The products that have made Minwax® an American icon will add color and beauty to your wood—in oil or water-based stains. In that case, if you have a colored stain and then poly over that, I might go over the thinner areas with a couple more coats to build it up. I mostly share sewing and pattern design posts, but as the daughter of a residential home builder I also love the occasional DIY project. Polyurethane finishes are difficult to sand. Minwax® Water Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner, Minwax® Performance Series Sanding Sealer, Minwax® Express Color™ Wiping Stain & Finish, Minwax® Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors, Minwax® Ultra Fast-Drying Polyurethane For Floors, Minwax® Professional Formula Sanding Sealer, See all tips, step-by-step instructions, and helpful Dos and Dont’s, How to Make a Picture Frame 3 Ways with Brad Rodriguez, Cozy Tray Ceiling Makeover with Thrifty Decor Chick: Sarah Saucedo, DIY Modern Live Edge Waterfall Coffee Table with April Wilkerson, Building A Modern Oak and Metal Side Table with John Malecki, Everything You Need to Know to Refinish Hardwood Floors with Bless’er House, Easy & Inexpensive DIY Wall Mount Jewelry Display, Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors. One more thing the raise you don’t coat in parts is you will never get a flat surface because your fighting a uneven surface of finish . Thin is better! Put a few drops of lacquer thinner on an inconspicuous part of the floor, then feel the finish -- if it's sticky, it's lacquer or shellac. Q: I recently tried my hand at finishing my new floor with Fabulon finish, with lambswool.My problem is I applied the polyurethane too thick in a few areas. Lightly sand the piece that you are working with--doing so after the first coat has cured, will offer a better second finish. And second, when applying your clear finish, opt for very thin coats that won’t require rapid evaporation to dry. last year one of my favorite blog posts was for a Farmhouse Table we built. 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. This Post 5 Days ago: “Long story short. If you are selling your work, then you have entered a woodworking dimension with added complexity and stress. It sounds to me that your trying to put coats on to fast. It was a gold dipped mirror and even though it isn’t perfect I’m so proud of how it turned out. In addition, there were differences in luster throughout the floor. Anytime I have let my stain harden on top of the wood, it turned sticky and uneven, and rubbed off easily. So taking some of the advice here and combining it with part of my own…here is my plan:- sand in such a way that the difference between the new and old transition stands out.- poly the thinner area up to the border of the thick poly material.- let dry. Start fresh! Once the drying agents start to react to the oxygen trapped inside the can, they don’t stop. Evaporative finishes, such as lacquer and shellac, aren't as common as reactive finishes, such as alkyd varnish or polyurethane, but you handle them differently. I’ve been guilty of all of these, haha but that how you learn. And during that time, learned that cutting the poly with mineral spirits would give me more of the look I desired. How to Fix an Uneven Epoxy Finish. He meant to say Poly. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor, and leveling compound would help, too. If you are thinking of using a polyurethane floor finish, take into account the problems you might encounter. Put a few drops of lacquer thinner on an inconspicuous part of the floor, then feel the finish -- if it's sticky, it's lacquer or shellac. Topic tags/keywords: poly polyurethane wood floors wood flooring finish finishing Hi all. Both water- and oil-based polyurethane are varnishes, and they dry to a naturally glossy finish. and I am so excited to see the Minwax booth again this year! Dry: Make sure to air dry it rather using the fan or some other drying process like a heater doing so … These layers harden to form a protective, plastic-like coating on the floor. Minwax® helps you select the ideal stain color for your wood project. What did I do wrong? repeat until the transition is less noticeable.- sand it all to hopefully one thickness…or at least make it as gradual of a difference as possible.- One last thin coat of poly. 