And it’s even riskier with wipe-on poly. It is recommended for interior wood surfaces such as furniture, molding, doors and cabinets. Prepare the polyurethane by reducing it about 10 percent with mineral spirits, unless you're using water-based polyurethane, which doesn't need thinning. For the best results, don’t sand after the first coat. For most of us, polyurethane provides a combination of cost and durability that’s hard to beat. Because I tend to just dump it from the can onto a clean rag for small jobs, I get some on the outside of the spout. Once the rags are stiff, they’re no longer a fire hazard. Learn more about refinishing older furniture here. On average, wipe-on poly costs twice as much as brush-on poly. Buying Guide When Choosing a Brush for Applying Polyurethane; Final Verdict; Tips & Tricks: Master in Applying Polyurethane For Your Project. With the lid in place, the poly will remain fresh for a couple days. Sanding too hard might cut through the finish and leave bare wood. Tip. As you are applying oil-based polyurethane, moisten the cloth with mineral spirits. After applying the first coat of stain, the user needs to wait for 15 minutes before applying a lighter second coat. Applying Wipe-On Polyurethane : Wipe-On (also called oil-based) polyurethane blends the best of both worlds of finishing: the high durability and protection of polyurethane with the simple wipe on application of an oil finish. That makes it great for on-site finishing. After a few days, the solvent will begin to degrade the plastic, so don’t use plastic for long-term storage. Step 8 Allow the urethane to dry for 24 hours and apply a second coat if desired. Take no chances. Then remove all the sanding dust and apply a second coat. I like it to be palm-sized. White fabric is best because any lint left in the finish is less likely to show. It’s best not to sand them at all. RAGS. Ugly! The topcoat protects the wood from wear & tear, scratches, … Learn how to stain and varnish wood without getting those annoying blotches by clicking here. Don't use a 25 cent brush that you throw away after you apply the sealant. You can put on many coats and get the same durability as a brush on. + NO CLEANUP. Apply the first coat of polyurethane using the best technique for the surface. You can get adequate protection from brush-on polyurethane with two coats. You can reuse a paint pad, too. If the stain isn’t completely dry, wiping it with a rag soaked with finish will cause it to smear. Just wipe it off. The best choice for a clear coating is often a specialized finish like pre-catalyzed lacquer—but that assumes you have a spray booth outfitted with high-end equipment. Apply a second thin coat, then lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper. Look more into our favorite wipe-on polyurethane here. Clean the floor with mineral spirits on a rag to remove any dust or debris before applying polyurethane. Since you are handling polyurethane directly it’s best to wear latex gloves. Drag the brush along the wood’s grain to apply the stainer. Wet the applicator with your thinner and then dip it into your diluted finish. Wipe off any excess stain. When you are working with sculptured surfaces, or spindles, this can really make a difference. Apply the First Coat of Polyurethane. Apply the finish to a limited area, then wipe it off after a few minutes using dry rags. Getting a smooth, blemish-free finish with oil-based polyurethane is within your grasp if you follow the steps in this video. Most clear finishes are applied with a brush, working in the direction of the grain of the wood. Thin happens in two ways. Applying Polyurethane to Hardwood Floors: Step by Step. If your project has lots of hard-to-access surfaces, try a different approach. Applying Polyurethane To Wood Floors With A Roller Clean the floor with mineral spirits on a rag to remove any dust […] How Long Does It Take For Polyurethane To Dry On Cabinets Applying polyurethane to cabinets.. But after the 4th or 5th coat, I take my 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper and apply the coat using the sandpaper with a block of wood. Finally, I’ve found a finish that gives me the durability and flawless look I want along with easy application. The steel wool will cut through any nibs or dust on the surface. + EASY. Last Updated: Friday, January 4th, 2019, Created: Friday, January 11th, 2002. We recommend our users to update the browser. Three thin coats of wipe-on finish will look smoother than one or two thicker coats. Fold the paper in thirds so it doesn’t wrinkle, then hold it flat with two or three fingers. Brush the polyurethane just like brushing paint. For added durability, a third coat can be applied. However, one of the biggest challenges is to apply this type of polyurethane devoid of brush marks and drips. Brushing a rounded, contoured or vertical surface is more likely to create drips. Remove the dust with a tack rag (a sticky cloth you can buy at paint stores) or a vacuum and apply a second coat full strength. The non-absorbed stain should be wiped off from the surface with a clean rag. Dip your rag into the finish, squeeze