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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
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    15

    Default Polyurethane not finishing well.

    I use the high gloss polyurethane, and this is what happens when it's all dried.
    What's going on? I've re-tried it 2 or 3 times, and this keeps happening.




  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    gippsland
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    82

    Default

    is it brushed, wiped on or sprayed? could be moisture or dust/lint

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
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    15

    Default

    It is brushed on.

    I cleaned the table with mineral spirits and a rag before I put that layer on.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    723

    Default

    Preparation method/sandpaper grit? Number of coats? Sanding between coats?


    In my personal opinion, the best finishing schedule for polyurethane involves sanding back to bare timber, then sanding and buffing the wood with an oil finish to 1200 grit and buffing the final finish to a good luster.

    During this process, the poly varnish can is used as an elevated stand for your coffee cup to minimize the amount of sanding muck it collects, and the weight of a full or nearly full can makes sure it will be hard to knock over accidentally. At the end of the finishing process you simply throw the poly varnish can out!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    15

    Default

    It's MDF, mate. No displaying bare wood.

    I sanded black paint to 220.
    Put on a coat of poly (this time it was semi, last time it was full gloss.), and sanded it at 800.
    Cleaned with mineral spirits and rag.
    Applied coat of full gloss - and this was the result.


    Quote Originally Posted by Master Splinter View Post
    Preparation method/sandpaper grit? Number of coats? Sanding between coats?


    In my personal opinion, the best finishing schedule for polyurethane involves sanding back to bare timber, then sanding and buffing the wood with an oil finish to 1200 grit and buffing the final finish to a good luster.

    During this process, the poly varnish can is used as an elevated stand for your coffee cup to minimize the amount of sanding muck it collects, and the weight of a full or nearly full can makes sure it will be hard to knock over accidentally. At the end of the finishing process you simply throw the poly varnish can out!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    15

    Default

    Is it because a lot of my polyurethane turned hard in the can? I assumed because it seemed to turn back to liquid that there wouldn't be a problem, but did it create these specks?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    723

    Default

    Sand MDF to 120 grit, apply primer, sand to 120, apply black paint, sand to 180, apply black paint, sand to 180, apply black paint, sand to 180, apply black paint, sand 240 ..... to 1200 and then use a car paint buffing compound to bring a high gloss to the finish.

    Then throw the lumpy poly into the bin. (and a turps wipedown may not be the best thing if it was a water based poly, as turps leaves a slightly oily residue)

    An acrylic enamel would be a better paint finish (the stuff used for painting cars) for MDF.

    More coats may be needed depending on your brushwork...the auto paint has the advantage of coming in spray cans.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    ACT
    Age
    85
    Posts
    546

    Default

    Did you by any chance use hair conditioner on your brushes the last time you used them?
    Regards
    Hugh

    Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Of The Boarder
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    68
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    0

    Default

    As your in South Dakota what was temp at the time? Moisture content in the air and ambient temp in the shed all these are factors effecting finish.

    The possibility of the solvent you were using to wipe over between coats could also be the problem.

    To attain a high gloss look with a base coat such as your black I use a different method.

    I use a base coat of plain colour (black) to apply , sand, then mix 50/50 of high gloss and black and apply allow to dry, sand, mix a 25% Black and 75% high gloss thinned 2 to 1 and apply.

    Just make sure both gloss and base coats are the same types of compounds ie enamel.

    I did this with a cabinet we are about to get rid of after 25 years and it still has minimal scratches to the surface it was a TV cabinet.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    15

    Default

    Wheel,

    It was around 80º in the room.

    What do you mean by this?
    "The possibility of the solvent you were using to wipe over between coats could also be the problem."

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    15

    Default

    No, only brush cleaner..?

    Quote Originally Posted by A Duke View Post
    Did you by any chance use hair conditioner on your brushes the last time you used them?
    Regards

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    ACT
    Age
    85
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    546

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by icor1031 View Post
    No, only brush cleaner..?
    Good.
    Applying a bit of hair restorer to a brush after cleaning keeps it nice and soft and it does not get that crisp feel BUT make sure it does not contain silicon or it causes "fish eye' bubbles in the finish. While thinking of silicon you didn't use any thing like WD40 around it did you?
    Just a possibility when looking for reasons.
    Regards
    Hugh

    Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    15

    Default

    I didn't.
    Thanks.

    Quote Originally Posted by A Duke View Post
    Good.
    Applying a bit of hair restorer to a brush after cleaning keeps it nice and soft and it does not get that crisp feel BUT make sure it does not contain silicon or it causes "fish eye' bubbles in the finish. While thinking of silicon you didn't use any thing like WD40 around it did you?
    Just a possibility when looking for reasons.
    Regards

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Of The Boarder
    Age
    68
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by icor1031 View Post
    Wheel,

    It was around 80º in the room.

    What do you mean by this?
    "The possibility of the solvent you were using to wipe over between coats could also be the problem."
    Had to convert 26C or 80F isn't to bad but what of ambient temp and moisture in the air.

    You didn't mention if you sprayed or hand applied.??

    If sprayed had you emptied/drained the tank does it have a moisture filter, even sweating over the top and fine droplets can cause similar.

    Out of the blue thought is the roof or ceiling sealed or just a tin/tile roof and could a breeze have been about?

    Wiping a solvent over the top prior refinishing
    Cleaned with mineral spirits and rag.
    a tack rag is all you need to remove dust particles a solvent can eat into the prior coat.

    So many possibilities

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