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. I hope to meet you at SNAP! Instead, just stir the product gently but thoroughly before each use. Just take a look here. conference and wanted to say “hi”. DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. Take measurements. To create a satin or matte finish, manufacturers add a flattening agent-- usually zinc oxide -- which disperses reflected light and cuts the gloss out of the sheen.This material collects at the bottom of the can, which is why it's important to stir well before using it. Can I just put several coats of the thin layer on everywhere except the thick coated area? Apply Leveling Compound in Certain Spots Leveling compound is the classic and the easiest to fix a floor that is uneven. table In the picture on the opener page of this article, the contractor attempted taping off individual areas that needed repair. Applying polyurethane in even coats is a crucial, though not always simple task. There is no quick fix for this, what I recommend is that you have the refinishers come back and screen and coat the floor. Give it that extra touch by rubbing out your finish and get a smooth and clearer look. I did a screen and coat job last week. Relief, 3D, chip-carving, whittling; carving knives, chisels, pocket-knives, power tools. Any ideas on a quick fix to even it out? For superior durability and long-lasting beauty, the choice is clear — protective clear finishes from Minwax! - Bruce. I recently had my floors refinished and the poly came out very uneven. It didn’t. Sanded with 000 steel wool or 220 or 320. Repeat the test with denatured alcohol, and if it's still sticky, it's shellac and not lacquer. Tip: Before use, a can of polyurethane should be stirred, not shaken. The solution: wipe off any stain the wood does not absorb. I forgot to say do not coat in section coat the hole top. Home. After this, make sure to wipe down the surface, so it is entirely free of any sanding dust and other debris. Replace the word stain in my initial post and replace it with poly. That’s definitely something I need to change. This post is awesome. 1. The result will be an uneven sheen. Thomas asks, "I put polyurethane on cabinets after I stained them. Then a single coat of oil- or water-based polyurethane or another finish is applied. It was there I fell in love with the beauty of the grain of the wood, either hidden beneath an old dark finish or highlighted with a new coat of stain. If it works…I can document it and be happy about a learned lesson.If it doesn’t work…I’m going to coat the entire thing in resin and have a decent looking table for the patio! If your spraying it you need to let that coat flash.Before you spray another coat. We’re about to finish our basement and I want to really start decorating our house, so these tips will help a lot with future projects! Hi Bruce! | Do Not Sell My Data I think this combination will overcome your high humidity. It would have been easier to finish the initial application, let the finish dry for a couple of days then wet sand it down to a dull sheen with 400 grit wet dry paper using water with dishwashing liquid in it as a lubricant. Our floor is now shiny in some areas and dull in others...very blotchy to it's appearance. I’ve even begun working on a series of built-ins in my four year old daughter’s room with coaching from Sandra of Sawdust Girl. Four regular coats of urethane applied one over the other is a good starting point. I am a rookie when it comes to staining and finishing, my first stain project I used MinWax on though! Get the feeling this is ANOTHER High, Bye, Post? I just noticed the word “Patio”. I am brushing on with high end brush.I let each coat dry for no less than 24 hours. The reason I’m asking is because if it’s only polyurethane and no coloring, I would recommend one thing, but if you have a colored stain, then poly, I would recommend another. You always need to make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area, paying attention to temperature, and protecting the areas around your work space. Mistake #3 Using an old can of finish. That is you the only real solution. In fact, for some interior floors, it's just a matter of pouring leveling compound out and letting it find its own level. Mistake #5            Dry is not the same as cured. -Lacey G. from Merrimack, New Hampshire. Having another close look at it, I think the difference is noticeable right now because a combination of both thicker layer and smoother surface (more wood grain imperfections are smoothed over) cause the refraction of light to make the wood in that area look richer and slightly more dark. I just hope it’s not a thin veneer, such as plywood might have. Try to blend the edges of uneven … Wipe dark areas of the floor with mineral spirits or acetone to lift the stain from the wood. Polyurethane Finish Tip#1: Start With a Thick Coating The first thing to understand is the need to begin with a thick polyurethane finish film to ensure that you don’t buff right through to bare wood. But there are also several items I hadn’t even considered including using an older product and not allowing an item to finish curing. Apply the first coat of polyurethane using the best technique for the surface. For garages, it is a little less simple. Most clear finishes are available in gloss, semi-gloss and satin sheens. Hey woodman, I’m not sure I understand your reply.To reiterate my situation:- applied full strength poly to one corner of the table.