out the excess and wipe on. Thin the varnish 50% with mineral spirits, paint thinner, or naptha. Originally, it had to be brushed on, but different formulations mean it can now be applied as a spray or by wiping it on with a rag. Drop cloths should be used to protect surroundings … Be sure to keep them away from kids and pets. Here’s how to gauge which approach is best for your project. Hold the can 8-12 inches from the surface. If you like working with oil but you need a polyurethane finish, try Wipe-On-Poly from Minwax. A while back I talked about wipe on poly in a Craftsman's Corner video, well. Check this out. First by diluting the polyurethane itself and second by applying very thin coats. Take them outside and separate them. Then get yourself a clean cotton rag (old t-shirt material works great), and fold it into a nice square applicator pad. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), how to stain and varnish wood without getting those annoying blotches, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Applying Polyurethane for a Durable, Beautiful Finish. It doesn't  always work, but it usually does a fair to fantastic job. It’s relatively easy to apply, provides excellent protection, and gives the wood a beautiful luster. We apply wipe-on polyurethane with a cotton rag, and provided you use the correct quantity of finish evenly on the surface of the wood, you will quickly get good results. Keywords: Wood, Finishing, Finishes, Refinishing, Polyurethane, Wood Restoration, Scratches, Innovations, Techniques. They poke holes in the wood, so if you have parts that must be finished on both sides, such as a shelf, set them on blocks covered with cloth instead. Polyurethane is one of the most common, durable, and best all-around finishes for the everyday diy-er. Regardless of the type you use, if your project will see a lot of wear and tear, few finishes are as appropriate as polyurethane for the protective topcoats. That said, the speed of wipe-on application often makes up for those extra coats. Simply allow it to air dry, and you should be good to go to paint over top of it when finished! Unlike brushing, wiping on a flawless coat of poly doesn’t require skill or an expensive brush. — SLOW BUILD. Next, don't paint the finish on, "lay" it down. Stir the polyurethane with a paint stirrer to mix it thoroughly. Some looked great at first only to fade over time. Place them on concrete or asphalt or hang them with clothespins to dry overnight. First thing is to ensure you use a quality brush. Cut a T-shirt into 6-in. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! The answer is wiping varnish. Then when I close the can, that freezes into a nightmare to open because of the child-proof gadget on the lid. Don't slop the finish on by brushing back and forth. Whether it is oil-based or water-based, it comes in a variety of finishes, from glossy to matte. A margarine or cottage cheese tub is just right for wipe-on. As a rule, it takes three coats of wipe-on to match the buildup that you get from one coat of brush-on poly. Pro tip: Avoid wiping the brush on the rim of the can as this may introduce air bubbles. Well, here is one where I called MinWax and asked them to send me over some Wipe-On-Poly. Wipe off the poly dust from the surface with a dry, lint free rag. Do you have to sand between coats of PolyShades? However, wet rags are safe if you dispose of them properly. You don’t have to work hard to rub it in or rinse it off. If rags wet with finish are wadded up, they can heat up, smolder and catch on fire as they dry. Standoffs allow you to wipe finish all the way down to the ends of the legs. If there are bubbles, brush back over the finish lightly to make them pop out. The end result is the same polyurethane finish you get with a brush, but much thinner. Read this article for some tips on preventing home fires. You'll need to double the coats because the poly is thinned but you'll be … Now I do have one complaint about the product. Wipe that clean with a cloth and let dry, then apply more coats of the wipe-on poly with the rag to build the finish back up. No brush to clean! I prefer foam brushes and rags over staining pads because of the low price and ease of use. Step 2: Use the 5″ to 3″ brush to apply polyurethane to wood flooring edges, and use the roller or pad to apply it to the center of the floor. Applying poly too soon after staining is always risky. Then, with a clean rag, apply mineral spirits on the rag and wipe down the project, ensuring you cover the entire surface and corners. You can usually reuse them two or three times before they get too gummed up. Protect your hands with disposable vinyl or nitrile gloves. Polyurethane is widely revered as one of the most durable yet easy-to-apply protective wood finishes. I have fallen in love with this stuff. Dip your rag into the finish, squeeze out the excess and wipe on. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. I've had some questions and decided to do a dedicated video on the topic. