander. Before my "final coat", even if my previous coat was perfect, I sand with 400-600 and 0000 steel wool to make it silky smooth before that last coat. Typically, two to three coats are used with sanding in between coats to even them out. You apply the final coat, let it dry and you're done. I prep sanded the wood using 80 grit and worked up to 220 grit. Ultra-smooth surface is inevitable in terms of getting an excellent finish. I am in the process of redoing a bureau. Then we buff with an abrasive pad. So brushed-on coats of a standard varnish would do the trick nicely. Find a paint brush that is super soft to apply it. Do You Sand the Final Coat of Polyurethane? Just as you did with the initial coats, brush the polyurethane onto the surface, working systematically from one side of the project to the other. Overall, Polyurethane is the easiest form of finish that even first-timers won't have difficulty in applying. Always stretch the polyurethane as thin as you can. So we “rub out” the final coat to make it smooth and flat. How do you get that hard smooth finish? For polyurethane, you’ll probably apply five to ten coats. Instead, it would be best if you sprayed it or spread it in a nice and level way. I am primarily doing this on decent sized flat surfaces, 5-6 sq/ft. After I stripped, sanded, and stained my solid-oak kitchen table, I brushed three coats of polyurethane on the underside. If you do not sand the primer appropriately, you might have blotchy stains on the piece when you apply the final coat of paint. When you sand and rub out the final finish you take off most of the surface which contains the satin. If third coat is desired, repeat step 5 before application. Oil-based polyurethane varnish brings out wood's natural beauty and grain. If you really want that mirror finish, spray the final coat. It came out great. Primers can often be thick and difficult to clean up. Getting a smooth, blemish-free finish with oil-based polyurethane is within your grasp if you follow the steps in this article. No, you are not supposed to sand the final coat. 7. I like to use a green Scoth Brite pad. Our 8-step approach shows you how to apply the varnish successfully. Several light coats will get you a smooth finish. Heating, dropping rocks and chiseling the wood. Apply second coat. The first coat on the top looked good too. Make sure that you have plenty of mineral spirits on hand to clean up your brushes and any type of mess that you create. If your kitchen table is made of oak or ash, take a wood grain filler and apply it before the poly. But large bubbles formed in the second coat about 10 minutes after I applied it. The finish should feel smooth and flat, no bumps. After the final coat dries for 48 hours or more, we wet sand it with water and 400 grit sandpaper. There’s a running debate on whether or not you should apply your clear coat over your vinyl decals. I didn’t shake the can, and the brush didn’t leave any bubbles behind. After your final sanding, apply your final finish coat. There are always some little imperfections and spots. So, my final coat is not mirror smooth. No sanding required. Sanding removes the lines and ridges created by the … If you are going to do that you might as well use a gloss finish. If you notice significant bumps in the dried coat, use a razor blade to shave these off. But, you always have to buff it once. A: Professionals sometimes find water-based urethanes hard to apply. Intercoat abrasion with a multi-disc and 220 grit sandpaper Polyurethane wood floor finish tip: When you abrade your floors, make sure you buff out any dust, particles and bubbles, before cleaning and tacking. RE: How do I smooth out uneven brush strokes in polyurethane? However, do not worry if you have applied polyurethane coats unevenly. Brush marks often show up on pieces of furniture treated with polyurethane finish, usually despite the best efforts of the craftsman. For hardwood floors, there are more coasts of PU than normal ones. ; Start with 120-grit sandpaper on refinished pieces and 80-grit on new wood. The wiping poly is the easier product to get good results short of spraying the finish. After the first coat, all you are trying to do is remove the bumps and scuff the surface for the next coat, so 220 is just too rough. Step 13 Apply two sealer coats of polyurethane mixed with mineral spirits to the underside of the piece of furniture if it is made of traditional hardwood lumber. Take 220 – grit paper to sand the wood. There are specific rules to be followed in applying any finish, whether oil or water based. Pop any bubbles you see by brushing back over the finish. If you miss the bubbles when the polyurethane is still fresh, you can even get rid of them after the finish has dried. If you don't have a soft enough brush or it's too hot or you don't work it fast enough then you are left with a bunch of brush marks to contend with. Then lightly sand entire surface with fine sandpaper (220 grit) to ensure an even finish and proper adhesion. At least three coats of poly. Any slight specs after the final coat will be rubbed out. Dip your brush gently and take your time painting the surface. The problem is easily fixed. Three plus will get a smother finish. Similarly, if you want an impressive final finish, the wood surface has to be smooth and clean before applying the poly. Wait for drying This will create the impression that you sprayed all the coats and give the finish a … I waited 20 minutes between layers and then waited an entire day before spraying the final coat of spray paint to cover any discoloration. For the final coat, if I really want a smooth coat, I will use a spray can, just for the last coat. In the photo below, you can see what we are looking for when buffing. Hand Rub With Wipe-On