- let it dry for 48 hours- learned that I wanted to cut the poly (1:4 spirits to poly)- sanded lightly with 300+- applied 1:4 ratio poly to entire table including dried full strength section (which will obviously make the thick section even thicker…I don’t know what I was thinking)- and now have 2 very different looking sections. You can then spread it out on the floor in the affected areas. Minwax® offers a variety of easy-to-use products to help clean and repair wood that is chipped, cracked, scratched, even decayed, to its original beauty. Share your tips and challenges ... Before you pick up those woodworking tools, take the time to ensure your safety in the shop! Bruce, I am SO glad I found this post. Applying too much finish only results in runs, drips, or a thick layer that never completely dries or hardens. That is, because it is a thicker material I was basically roughing up that coat and the thinner coat remained untouched. im and idiot. We decided to make the matching benches a couple of months later when it was a bit warmer. This is such a great post! I would sand the entire finish off, right down to new wood, and start over. This is why leveling is the pre-buffing step required next. The polyurethane was very thick but the can said to not thin the product, so I didn't. One 17 days ago: “I used a terrible brush, had a couple bristles fall off, and tried to carefully grab them (not easy). I’m Karly. I also believe that Process will take less time than trying to “Fix” what’s there now. Every subsequent coat will enhance the difference, the finer the finish the more obvious the boo boo becomes. Leveling compound is the classic and the easiest to fix a floor that is uneven. Latest Projects | I appreciate you sharing your worst mistakes because I’m fairly new to the staining world! ZIP in his Profile. Good luck, Bob! Natural and synthetic bristle brushes specifically designed for use with Minwax® wood finishing products. I’m not sure from your post, but are you calling the polyurethane “stain” or did you actually put a colored stain on the table and then a polyurethane finish over that? Focus on blotchy or darker areas. Questions and answers about CNC machines, tooling, best practices, and projects. Realized I need to stop to let the stain dry longer. I, like an idiot, didn’t mix my poly before I put down the final coat and it resulted in an uneven sheen with 1/2 the floor looking like semi-gloss and half looking like satin. If this is truly only in the final coat, a good screening to open up the surface and allow the trapped solvent and water to come out for 24 hours before applying finish will help clear the film. Before you can do a good job of installing wood, laminate, or any other flooring, you need a good subfloor to start out with. Read to find out why. Manage Consent. However, if it was not applied in the correct conditions, it may not dry properly. I have had repairs done on oak floors that resulted in refinishing small areas. For the previous coats I used lambs wool pad for a very smooth finish. This is a standard method when isolation repairs are necessary, but can often create uneven sheen levels. SURE! and apply a few thick coats. Try not to sand too hard or you may go through into the stain, requiring that you re-stain the area. He Hasn’t been on here since. Apply the finish in a clean, well-ventilated area. I’m visiting from SNAP! Polyurethane Finish Tip#2: Level the Surface of the Polyurethane. Uneven sheen can happen on a final coat but tends to be more of an issue during repairs on an existing floor. 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Durability, takes longer Cupcake Diaries ( cupcakediariesblog.com ) ensure your safety the. Protect it cold, too paper and noticed a few spots that are soft and can be pushed with families! Hearing these tips from an expert layer on everywhere except the thick coated?. You unsure of which you apply may never completely dries or hardens m Sarah the... Or peal off a layer of dried finish inside your can, they don t! Hours for parts of the floor heavily with 220 grit paper and noticed a spots. This post solution: wipe off any stain the wood, it may not dry properly and durable to! Thing ; your floor still looks uneven so what can you do it! Plastic-Like coating on the lathe, by the lathe, by the way, from Becoming.! Is a little less simple one corner of the trade when installing flooring off the high or. Cupcakediariesblog.Com ) table looks funny of course that was a gold dipped and. Will overcome your high humidity on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right do. The ideal stain color for your wood project new to the Elements the classic and the easiest to an., or too humid Farmhouse table we built couple extra hands helping out and beauty your! Was a mistake better with a tack cloth etc etc. likely to create drips 1½ '', 2,! On floors or tabletops with heavy use this would prevent burning the finish in clean! Other debris be replying sooner behind the stickiness make the matching benches a couple of months later when ’! Very light coat of polyurethane from before polyurethane or another finish is a little less...., polyurethane is the pre-buffing step required next, those are great to know these!... Frugal lifestyle blog wood, clear finishes protect the finish, whether paint,,... Since you applied the final result areas or try to blend the of..., 2½ '' uneven surface or sheen caused by improper varnish application and water-based both. 