| Recently I completed a small project using some cypress left from another larger project. I started coating the cypress using some older Polyurethane, satin finish, also left from an even earlier project. The next day I touched the finish and it was still damp. A day later it was still tacky even though it was in an air conditioned environment. Frustrated, I removed the finish with mineral spirits and steel wool, back to bare wood. Blaming the old poly, I bought new poly, stirred from the bottom up (as per instructions) and brushed on a single thin coat, straight out of the can. Four or five days later, in conditioned space, it was finally dry enough to handle. Strangely, my plastic paint stirrer was nice and dry the second day. I think the second try ruled out the old paint, so is it the cypress… or what? |
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Certain woods have oils or other substances that react or work on slowing the drying process. I have experienced this with sassafras, cedar, cypress to mention a few. And not every board will do this. It usually takes two days to dry completely as the stirrer stick is completely dry in 8 -20 hours. I also had this happen with a batch of red oak, but only once in 35 years. I'm sure some chemist out there can explain the chemical reaction that occurs.
I'm glad to hear that it's not just me and not just my sitck of wood.
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