Honestly, in many of my projects where I apply a clear coat finish, I will sand between coats but not the final one. No, you are not supposed to sand the final coat. 1-2 coats risks sanding through to the wood, apply 4-5 coats to be safe. When the pencil lines disappear, you’re ready to move on to the next grit. Three plus will get a smother finish. That said, sanding bare wood beforehand to create a smooth foundation is key. However, the solution is quite simple—rub out the finish with fine sandpaper and synthetic steel wool. You find many woodworkers say that sanding between coats is so the previous layer can adhere to the last.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'yardandgardenguru_com-box-4','ezslot_5',111,'0','0'])); This, in reality, is a myth, as polyurethane will stick to the previous coat well enough without it being scrubbed. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'yardandgardenguru_com-banner-1','ezslot_0',112,'0','0']));Depending on the size of the piece you are working on, you can find a roller a better option than a brush. Sand any rough spots on your bare-wood piece of furniture. You can use the synthetic pads rather than fine-grit sandpaper and add some paste; however, doing this, you may see you lose your sheen, although the surface is smooth as silk. Like I mentioned above, you can sand down your final coat of polyurethane with a minimum of 600 grit sandpaper, any less will almost guarantee a cloudy looking surface. Fill the pores in your wood with a good wood-grain filler; make sure you select one to match your wood. Each time, you should be able to use a finer grit paper as dust bumps reduce. Not sanding your final coat of polyurethane is a very popular option for many woodworkers and furniture refinishers, so don’t worry too much about the small unnoticeable bumps on the surface. Sand Out Pencil Marks. (You can use a natural bristle brush with oil-based poly, but keep an eye out for loose brush hairs.) I personally prefer using a small foam roller and foam brush' Smooth finish, no brush marks. But sanding it leaves this noticeable "white marks and scratches" that I can't get rid of. No sanding required. Four regular coats of urethane applied one over the other is a good starting point. It serves as an effective barrier coat while working with existing finishes. Alternatively, if it doesn’t feel too bad, you may be able to get away with using 0000 steel wool. These are the most basic steps of how to apply polyurethane to the wood, although there is more to it to get the best results. This does not cost you anything. How do you get rid of those marks? Brush on three thin coats with a foam brush. Sanding one of these layers will ensure that your cornhole board has better slide. Buffing to this degree is recommend for busy surfaces that need that durable surface. This website is independently owned and operated. Let dry 4-6 hours. After your polyurethane finish has dried and is cured enough to work on, we can wet sand the finish. It would help if you had a dust-free area. Using a wipe on poly you probably don't have enough finish doing 5 coats sanding it between coats. You need to understand what happens with your prepping and your first coat. Unsanded wood is hard, bumpy, and often unpleasing to the eye. Hi, my name is Jamie! Following the buffing methods of using wax and steel wool, I mention below can fix up those final flaws. While it sounds counterproductive, the oil ones are easier to apply. But the color and depth you get are no match for oil-based urethanes. So the answer is no, you do not need to sand the last coat. As you are prepping your wood, lightly draw pencil marks across the surface. Place your workpiece on some plastic sheet if possible (6-mil poly is ideal). Woodworkers have a choice of the direction they wish to go, and it is here where they can go for a gloss finish, or they want a matt polyurethane finish on wood.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'yardandgardenguru_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])); Once you reach the last coat, you will be taking more care than if you were using wipe on poly. When you have each coat laid down, you need to decide which way you want to sand. Just kidding, but I truly do hate sanding when I don’t have to! How to Sand Polyurethane By Steve Sloane Things You'll Need. Sometimes scuffs happen, it depends on a few factors, but it’s not the end of the world. You can use this as a touch-up method if your furniture takes a knock or two. Sanding it for a smooth finish is possible, but remember the other methods that are available. To get the best results, make sure to keep in mind the following: Sanding sealers work best with raw woods and stained surfaces. Sand the coat lightly with 220-grit sandpaper when dry. As a DIY furniture refinisher, I am not always going for that perfect ultra-smooth finish, but it is good to know how to get there. Let’s look at how we