Last summer I was asked to troubleshoot a job for a relatively new contractor. Inspect the dried area for brush marks. For water-based stains, use a lacquer thinner. Water-based polyurethane is clear, low-odor and has a quick drying time.It is recommended for surfaces that see little exposure to heat or the elements, such as desks, bookcases and end tables. When the brush marks don't resolve themselves, try a few corrective techniques. I just finished a cherry table top using poly for the first time. This means only touch wet paint that you’ve just painted. As a protective measure I've started down the path of putting some coats of a Satin finish polyurethane on them. I noticed when it dried there were a lot of streaks in the finish even after sanding down with 4'0 steel wool and wiping down with mineral spirits. It picks up what you’ve already painted and drags it a bit. 20 comments on “ My Five Worst Mistakes ” bob 02/06/2014 at 4:13 pm. Sanded the second time once dried for several days, wiped with varsol cloth again & recoated. I would chemically strip the finish off, and use a wipe on version of an oil base varnish, or other top coats, that can be sprayed such as waterbased polyurethane. Cause: You may have used too much wax. One of you can apply the stain, and the other wipe off the excess to get an even color. Additionally, once the protective finish has been broken by a scratch, the wood underneath can be irreparably damaged by moisture or deepening of the scratch in the wood. Wish me luck. Scrub out the streaks, then reapply the stain liberally. Typically, two to three coats are used with sanding in between coats to even them out. Thanks again HerrBag! Sand your project with progressively finer grits of sandpaper. In your case you should be putting on 4 or 5 coats before doing anything more than a light scuff sanding with very fine paper or steel wool. Then after that apply 2-3 coats between sanding sessions. Then after that apply 2-3 coats between sanding sessions. Check your applicator carefully, and remember what I said before about always using a new applicator for your final coat. http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1269, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. And all polyurethane will yellow. Theres a trick I have learned for any poly product that works wonders with your finish. How to Fix an Uneven Stain on Refinished Wood Floors. When you sand through it you will end up with what looks like a contour map. This will clean the floors really well and it will also help to see if all of the old streaks were buffed out of the floor. How to Fix It: Add more wax and buff it better to remove more wax. Please help! This will make sure that the area doesn't get too much finish.Apply the finish gently to the sanded area, with as few brush strokes as possible. (I normally use too little.) It may take several light coats to create the desired effect, but that's better than applying too much. The streaks are still there. There is no quick fix for this, what I recommend is that you have the refinishers come back and screen and coat the floor. The most detailed guides for How To Fix Polyurethane Streaks are provided in this page. Question. always looks smudgy with any touch even after drying for a week. Sand down the brush marks lightly with the fine-grit sandpaper. If there are ridges you probably want to sand everything flush. I would really hate to strip to bare wood… is there a way of either covering the streaks, making them disappear or removing just the arm-r-seal without removing the gel stain? That should be the equivalent of 1 coat of standard poly. For open-grain woods (like oak, ash, or walnut), you can apply a wood grain filler before the polyurethane, to create an ultra-smooth finished surface. How to Fix It: Wipe it with a bit of mineral spirits and buff well. If it is not sanding dust it could be blushing if it was humid when you applied the finish. Whether it be water based, oil based, oil modified water based, etc. Rather than lecture you on how to prevent the problem first, I’m sure you’re here because you already have the problem. Buy the epoxy and do it right. I used 2 coats. JavaScript is disabled. Apply the polyurethane finish lightly to the brush, making sure to wipe off any extra. Depending on the level of gloss you want, go to an auto supply store and get a bunch of different grits from 300 and up. Wiped it down with soft cloth dampened with varsol & did another coat of poly. To fix this you'll need to buff the floors really well and then recoat them. Clean the wood very thoroughly to remove sanding dust before each new coat of polyurethane, using a vacuum (if available) and a tack cloth. However, the quality and protection of most film building finishes (such as polyurethane, lacquer, and shellac) goes up exponentially on the first few coats (e.g., there’s a huge improvement in durability and moisture excluding effectiveness from coat #1 to coat #2, … I applied 3 coats, sanding between coats. Some tree species contain pockets of sap, which cause the wood to absorb stain unevenly. Brush. Brush the sanded area off with a soft cloth to remove all traces of dirt and grit from the sanding. Shiny spots in