Youll be able to feel the roughness with your hand. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 3. Feel free to take a look around, share, learn, and please enjoy :-) Click my photo to learn more! Try to apply oil-based polyurethane when the temperature is high. All opinions expressed on this site are 100% my own, and 100 % OPINION based on true experiences with certain products and techniques. What Are The Best Woods for Outdoor Furniture? Work quickly, and dont let your brush dry out. If you have that problem, thin the polyurethane down, so its less viscous. The aim is to scuff the surface, not remove it. Allow it to penetrate, dry and harden inside the wood fibers, then fill the cavity withMinwax High-Performance Wood Filler. Also available in eight popular colors, a Blend-Fil Pencil fills scratches and holes while at the same time restoring the wood's original color. Natural bristles for water-based polyurethane and synthetic bristles for oil-based. If youre using a roller to apply polyurethane, use a short napped cover, selecting lambswool for oil-based polyurethane and microfiber for water-based. If you can scratch the clear coat with the back of your fingernail or a coin, without much effort, there is probably wax on it. Its never worked for me, and heres why I think that is. How Long to Let Stain Dry Before Polyurethane? Crazed clear coats are similar, but have less of a pattern than alligatored clear coats do. Whether they're in furniture or trim work, open nail holes are just plain unsightly, but closing them up is easy withMinwax Wood Putty, a premixed material color-matched to the most popularMinwax Wood Finishcolors. If the bubbles appear while youre still applying the polyurethane, you can gently knock them down with the very tip of the brush, then brush very lightly over them before letting them level. Always thin oil-based polyurethane. If you choose to repair only a small spot or multiple small spots, you will have to get it to blend in with the clear coat thats already on the piece. Its also becoming more and more common to find waxes on wood furniture pieces. Related: How To Apply Polyurethane to Wood. Clean the wax off with mineral spirits before attempting to identify which clear finish you have. It would be best if you tried to apply the polyurethane when the air temperature is warm, but thats simply not possible in some parts of the world. Use fine-grit sandpaper 320 or higher. Leave a little more on the surface this time than the first coat. Please, before attempting any of the projects mentioned on my site, consult with a professional if you are unsure of the safety or accuracy of my tips. For your final coat, you may want to thicken it up to 2 parts varnish/poly to 1 part mineral spirits/water. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To avoid trapping air bubbles, stir the polyurethane gently with a stick. This will give the new coat something to grab onto and may blend in some of the surface scratches youre trying to repair. Once dry, continue with the above instructions from step three. Wax applied on top of other clear coats like lacquer or shellac, helps to polish it up nicely. No Clue How To Do That? 1-2 passes with the sandpaper in hand is usually sufficient. Whether its a 100-year-old picture frame or your grandfather's tool chest, antiques deserve special attention. Window sills inside the house have a tough job: They have to look as good as interior trim, but they have to act like exterior trim, withstanding the effects of sunlight and moisture. Vacuum the surface and wipe with a painters tack cloth to remove all traces of dust and sandpaper grit. I created a nice little printable chart for you to hang up in your workspace It will hopefully help you to remember the steps for identifying each clear coat, and what you can do to repair them! If a cotton ball dipped in denatured alcohol softens the finish, it is shellac. If you suspect a piece you are about to restore has been waxed, remove the wax with a soft cloth dipped in mineral spirits. If the area becomes sticky, youre looking at a water-based polyurethane. Wet a sponge with the same product youd use to thin the polyurethane. If the scratches are from sandpaper, you simply need to use a finer grade of sandpaper. 1- Clean the entire surface with mineral spirits and a clean rag to remove any wax or dirt. 3 Wipe all of the dust off of the surface, make sure you get everything before applying your first coat. Which is completely understandable! If I had to sum up four points to remember, its clean, gentle, light, and thin! Apply the first coat lightly using the tip of a brush. Vigorous application adds air to the polyurethane, and youll have bubbles again. Let it sit for about 10 seconds, then check it. Varnish must be overcoated with varnish, polyurethane must be overcoated with polyurethane (water or oil). The lines are all over the place in a crazed pattern. Believe it or not, polyurethane is just a type of varnish. Youll need to sand the surface back until its flat and the orange peel effect is gone. Therefore, no solvent can re-dissolve varnish or polyurethane. If lacquer thinner softens the finish, it is lacquer. Wet-edge to wet-edge is the best, and even then, try to be precise. Youre nervous to be without them for too long. Hardwood Floor Cleaner will also remove stubborn dirt and grease without leaving any residue. Then, lightly scuff the surface with 220-grit sandpaper or a synthetic sanding pad. Follow steps one to six of the above instructions for removing and reapplying polyurethane. Work rapidly with a water-based product as it dries quickly. 