The directions on the can say to wait 4-6 hours before applying a new coat...but in 20 minutes the coat was dry. Should I really wait that long, or could I add my next coat after about an hour after it's dry? Any help would uh...help
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Polyurethane question
doubleok
Aug 08, 2004 05:47 PM
Replies (2)
chris_harper2
Aug 08, 2004 06:11 PM
Absolutely wait. The instructions are probably on the conservative side but the effects of not waiting long enough can be difficult to overcome.
The surface may be dry to the touch, but what matters is the condition of the polyurethane underneath.
The solids are disolved in an oil-based solvent which may not have evaporated completely throughout the layer of poly.
Applying another coat can really slow down the drying/offgassing of these solvents. Even worse, the next coat may slightly soften up the already dried layer of the first coat. The cummulative effects of this over several coats can be poly that just never dries.
The nice thing about oil-based poly is that you get a decent amount of protection for a cheap price. This lower cost comes at the expense of being more difficult to work with. Don't rush it.
CaptainHook2
Aug 10, 2004 05:22 AM
You also should sand between coats to get a smoother finish. Sanding to soon could leave you with a gooey mess.