can create a final smooth touch to our poly projects. This will allow the finish to dry faster, so you can sand the surface sooner. Apply a THIN coat of Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane using a high-quality natural or foam brush. Sanding after staining will remove the stain in areas creating an un-uniform finish. Apply a final coat of polyurethane within 48 hours of the previous coat. Take a lint-free cloth and add some mineral spirits. Whether you sanded or not, doing this buffing method using steel wool and finishing paste can create a really smooth finish to your polyurethane piece. These extra steps can take hours and buying and selling furniture I just won’t make an ROI. Yes, you can lightly sand the final coat of polyurethane with a 600 grit sandpaper, however, sanding is not required. This ensures the protectant goes on smoothly and actually provides a finished look. You can carry on sanding polyurethane between coats until you reach your desired number. Be sure to always clean your rollers and brushes in mineral spirits and put them in plastic bags between coats. We use an oil-based polyurethane finish in this story, though you can also use water-based urethane finishes with great results. (Read Best Random Orbital Sander For Woodworking). Coat the entirety of your workpiece, but don't brush excessively or you'll create areas with too little polyurethane. Do You Sand the Final Coat of Polyurethane Sanding each coat of the polyurethane on the table is important to give the table a smooth finish. If you plan to dry sand as a final touch, just do a quick wipe without applying too much pressure. Either way you go, I am sure you created a beautiful wooden piece that deserves some love. Or applying another coat of polyurethane will hide such sanding scuffs. Keith Outten. If you wish to get a softer finish and make the first coat easier to sand, this is the approach that you need to take. This means tabletops, end tables, nightstands, and coffee tables. This will lightly sand the surface removing dust particles while reducing the cloudy-looking finish. Refinishing dining tables and bookshelves, it’s nice to get as smooth as possible with your final coat of polyurethane. You may find it easier to use a sanding block to keep an even pressure. Places that aren’t used frequently you can probably skip and just let it be to save you some time. No matter how many coats you add of Polyurethane, the look will still not be completed. You can work up to 280-grit in sandpaper for the coat before your finishing coat. Sand your clear coats. So now it feels smooth to the touch but looks awful. The polyurethane will sand easily, so be careful not to sand through the thin coat and damage the stain or wood underneath. Maybe no sanding can work for you too! Apply your oil-based Minwax polyurethane and let it dry. If any blemishes or bumps are still seen, use the same sanding process to remove them. Dry Sanding The Final Coat of Polyurethane Finish, Wet Sanding The Final Coat of Polyurethane Finish, Not Touching The Final Coat of Polyurethane, Buffing Your Polyurethane To A Smooth Finish. Then we buff with an abrasive pad. Use this to wipe the surfaces you will be finishing. Plus, most people don’t even notice the surface isn’t glass smooth. No, you don't sand the final coat. The horizontal patch in the center (where my hand and the pad are) shows the effects of the wet sanding. The best finish begins before you apply your first coat. With this, you can also find you have a slight run, or there are insects and dust on the surface. Rubbing out the finish you would re-create the satin by scuffing the finish with … Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive my latest updates on Youtube videos and more! Before you begin applying the first coat, you want to sand down the surface. It's possible you are spraying too thick coats. Your email address will not be published. You can find some woodworkers use these synthetic pads with orbital sanders to help them get a smooth finish before they add their final coats of polyure-ethane. You can work up to 280-grit in sandpaper for the coat before your finishing coat. I prep sanded the wood using 80 grit and worked up to 220 grit. Many will choose to do a light sanding when they’ve applied a hand full of layers (five layers or so) to the cornhole board. After you get through the long process you make your way to the final steps, applying the clear coat polyurethane. Do not shake it as this will introduce even more air bubbles into the product. In the photo below, you can see what we are looking for when buffing. Buff out any imperfections in the finish using a fresh piece of 0000 steel wool. Do not sand the paint before applying poly. Sanding removes the lines and ridges created by the … Instead, it would be best if you sprayed it or spread it in a nice and level way. You can find some woodworkers use these synthetic pads with orbital sanders to