5 Let that first coat dry for at least 4 hours. Work quickly, and dont soak the wood too much with water. If using water-based, do not thin. Identifying & Repairing Scratched Clear Coats Cheat Sheet! Wrap a clean cloth around the sponge to form a pad, and wipe the polyurethane off. This effect often occurs when applying the finish in cold temperatures and usually when using a roller as an applicator. All you need to do to turn your varnish or poly into a wiping version is mix in some mineral spirits if its oil-based, or mix in water if its water-based. If the wood itself looks lighter beneath the clear coat, it may also be damaged. (Not damage to the actual wood). Either way, these little cracks are in the finish only, not the wood. One thing that you can change to make it easier for yourself, is to make your varnish or poly wipe-on capable, by thinning it. Hopefully, Ive shared with you some knowledge that will help you with future wood clear coat repairs. These reactive clear coats can only be overcoated to hide the damages to them. Lacquers solvent is lacquer thinner, shellacs solvent is denatured alcohol. Please see myPrivacy Policyfor more details.**. Allow the area to dry (a fan or hair drier speeds the process), then brush on a liberal coat ofMinwax Wood Hardener. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Use only a small amount of the solvent, and try your best not to remove more of the clear coat in the process. I pride myself in the significant research I complete before attempting a project, or experiment, but I always recommend some additional research and extra precautions before attempting any of the projects I discuss. I'm a technical writer who writes in-depth articles for readers wanting uncomplicated explanations for creative topics made difficult by industry jargon. Then apply a sanding sealer. I reserve the right to remove, replace, or relocate images or content on the site. I like to clean the cracked area with 0000 steel wool dipped in mineral spirits, then wipe with clean mineral spirits and allow it to dry. Both can be repaired the same way, which I will discuss later in this article. 4 Pour wiping poly/varnish onto the surface, and spread it over the area using a dry cloth. Allow the excess to drain back into the tin naturally before applying the brush to the wood. Enter your email below to join my mailing list and receive your free download! I cannot be held accountable for your safety or the outcome of a project, based solely on my articles or information. I cannot be held accountable for your safety or the outcome of a project, based solely on my articles or information. If you discover any softened wood, use a screwdriver to carefully remove the rotted wood fibers. If the scratches on your piece go all the way down to the wood, you may need to sand and re-stain your piece as well as redo the clear coat. The primary reason polyurethane goes cloudy is moisture. If oil-based, thin to a 75/25 ratio of polyurethane to mineral spirits. Once the polyurethane has been removed, wipe down the whole area to ensure its clean. It will then harden into a new, solid, flat surface, without the original cracks or scratches. How to Paint Particle Board Furniture | Faux Barn Door Coffee Table, The Best Sander For Stripping Furniture Paint, Stain, & More in Minutes, Repairing Scratched Clear Coats | Lacquer vs. Shellac vs. Varnish vs. Polyurethane. Varnish and Polyurethane are reactive clear coats. If you think your piece has both lacquer and shellac on it, you can use a mix of 3 parts denatured alcohol, to 1 part lacquer thinner. Use 220 to 340-grit sandpaper to sand the surface until the blemish or mistake has disappeared. Either the wood surface was not cleaned of oils and dirt before the polyurethane was applied, the polyurethane surface was not scuffed with sandpaper between coats, or the coats applied were too heavy. No matter the clear coat! Streaking in polyurethane has two main causes: using a cheap brush with coarse bristles during application or overworking the polyurethane when you apply it. Once softened, scrape off the polyurethane. Apply it to the finish in long strokes, working with the grain. Porch.coms latest post, Experts Furniture Guide from DIY to Home Design, The Ultimate Guide to Identifying Wood Types in Furniture, 3 Simple Tricks for Staining Wood Filler, or Wood Glue Furniture Repairs, Restoring Wood Veneer Furniture Tips to Help You Remove, Repair, or Refurbish, 5 Unique Wood Finishing Techniques Make Your Wood Furniture Stand Out, Applying Polyurethane Perfectly- Foolproof Method for Water and Oil-Based Polyurethane Application, How to Sand Wood Furniture 5 Game-Changing Tips, How to Stain Wood Your Questions Answered. Change to a fresh one to avoid this annoyance. Water is wood's enemy. Its easier for buffing in small circular motions without worrying about scratches. Required fields are marked *. Repeat step two before applying a further coat of polyurethane. 