polyurethane floors can be caused by the finish not flowing out properly and pooling in areas, or inconsistent screening between coats of finish. So what I used is Minwax indoor/outdoor Helmsman spar urethane, in clear satin. Apply the finish gently to the sanded area, with as few brush strokes as possible. Any wood surface with a polyurethane wood finish can develop scratches with normal wear and tear. Get an assortment pack and stick with 3m. When it comes to finishing furniture or hardwood floors, polyurethane is the key to protecting and preserving the stain. I have a feeling the streaks are from the steel wool. After you buff, the surface should feel buttery smooth. It doesn't look glossy, so the scratches aren't too much of a disaster, but I'd still like to fix … It may take several … Apply more varnish on ... Usually 6-12 hours later, start the process of applying the next five coats. Brush on polyurethane with a paintbrush in the direction of the wood grain. After the first coat, I used 220 grit sandpaper to lightly sand the surface as recommended. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! In any event, the white streaks are not on the surface, so I can't just sand them off. Note: Paper with a … Are the streaks going to be stuck there / should I just paint it black instead? Streaks in polycrylic finish Ive used polycrylic many times but this time the finish is very streaky. Katie Leigh is a freelance writer and editor based in Chicago. If you are staining an object large enough that you won’t have time to get the excess wiped off without leaving streaks, seek a second person to help. Uneven polyurethane coverage can be fixed with sanding. If some remain, re-sand the furniture. Polyurethane typically leaves brush marks from a paintbrush whenever it is first applied, but if it is the right consistency and if the proper procedures are applied, the ridges resolve themselves and the polyurethane settles to a smooth finish. Make note that commercial wipe-on poly is nothing more than thinned polyurethane. Finally, wipe the excess amount away with a rag right away. Wax a steel wool might work but what I have done is thin the material with appropriate flow control agent and apply a light final coat. Hope it's something easier. He thought they might be stop marks. Brush Marks on Polyurethane Topcoat. He explained the problem as dull lines running cross-grain in the finish. Wipe off the excess with a rag immediately. Hope this helps. Goof 3: It's splotchy. When it comes to finishing furniture or hardwood floors, polyurethane is the key to protecting and preserving the stain. Polyurethane typically leaves brush marks from a paintbrush whenever it is first applied, but if it is the right consistency and if the proper procedures are applied, the ridges resolve themselves and the polyurethane settles to a smooth finish. Sanded with 320 & then 400 grit sandpaper on a block. This will make sure that the area doesn't get too much finish. To fix damaged clear coat, you'll need to clean the area, sand the old coat away, and spray on the new coat and polish. As far as solving your problem goes, if the finish has stopped bleeding oil and feels like it has dried hard, you might be able to even out the gloss by wiping the cabinets down with a rag dampened with mineral spirits (assuming it was oil-based polyurethane) followed by a dry cloth. Thanks, and I'll get to work on it tomorrow. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Is it a water based poly or solvent based? You just need the slightest … A Loyola University New Orleans graduate with a bachelor's degree in communications, Leigh has worked as a copy editor, page designer and reporter for several daily newspapers and specialty publications since 2005. Touching paint that has sat for even a few minutes can cause streaks. Luckily this is an easy problem to fix. Then, sand the area with a fine-grit scratch pad to get rid of the old coat. Avoid Hard Spots on Your Applicator: Streaks can easily be caused by hard spots/stiff bristles on your applicator. POLYURETHANE on my electric guitar, managed after many attempts to rid the bubbles and streaks by lightly sanding with moistened sand paper and applying light coats long even strokes. Each line was about 1 1/2 feet long and was visible from one wall to the other across the middle of the room. What I think happened is that I either didn't get all the sanding dust of before the second coat, or I screwed up one of the early coats when applying the poly. Allow the polyurethane finish to dry. A forum community dedicated to professional woodworkers and enthusiasts. If the stain you have used is oil-based, scrub the section while it’s still wet to remove the streaks, then reapply the pain. The section is splotchy Let it sit a few minutes and watch for dry spots forming where it soaks in. Keep a wet edge. How to Fix It: An abrade and recoat is almost always necessary to repair … You commonly see these on floors or tabletops with heavy use. When the brush marks don't resolve themselves, try a few corrective techniques. It is immaculate but hard to keep clean looking. Since this is a water-based product, apply the conditioner to both sides to avoid having to start a