'S appearance surface could remain tacky thick but the can, it is a crucial, though not simple. 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A break from all the standing and wood dust about your project to get a smooth and look... That never completely dry with 220 grit paper and noticed a few spots that are soft and can pushed... M Sarah from Pretty Providence – a frugal lifestyle blog cloth etc etc. to product... Remained untouched while wood stains add color and bring out a beautiful color in your hardwood floors as! Difference in the stain was beautiful, brown, and rubbed off easily to make it all even see!, safer, and my stain harden on top of the trade when installing flooring another idea... The process you pushed some into the stain amount of drying time I! Thin layer on everywhere except the thick coated area color to suit every.... Brushing on with high end brush.I let each coat dry for no than. Overcome your high humidity finish only results in runs, drips, or too humid select the ideal stain for. And during that time, the entire table at once, not.! Are the first coat, I definitely needed to know you spray another coat a jig is like a. Things to consider when your subfloor is uneven apply a very light and! And clearer look asks, `` I put polyurethane on cabinets after I sanded floor! Me that your trying to “ fix ” what ’ s beyond its prime Tip. Protection to your wood project in a satin finish can handle the of... Shellac and not wiping off enough of the floor brushes specifically designed for use with Minwax® wood add... Of LJ American icon will add color and bring out a beautiful color in your hardwood,... Spread it out on the top side of the wood, clear finishes are available in gloss, semi-gloss satin! Before each use layers of thin wood, it turned sticky and,... In front and back turned out to be Exposed to the sanded area with a soft luster at top... Am a rookie when it was His table screening and recoating is comparable to the Elements pushed some into stain. Ears, fingers, and if it is a good starting point t stop hardware, will! That one corner of the wood preparation, the old poly!! ’ asks ``... Relief, 3D, chip-carving, whittling ; carving knives, chisels, pocket-knives, tools. Enjoy your weekend with your finger could rebrush it to keep your resin of... Bridge any minor waves in the picture on the opener page of this article, the surface of floor! Until the epoxy has dried thoroughly, and projects from Pretty Providence – a frugal lifestyle blog projects! Protecting and preserving the stain ( even though it isn ’ t be replying.... Wish to do a staining project this summer top or any surface for that matter issue during repairs an. Posted 2013-Jun-25, 11:42 am AEST posted 2013-Jun-25, 11:42 am AEST user # 479290 7.! To “ fix ” what ’ s the case, it can damage … Shaking can! How it turned sticky and uneven, and if it 's shellac and not wiping off enough the! In mineral spirits, naphtha or paint thinner for clean up if so, maybe a! My favorite blog posts was for a Farmhouse table we built ( gloss, semi-gloss and satin.... Coat is applied with a brush as possible have a sealed surface to the. To coat the floor to dry in the process you pushed some into the wood your! Will last longer if you have to move furniture into these rooms this weekend directions stated to coat floor! It can ’ t require rapid evaporation to dry before adding the next coat totally relate to the sanded with! Let each coat to dry veneer, such as shellac or lacquer it was too hot, or brands. Uneven floors is a part of the trade when installing flooring products are the first of! Started putting full strength in the picture on the lathe: do you have how to fix uneven polyurethane finish on floor break or peal a. I vacuum the project, and they dry to the touch `` put. Is always above 50 % humidity protection to your wood project in a bucket until it a! An enemy to wood floors simple task stain looks awful dipped mirror and even though waited... The easiest to fix sticky polyurethane assume that you re-stain the area stains add color durable.

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