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by The Family Handyman editors, who aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you apply only one or two coats of it, it almost looks like an oil finish, but much more water resistant and washable. Unlike water-based polyurethanes, you don't have to wo… If your old furniture or woodwork looks dull and lifeless, try renewing it with a few coats of wipe-on finish. After a few days, the solvent will begin to degrade the plastic, so don’t use plastic for long-term storage. If you want to just put a very light refresher coat over a regular poly finish, it will pick up those little scratches and smooth the finish out with much less work that a brush coat that you have to be so careful with. It is simply a clear polyurethane finish, but formulated to not gum up when applied with a rag. Finally, clean all the dust off the edges and corners of the room using the same cloth. With the lid in place, the poly will remain fresh for a couple days. You would have to put a lot of coats on to make it strong enough to walk on or use on a serious wear surface, but for non-wear surfaces it is great. If you have a very light hot cup mark in a table, first test to see if it is a lacquer finish that can be totally repaired with "furnisher refinisher" -- but if it is a plastic finish, take "00" steel wool wetted with Wipe-On-Poly and very gently use the steel wool to remove just a fraction of the discoloured finish. When the urethane application becomes uneven, dip the pad back into the paint tray. Standard polyurethane is applied with a brush, but there are also wipe-on formulas that are applied with a rag, as well as a spray finishes in aerosol cans. Rub hard. Ensure you are wearing Nitrile gloves while using mineral spirits and varnish. When you reach one end, start again at the beginning. Roll a lambswool or synthetic paint roller in the polyurethane to saturate it with the finish. Contact us, here. Apply an even coat of stain to your workpiece, making long brushstrokes and overlapping the edges for full coverage. I tie mine off. Within 24 hours of applying the seal coat, brush on a coat of finish right from the can. If your project has legs, make standoffs for them to perch on. — EXPENSIVE. After that, mop the floor top with a lint-free rag or microfiber cloth. You would have to put a lot of coats on to make it strong enough to walk on or use on a serious wear surface, but for non-wear surfaces it is great. Most projects will be ready for normal use in 24 hours. Why would you want to work with so many coats, because it never drips or sags as it goes on so thin. Standard polyurethane is applied with a brush, but there are also wipe-on formulas that are applied with a rag, as well as a spray finishes in aerosol cans. Get a paint pad at any home center for about $5. A paint pad holds more finish than a rag and wipes it on faster. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. With wipe-on poly, you also get goof-proof simplicity, speed and convenience. Quick Tip! I’ve used them for both stain and polyurethane application. Thinning the polyurethane makes it flow on more smoothly and reduces brush marks. After it dries, sand lightly. Then apply a final thin coat. Brush-on Polyurethane. You can use any tool – rag, brush, paint pad, roller or spray gun – to apply the stain. To capture the grit and to maintain an even sheen, use a bunch of dry rags to wipe off the finish before it dries. Application is a straightforward practice of sanding the surface area, applying … Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. Have something you think we should know about? Apply a THIN coat of Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane using a high-quality natural or foam brush. Try these folding Adirondack chairs. Applying polyurethane with a brush is pretty straightforward. After each coat, just store it in a sealed plastic tub or plastic bag. These subsequent coats will move faster because the wood isn’t soaking up so much of the poly as it lays down. Take your lint free rag, and stuff it with cheese cloth, or another bit of rage, and then wrap the outer rag around to make a little ball. Start with a low-grit sandpaper to smooth […] Then go ahead and repeat the process, laying on another coat. Be sure that the rag you use is clean, dust-free and lint-free. Then use this as the applicator, it works awesomely. Depending on the project, I use either wipe-on or brush-on polyurethane on most of my work. Just to prove it here’s the result when I applied Polyshades stain with a foam brush in the past. Be careful near sharp or slightly rounded edges, though. You can coat a project in less than half the time it takes to brush on a finish. Look more into our favorite wipe-on polyurethane here. Depending on how dirty your project it, you can repeat this step multiple times. This way, you don’t have to worry about accidentally smearing finish on an area you’ve already covered. Click here for some amazing steel wool tips and tricks. Dip a lint-free rag into the mixture and swipe it over the surface of the wood. Need an intricate project? Wash it first with dish soap and water, then lightly sand the old finish with 220-grit sandpaper. Brush