Stain Then Poly, Or Stain With Poly, Or Something Else Entirely?

It’s recommended that you do always seal your chalk paint. That being said you don’t necessarily have to seal it. Beware though, unsealed chalk paint is more susceptible to the elements such as chipping, and wearing. It’s certainly not a go idea if the chalk painted item is in a high traffic area. I know there are so many different topcoat options for chalk painted furniture that it can be a little overwhelming when it comes down to choosing the right one to use.

So, what would be the best way for me to approach this? What is a good, easy to use stain (preferably rag-on application) and what would be a good durable finish ? Any tips at all on getting good results would be welcome, as I don’t have a lot of experience in finishing wood.

Oil Vs Film, Choose Your Finish

The Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane, an oil based polyurethane is one of the best polyurethanes because it dries so quickly. Other water based polyurethanes on this list take upwards of 24 hours to completely dry. This one can take as little as 10 hours with recoats. It’s also great for use on both finished and unfinished wood, which just increases the number of instances that it can be used.

Might be worth it to try those since you liked the rustoleum so much. The ONLY way I get a smooth finish with polycrylic is to add a little water and to use a sponge wax applicator with the hand grip. I used paste wax on my kitchen table and two end tables I painted. It took a while to cure but I have been so pleased with the sealing results. Switching brands probably will not yield better results. You may try using a “good quality” foam brush, like Wooster, to apply a thick even coat.

Though they’re all very strong, oil-based polyurethane is the most durable. It is made by combining multiple materials like polyurethane, clay, lacquer, and epoxy. It is a comparatively better option if you have to fill large cracks and holes on your workpiece. It will provide you with a more yellow and slightly darker look compared to the water-based one. It is incredibly compatible with darker looking woods as it continues to darken and amber over time. Upon analyzing the Minwax vs Varathane reviews, we have come across the most common wood finishes.

Best Wax And Grease Remover Before Paint:perfect For Surface Preparation

Water based poly dries more quickly than the oil based poly. Polyurethane is scratch proof as it penetrates deep into the wood and durable. It’s resistant to water which makes it a great choice for protecting wood projects that will come in contact with moisture like kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. It’s also resistant to oil, grease, and other solvents. I’ve been working on a matching backdrop/floor combo for my studio. I ordered in long planks of cedar and cut them to size.

This soy-based formula results in deeper penetration within the wood grain and results in truer colors. This option is suitable for cabinets, doors, trim, and paneling. Any form of application brush or roller can be used. You can use it indoors with little ventilation because it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that create toxic vapors. You can clean up spills with mild-soaps and water.

part number of the exact type of varathane can you want to find. do not use any finish with the word “poly” in the name. wish to see all the hard work of paint matching destroyed. For an unbeatable selection of colors, you can’t go wrong with the top-rated Varathane Fast Dry Interior Wood Stain, which is available in dozens of hues. There are both natural options like Dark Walnut and Golden Oak, as well as more vibrant hues, including Barn Red and Vintage Aqua.

Best Chalk Paint Top Coat For Durability

It produced the blackest black, no matter what the underlying wood is. Two coats made a little bit of a difference, and helps to ensure that you get the same color throughout the board. Varathane Classic Black had similar results to the Minwax samples, so you could go with either when deciding which to buy at the store. Again, there wasn’t too much of a difference between the first and second coats, so you’ll save time by just applying one coat. When you work for days on your project, the last thing you want to do is mess it up with the wrong color.

If you fail to wipe off excess layers of polyshades, it may cause a mess and you might have to scrap off the whole surface and start over. It is best in the interiors on surfaces such as furniture and door but can work on any type of wood. The water base polyurethane is easier to clean and designed to be stain resistant.

I’ve painted when it was dry outside and when it has been raining. Other than the drying time being longer on the wet or humid days, I haven’t noticed any issues. I’ve never tried Rustoleum poly since most of the stores near me seem to carry mostly the Minwax. Only issue I did have was when I stupidly tried water-based primer on the first cabinet door and it flaked so I striped it and sanded it down and redid it with oil-based primer. I have been using water-based primer on the trim though the enamel paint I got is also self-priming. This is designed to be a slow drying wood stain.

This polyurethane is ideal for all indoor wood, including flooring, doors, trim and furnishings. It has a one-coat coverage, which makes it quick to apply and the water-based formula makes it easy to clean after use. The formula of this polyurethane is also scratch and stain resistant to provide excellent protection. This polyurethane provides tough abrasion-resistant protection to your wood flooring and furniture, which can add value to your home. It will keep all wood looking high quality for years to come and the formula will remain clear. As it is designed for interior use, this polyurethane is low odor and has a relatively quick drying time.

The product provides exceptional coverage and an impressive end result. You’ll get the most out of this gel stain by using on projects that suffer from a lot of wear in normal use. It’s a good option for interior banisters, doors, and trim.

This color is much darker and a more saturated teal color. Oil-based primer is very different from oil-based paint. Oil-based primer can be topped with either oil-based or latex paint. It’s very different from putting latex paint over oil-based paint. The only decent products they make are their oil-based polyurethanes, but that does me little good right now since oil-based polyurethanes turn yellow/orange.

However both Protplaz as well as Street Show are much thicker products. With that being said one would expect them to flow and level differently then the thinner Traffic product. While I personally am not product bias only because what may be good today can be beat by another product tomorrow. Therefore quality of any one product is consistently changing. With that being said it is wiser to be quality bias as compared to product bias.