Varnish or Oil If you want to transform the sheen from high gloss to satin or matte, then using a hardening oil such as tung oil is a good way to do it. Thin coats will result in you burning through the top layer. So, the spots are too noticeable for this type of project. So I sanded them out and brushed on a new coat. How do you make a matte finish with polyurethane? Unfortunately, despite using an all natural brush, I can still see brush strokes. Apply a full-strength final coat. Now that the coat is dry, you can lightly sand its entire surface. However, you do not want to sand the final coat or you will end up with a … Lightly sand in between poly coats. Applying polyurethane in even coats is a crucial, though not always simple task. This removes the high spots, the embedded dust, the laps, etc. Is one coat of polyurethane enough? Varathane Professional Interior Varnish is my #1 pick right now. You really want that final layer of finish to be thick enough to withstand the rubbing out process. Do not sand the paint before applying poly. You can apply it and leave it (if you have a good dust free environment) this will leave you with the best sheen, or you may need to do a final buff out with very fine sandpaper 400 grit, then buff out with a rag, this will leave you with a very smooth “hand rubbed satin” finish. Rubbing out the finish you would re-create the satin by scuffing the finish with 0000 steel wool. Personally, I would do it but you’ve got to consider how your clear coat might effect the decal down the line. I am staining and finishing oak doors for the first time. While it’s good practice to use fresh varnish, I recently used some that had been sitting around for 15 … After final coat rub out with 0000 steel wool and wax with carnuba. Unsanded wood is hard, bumpy, and often unpleasing to the eye. How many coats of polyurethane should be put on hardwood floors? This will ensure a super smooth finish. How do you polish these few imperfections out of polyurethane after the final coating to still maintain a high-gloss, smooth finish? You’ll get the best results from your topcoat if you remove any old paint, varnish or other finishes before polyurethane application. A gloss finish since it is free of flattening compounds is clearer. You'll want to cover your wood furniture item with several coats of protective polyurethane. How to Remove Brush Marks From a Polyurethane Finish . However, there is a way to remedy these flaws without undoing a day's work. Let the polyurethane sit for about 10 minutes after stirring to allow the foam to settle. Wood pieces that are not completely sealed with polyurethane can warp because moisture can enter the wood through the unsealed surface. Any slight specs after the final coat will be rubbed out. Otherwise, it will show through on your next coat. Remove all dust. With water-based polyurethane finishes, you generally don’t have to buff after each coat to achieve adhesion if it is applied within so many hours. I'm not really a fan of poly, I find it dies too quickly. I used a gel stain for color and then I have applied 3 coats of Varathane polyurethane with a satin finish. Oil-based polyurethanes are easy to apply but take too long to dry while water-based polyurethanes usually require multiple applications and have a whitish consistency upon application which disappears once dry.. Water-based polyurethane also tends to dry faster. As for figured cherry, there should be no reason to pore-fill. I personally prefer using a small foam roller and foam brush' Smooth finish, no brush marks. How Long Do You Let Polyurethane Cure Before Wet Sanding?. A good-quality natural-bristle brush, a reasonably dust-free, well-ventilated space and some patience are all you need. The thinner each layers and the longer you let each layer dry the better. If this is your first time working with Varathane, there may be some uneven spots. It levels out so nicely. You should ensure that you sand the previous coats so that you create a perfectly level and even base for your final coat. I prefer the 320 grit between coats. Polyurethane is the modern product most often used as varnish, or clear finish, on stained and painted wood surfaces. The paint and Polyurethane will mix and fill the layers, any holes, and printed flaws. It is best to sand your wood before any coats are added. This ensures the protectant goes on smoothly and actually provides a finished look. Move in the direction of the wood grain. Let dry 4-6 hours. I've sanding, conditioned, stained and so far have applied 2 coats of satin polyurethane. Try to get the "non-filling" type, like the waterproof or aluminium oxide. A little test of how well polyurethane works when there are 40 coats. There seems to be a lot of controversy on a rough first coat of polyurethane and what to do about it. The final one is the polishing coat: many users use PU to create the glossy surface for wood products. I’d go with about 5 coats. What do you do after you apply the final coat of polyurethane to smooth out the imperfections? Aim for a smooth, uniform finish. This Site Might Help You. You can use a belt sander on larger projects, or sandpaper by hand on smaller wood items. If you are going to brush it do it sometime when the temperature is under 90. No matter how many coats you add of Polyurethane, the look will still not be completed. Take your time, like the pros do, and you'll create a durable, smooth, lasting finish. Step One – Use 120 grit or finer sandpaper to scuff sand the bubbles. Final Finish. This step will remove any rough patches and give the piece a smooth finish. Apply a THIN coat of Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane using a high-quality natural or foam brush. 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