1. If neither solvent affects the finish, it is polyurethane. If the polyurethane has dried and looks uneven, with different thicknesses across the surface, the cause is usually the method of application or the technique used. For antiques with original finishes intact, carefully clean off any dirt and grime with a soft cloth moistened with mineral spirits, then make any color touchups withMinwax Wood Finish Stain Markers, which come in a variety ofWood Finishcolors. You can do small areas on the piece, or the entire surface. If oil-based polyurethane is cloudy or going jelly-like, dispose of it. Wax doesnt provide anywhere near the protection as the finishes Ill be discussing today, but some people do use it alone to seal stained wood pieces. You may need to repeat the process to remove them all. Yes, it does come in cans for small areas, however, spraying large areas is best left to professionals as the overspray will cover everything and remain sticky for some time. Youll need to replace the cloth frequently, so have a few handy. It will not remove the wax, only spread it around more, and push it deeper into the surface of the wood. Once this chemical reaction occurs, there is no way to reverse it. In that case, you would have to completely refinish the table, including stripping and/or sanding and re-staining the wood. What Are The Best Food-Safe Wood Finishes? Here are the steps to follow. Meaning I may receive a small commission at no cost to you, of course were you to make a purchase through any of the links. Each day the wood around us, from floors and woodwork to furniture and fine antiques, is subjected to sunlight, grit, dust, moisture and dry air. Do you know of any repair tricks for lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, or varnish? Dip the brush into the tin of polyurethane, but do not wipe it against the side of the tin to remove excess. Polyurethane can be either water or oil-based. Then follow steps two through six of the steps above to reapply the required number of coats. But it also makes these finishes less durable than other, reactive, clear coats. Reamalgamation does not work on varnish or polyurethane. If this is the case, youre looking at a surface scratch. Allow each coat ample time to dry before sanding and applying the next. Then apply the Minwax stain that best matches the surrounding trim. Keep a trigger-spray bottle ofMinwax Wood Cabinet Cleanerbeneath every sink in the house and use it whenever you detect water spots or grease build-up on the cabinets. Avoid the dust getting into the air youre working in. I've Got You Covered with an Interactive Workbook to Help You Identify Each of Your Furniture Pieces Through the Process of Comparison and Elimination. Then lightly scuff it up with fine-grit sandpaper or 0000 steel wool. I Kaitlyn, of KRay Custom Refinish, am not a certified professional in any of the topics I discuss in my posts. Since I began my custom refinishing business, Ive been amazed by the number of requests Ive gotten for help with repairing scratched clear coats on dining tables, coffee tables, etc. Vacuum the surface, then wipe it down with a painters tack cloth to ensure all dust is gone. Ill run through those now. Scrub reasonably hard. A lot depends on the depth of scratching and what made the marks. Related: How Long to Let Stain Dry Before Polyurethane? Sometimes if the polyurethane is applied over a stain or an oily timber, the stain or timber oils may be incompatible with the poly and cause a chemical blush. How to get a smooth finish with polyurethane? You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Freelance after 42 years in the corporate world, I have an MBA in Technology. Be sure to apply the polyurethane in thinned coats, dont overwork the area, and be gentle. Starting a DIY Furniture Project in your home? If the existing clear coat doesnt match that, you can use 0000 steel wool to dull the surface, and buff with paste wax to reach the desired sheen. Wiping varnish/poly is thinner than brushing varnish/poly so youll need to put on more coats when wiping it on. 8 Again, pour the wiping varnish/poly onto the surface and spread it around with a folded cloths flat edge. **Heads up: This post contains affiliate links. I have some wooden end tables I have considered discarding and replacing. Click To Learn More. Unfinished furniture and woodwork with defects, such as splits, gouges and screw holes, require a filler that is easily sanded and stainable. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can remove any excess slightly with a dry cloth, but then continue spreading with the folded cloth. Always. This has its benefits and its drawbacks. Just as important, after sanding it will accept all Minwax penetrating stains and can be finished with any Minwax protective topcoat. Fortunately, all it takes is a few minutesplus the right Minwax productsto both roll back time and protect your wood for years to come. 9 Allow the coat to dry overnight, or at least 4-6 hours. If the scratch does change color to match the surrounding area, then its a bit deeper than the surface, but not through to the wood. Over the intervening years, Ive learned what to do and traps to avoid. Youll read a lot of advice telling you that denatured alcohol will soften polyurethane, allowing you to fix cracking and crazing. Related: How Many Coats of Polyurethane to Apply. Related: Antique Wax Glaze on Chalk Paint. But I personally think that the ease of application makes up for that little fact. I know a lot of people that jump immediately into completely refinishing a piece of furniture when the surface clear coat is scratched. Available in eight popular colors, their precision felt tips give you a quick and easy way to touch up minor blemishes without resorting to costly refinishing.