Zar 33912 Oil Based Polyurethane Wood Finish

You’ll see later on that the Polycrylic did well on red oak with the other two brands, so maybe it has to do with how deep the stain soaks into the hard wood. A lot of the stain was pulled up when the painter’s tape was removed between the first and second coat. You can see that it only pulled up the stain on the prominent grain lines, which indicates that it didn’t soak in as deep in those areas. The only loser in this group was the red oak sample, which turned out really blotchy and somehow lost most of its stain when top coat was applied. I avoided any stain color called Ebony, which could contain hints of dark brown that would skew the results.

He said exterior polys have a “sunscreen” so they can block some of the UV light from the sun. They also have an elasticity component so they can expand and contract without cracking. When we read the instructions on a can of poly we will notice a caution that reads “contents are combustible”. Again, it’s important to work in a well-ventilated area away from heat and open flames.

Not every piece of furniture is suitable for up-cycling with a light paint color. Pine, Mahogany, and furniture of the 1940’s and 50’s are a red flag. The Minwax Water Based Oil-Modified Polyurethane is the best polyurethane because its great for anything you need to coat around your home. Its water based so it produces less fumes and cleans up easily with warm water. Its also a great polyurethane because its available in gloss, semi-gloss and satin sheens. The BEHR Premium Stain and Sealer can be applied using a brush, roller, sprayer, or pad applicator, and one gallon should cover up to 300 square feet on the first coat.

Polycrylic Top Coat: How To Apply Polycrylic Without Streaks

This formula goes on easy, dries fast, and cures beautifully. I must say, I have loved Polycrylic since it first came out for its quick dry time as well as durability. A few years ago, I refinished our coffee table creating a driftwood finish on the top with white chalk paint legs. I brushed on 4 coats of polycrylic on the top and 2 coats on the legs. My husband is disabled and unable to inject himself with insulin each night, so I do it for him. I prepared the cotton ball with alcohol before knocking the bottle of ubbing alcohol all over my beautiful driftwood table.

There are some paints or primers that say right on the label “Do not use TSP” – B.I.N Shellac Primer being one example. So always reading the paint/primer label before you start is a great habit to get into. I’ve never heard/read TSP couldn’t be used before painting with Chalky Paints, and I’ve done it many times with no adverse effects.

Best Polyurethane Protective Coatings In 2021

I like to read about other people’s experiences with various projects. It would be heartbreaking to have the finish marred by a towel. My recollection of this article was that the winner was picked in advance.

Myself, I would probably use a Minwax stain, they’re pretty good. I’d probably seal with a water-based poly, or blonde shellac . You’ll definitely need two coats of sealer with a steel-wool rub in between, no matter what you choose. So for you, I suppose, the General Finishes Gel Stain will be the best solution since it’s well suited for hard-to-stain woods like pine. There are several deep dark colors available, but java is my favorite. I can guarantee you will love this murky brown color, it turns out a little bit lighter after you apply it, but it still looks awesome.

What Reviewers Have To Say About Sealing Chalk Paint With This Product:

If I had to choose, I think I’d pick the Varathane stain because it allows some of the grain to show through with even coverage throughout. I actually had to go back to my samples to double check that I had the positioning right in the photos, because somehow one coat of stain is darker than two! My theory is that the gel bonds to minwax vs varathane clear coat the stain that’s on the surface of the wood from the previous coat, and pulls it away when the excess is wiped off. In my comparison of six grey wood stain colors, the hue changed considerably depending on what species of wood was used. Some skewed more towards blue, while others looked more green, depending on the undertones.

• I’m wondering if it had to do with the finish of the table.
• The vast majority of these products are suitable for high-traffic and even commercial settings.
• You have three options; water- based wood filler, epoxy or solvent- based wood filler.
• Minwax polyshades is oil based and works to enhance the appearance of the wood grain, and protect the polyurethane’s color.
• It covers around 137.5 square feet per quart of stain, and when you’re done, you can clean up your brushes with mineral spirits.
• This finish dries without any residual odor, making it optimal for indoor projects.
• The best practice is to use natural brushes for applying an oil-based finish to wooden surfaces.
• All was okay I wiped all excess,and was dry next day, but then on the third coat I forgot to clean excess and now after 12 hour still is sticky to the touch.
• Briana is a plant and ecology enthusiast who is happiest when she’s working on a project.

Always allow polyurethane to dry 24 to 48 hours before sanding, to give the surface time to cure and harden. This reliable wood stain delivers a beautiful color with just a few coats, while enhancing the natural wood grain of your material. For example, for me, safety to the wood finisher and the environment is worth at least +5 points, in which case water based polyurethane wins by an even larger margin.

I then wiped the table off with a dry paper towel. I let it dry a couple more hours and the stickiness was gone. I have taken a end table and sand it down to the wood, the stain did not take all over like it should of, so I put it on thicker and it did not dry. so I put more stain on and wiped it like they suggestetd above. what do i need to do to even the stain all over.

This crystal clear floor treatment has excellent adhesion properties. As with most water-based polyurethane products, you don’t have to worry about high VOC content or lingering odors. You must apply a minimum of four coats to get Varathane’s promised durability. Since this poly dries crystal clear, you can apply over light-colored woods and stains without issue. It can also be used on exotic woods, including teak and Brazilian walnut. Synthetic fibers, foam brushes, pads, and sprayers are all viable application methods.

I suppose I could try dragging the heavy, bulky table outside to spray it. Or I could spend all that time and effort draping that side of the room in drop cloths again so I can spray it inside. But that would be a colossal waste of time and effort since I already know how that will turn out. SO MUCH. Their stains are crappy and turn the wood splotchy, and now this. You might have read that Watco and Minwax Tung Oil Finish are the same thing. I would not say they are the same thing, but they both are a polymerized oil, and might even have a little tung oil in the mix.

Source: homemakerguide.com