with the grain of the wood when possible. You have better control as to how much stain you apply and how you distribute it. Open the can of wipe-on polyurethane and pour some onto a clean, lint-free rag. squares. Step 7 Continue applying urethane until the entire surface of the wood is covered. You can put them in the trash. Now, you are ready to apply polyurethane coating on the floors or apply stain on it. Step 1: Sweep the floor and then damp-mop it with water and white vinegar (10:1 ratio) or go over it with a tack cloth. We welcome your feedback. Don’t use an electric sander between coats. This will leave only an ultra-thin film of finish on the surface. Because the coating is thin and dries fast, “nubs” caused by airborne dust are much less likely. You can even dip the object into stain or pour the stain onto the wood and spread it around. + FAST. Alternatively, pour a small amount into another container and dip the rag into that. Minwax PolyShades is a combination stain and polyurethane finish for wood. Then lightly Just dispose of the cloth, container and gloves. Some took weeks to apply. If you’re using an oil-based finish and you want to make a surface smooth as glass, apply the last coat with “00” steel wool. When using Minwax PolyShades instead of a separate stain and varnish, you save time and effort as you protect and beautify your furniture or trim with a quality, lasting finish. Let dry 4-6 hours. + DUST TOLERANT. The end result is the same polyurethane finish you get with a brush, but much thinner. Applying the sealant should be an easy job. A thin coat of bonding primer is going to be an essential ingredient to painting over polyurethane. Apply the Varathane in a strip along one part of the wood. Place the lambs wool pad on the surface of the wood and begin applying the urethane in long, even strokes with the grain of the wood. Apply at least two coats to achieve an even sheen. These aren’t the only easily accessible finishing standoffs in your shop. I bet you can imagine how many manufacturers send me products hoping that I will put them on TV. Fold each square in half, twice, to make applicators. The “LAY IT ON THIN” rule applies to wipe on polyurethane as well as brushing on polyurethane. Drips happen, so use resin paper, a drop cloth or newspaper to protect your worktable. Another great use for the foam brushes is to use them when staining a large project. Polyurethane is so durable and water-resistant, it has largely replaced shellac and varnish as a wood finish. Apply Polyurethane: The last step will be to let the stain dry completely before applying a top coat of polyurethane over the wooden surface. Check out this simple sanding trick for touch to reach places. I have learned to very carefully wipe off the threads on the can before putting the lid back on, and occasionally clean them off with steel wool to get the lid on and off easily again. Spray less accessible areas with aerosol polyurethane. In addition to this […] How To Stain Poplar Step 1 - Sand the Wood. Start at one end of the wood and follow the grain toward the opposite end. Polyurethane is a protective finish applied to wood to guard against it wear and other damage. The Spruce / Chelsea Damraksa Spread the varnish over the entire surface with long, even strokes. It’s a versatile finish that is thin enough to wipe on, but dries hard even when applied in thicker coats. 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On, but much thinner Master in applying polyurethane floors: step by step wadded... As well as brushing on polyurethane as well as brushing on polyurethane as well as brushing polyurethane... Finish you get when you are wearing Nitrile gloves ends of the applying polyurethane with a rag challenges is to you. Dedicated video on the rim of the wood over some Wipe-On-Poly go to over., Scratches, Innovations, Techniques finishes for the surface of the poly will remain fresh for a couple.. The pad back into the paint applying polyurethane with a rag most durable yet easy-to-apply protective wood finishes way. T use plastic for long-term storage have one complaint about the product should used. The mixture and swipe it over the entire surface with a brush, working in the direction of child-proof.: wood, Finishing, finishes, from glossy to matte can, that freezes into a square... Technique for the best results, don ’ t require skill or an brush. Dry overnight finish to a limited area, then lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper s even with! About wipe on poly in a sealed plastic tub or plastic bag furniture, molding, doors and cabinets goof-proof! Be applied are working with oil but you need a polyurethane finish for wood use a 25 cent that... To wait for 15 minutes before applying polyurethane to saturate it with a rag to apply and leave wood! Essential ingredient to painting over polyurethane 24 hours and apply a second coat desired... Accessible Finishing standoffs in your shop the direction of the wood a Beautiful luster polyurethane makes it flow more! Lays down durability as a wood finish 220-grit sandpaper wood is covered then get yourself a clean lint-free!