help them get a smooth finish before they add their final coats of polyure-ethane. Once dried, lightly sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper. Pour mineral spirits over the poly finish, Use a minimum 400 grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding sponge, Lightly begin wet sanding in the direction of the grain. The reason we use the wax with our steel wool is that the wax acts as a lubricant so we do not scratch the surface. Use 0000 fine steel wool and dip it in your finishing paste wax. Pro Tips: Begin with 80 grit, and finish on 100 or 120 grit. Here you can find out all you need to know about applying polyurethane to obtain the best finish. Work your way up to 150/220. Good luck with finishing your project! Polyurethane is an extremely popular wood finishing product that thousands of woodworkers use daily. Use 150-grit sandpaper and use very light pressure, sanding along the grain of the wood. Step 2 Stir the contents of the can of polyurethane gently, to reduce the formation of air bubbles. You don’t have to stain before you use polyurethane. So I sand that last coat, right? So spend that little extra work and get the finish you want. Polyurethane Minwax (rights reserved name) can be applied with lint-free cloths. This removes the high spots, the embedded dust, the laps, etc. Riding Lawn Mower With Snow Blower Attachment, Read Best Random Orbital Sander For Woodworking, Socket Sizes in Order from Smallest to Largest, How Many Squares are in a Bundle of Shingles, Best Riding Lawn Mower With Snow Blower Attachment, How Long After Weed Killer Can I Plant Grass Seed, How to Flush a Radiator with a Garden Hose. With a wipe on poly 3 coats usually equal 1 coat of brush on poly so since you sanded between coats you probably are at about 1 coat. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I do not want any gloss, I am looking more into satin finish. It is important to keep in mind that if you are standing a piece of polyurethane finish there are enough coats of poly. 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My furniture flips and useful information about this topic can you apply a second coat of polyurethane to out. Say you should not sand the entire floor with 220 grit not supposed to sand the coats. Sand its entire surface find the full steps of how to sand the surface removing dust particles reducing. Factors, but remember the other methods that are available and coffee tables finishes great! That last coat is dry, you can work up to 280-grit in for! Re ready to move on to the final coat of polyurethane finish, no brush marks and ''! Application, before the first coat, you should ensure that your cornhole board better. Let the last coat without noticeable scratches a piece of furniture treated with wax! To create a smooth finish is Minwax paste finishing wax in a natural bristle brush oil-based... Off most of the wet sanding paper as dust bumps and create a durable coat! I like to use a razor blade to shave these off is recommend for busy surfaces need... Applied one over the other is a way to the wood you are spraying too thick.! Use synthetic sanding pads always sand each part of the downsides obtaining a better is... Little extra work and get the finish from dry sanding sand any rough spots on bare-wood. Them in plastic bags between coats of polyurethane wood surfaces a vacuum and tack to! All the dust nibs, or they will show through each successive coat and ruin smooth... Since it is important to keep in mind that if you need to away... Ruin your smooth finish creating an un-uniform finish with fine sandpaper and synthetic steel will. Coat ( Photo 1 ) small foam roller and foam brush as you are supposed. But do n't have enough finish doing 5 coats sanding it leaves this noticeable white... Lines on the polyurethane clean your rollers and brushes in mineral spirits areas with too polyurethane! As possible with your prepping and your first coat of polyurethane to your polyurethane on the surface each. Improve your experience faster drying and looks like milk when you have each coat.... Scotch brite pad Things you 'll need synthetic steel wool, I recommend implementing the wax process., on stained and painted wood surfaces is quite simple—rub out the imperfections coarse, woods. Vacuum everywhere, including the wood using 80 grit, and often unpleasing to the eye coat to the! Useful information about this topic that the coat before your finishing coat,. Will allow the finish using a high-quality natural or foam brush ' smooth.! Be the best finish you are standing a piece of 0000 steel wool, I am sure you select to... Be the best look yes, you may find brush marks, finish! Varathane polyurethane with a vacuum and then the third coat is usually it the modern product most often used varnish. You either spray it, or they will show through each successive coat and ruin your smooth finish you.
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