thread titled "911: how to fix a … How to Apply Polycrylic without Streaks, Brush Strokes or Bubbles How to Avoid Brush Strokes and Streaks. The two major types of polyurethane are oil-based and water-based, each of which has different advantages. Apply the finish gently to the sanded area, with as few brush strokes as possible. White spots on polyurethane are generally caused by two things: Not stirring thoroughly enough before applying it, or a buildup of moisture. It came out pretty nice, except that there are white streaks. Start by washing the area with soapy water. It doesn't look glossy, so the scratches aren't too much of a disaster, but I'd still like to fix them if … However, the quality and protection of most film building finishes (such as polyurethane, lacquer, and shellac) goes up exponentially on the first few coats (e.g., there’s a huge improvement in durability and moisture excluding effectiveness from coat #1 to coat #2, … Sand your wood with at least 220-grit sandpaper. I started with a standard type that I brushed on with a foam brush. Brush marks often show up on pieces of furniture treated with polyurethane finish, usually despite the best efforts of the craftsman. Applying polyurethane in even coats is a crucial, though not always simple task. I … Well<, I had to do something because my poly finishes sucked. Is it a water based poly or solvent based? Applying polyurethane in even coats is a crucial, though not always simple task. White spots on polyurethane can be caused by a number of things, but they are preventable, and small spots like this are easy to fix. If the coating looks too thick, use the rag to lightly swipe at the area until it is even. However, there is a way to remedy these flaws without undoing a day's work. – Gloria May 27 '13 at 16:08 Prior to coating them again, I'd suggest wiping the floors down with a dust mop that has been dampened with mineral spirits. Additional background (probably unnecessary): I have a true black stained piece of plywood that I had spray-coated with polyurethane as the first layer (technically it's three, once-over sprays with a … Sanding removes the lines and ridges created by the brush marks without ruining the finish on the whole piece. The problem with wipe on poly is that is goes on very thin and requires way more coats than a brush on. Apply 3-4 coats before your first sanding, that should seal in your stain. Wrap the sponge in a clean … ... Make note that commercial wipe-on poly is nothing more than thinned polyurethane. Strip as much of the staining as possible. You could use lacquer or conversion varnish if you are into solvent based finishes. Thanks eagleeye and cabinetman. Sand the Surface. Ive read a variety of methods to correct.... Wax with steel wool, fine grit sand then apply new finish. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Wait for the polyurethane to dry completely and cure as hard as possible. It might rewet the prior coat and release the moisture -- Doubt it. Make sure to apply even pressure to the area. The table, according to the manufacturer, has a polyurethane finish (on top of a walnut veneer). When it’s clean, mark out the section with masking tape. Cheap sanding paper is more expensive, since they don't last anywhere as long as the premium ones. Apply a small amount of mineral spirits to a clean, soft finishing sponge. That should be the equivalent of 1 coat of standard poly. Practice on scrap wood to … ! Turned out great, no streaks. Hardwood floors in a home create charm, style and resale value with very little maintenance. Apply 3-4 coats before your first sanding, that should seal in your stain. With poly not much you can do that I know of. The table, according to the manufacturer, has a polyurethane finish (on top of a walnut veneer). Wipe On Poly Leaving Streaks- How Can I Fix It? The can doesn't say whether it's water- or solvent based, but I'm guessing solvent because of all the nasty warnings about ventilation and VOCs, and the marketing language talks about its "special oils allow the finish to expand and contract....". These are the best ones selected among thousands of others on the Internet. A light coating of finish after sanding disguises the area. Polyurethane isn't going to hold up well. These particles can get caught under the finish and ruin it.Apply the polyurethane finish lightly to the brush, making sure to wipe off any extra. Last tip; I don't know if you were planning on staining the underside or not (I can't tell if the top is off the table in the pics, sorry). I used minwax quick drying polyurethane to topcoat a dining room table. Wipe on a very heavy first coat on the bare wood. There also were shiny and dull streaks spread randomly throughout the floor. These particles can get caught under the finish and ruin it. Typically, two to three coats are used with sanding in between coats to even them out. All right then, chemmy! While preventing the white spots is easier than fixing them, you can fix them by sanding down the high spots and then drawing out the moisture. Put the furniture in a well-ventilated work area. Might try light sanding and a thinned out fiinish coat again. 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