Thank you for your replies in advance!
I’m needing some advice on finishing. I’ve been working on a large 10′ black walnut slab.
From start to currently where I’m at:
Sanded entire surface down to 150 grit. Wiped down with mineral spirits. Put 2 coats of minwax stain on, wiped with mineral spirits in between coats. Then applied 4 coats total of Minwax wipe on satin poly.
For each coat of the poly my process was: wipe on with foam brush, wait 5-10 mins then wipe down with tack cloth. Waited for it to dry at least 8 hours, on the can it says 2-3 hours. Then sanded using 600 grit and wipe down with tack cloth. Repeated 4 times.
For 5th and final coat I diluted the poly with mineral spirits and wiped on using a tack cloth. I’ve been buffing it out using my orbital sander and the 3M synthetic superfine steel wool substitute.
I’m 2 days past applying the final coat and it still has a slight tackiness to it. When I press my finger it leaves a fingerprint.
The temperature throughout the time I’ve been finishing has fluctuated as has the rain, from 45-70 degrees. I’m thinking this may be it as my shop is a detached garage with no heating/cooling.
I’ve put halogen work lamps near the piece to hopefully add some light and heat overnight.
Am I missing something or do I need to just wait it out?
Thank you!
Replies
I'm not sure I have a direct answer but, I do have a couple of comments/questions. I don't think that your method is correct for applying wipe on poly. As I recall the directions on the can just say to wipe on a thin coat and let it dry. Nothing about wiping it off. It is not like danish oil. It is just a thin poly that lends itself to wiping. I'm surprised that you didn't get a rough finish as a result. I'm not saying that is the cause of your drying problem.
What do you mean by "tack cloth"? Is it something you purchased that is labeled "tack cloth"? Or, is it just what you are calling the cloth you are using for wiping the poly on? If it is the former, that is the wrong thing to use. I'm not sure if the product embedded in a real tack cloth (for picking up dust) would affect the drying of the poly but, it might.
I guess my only positive suggestion is to give it some more time. Your drying conditions have not been ideal.
I have been having similar issues with Minwax wipe and regular satin poly. If I dilute it or anything under it with mineral spirits or paint thinner, it takes for ever to dry (up to 1 week). I have also had problems with the finish developing a very fine alligator pattern. I have completely stopped thinning any of the poly and I apply a coat of shellac just before I put on the poly. So far my finishes have been great. Lastly, poly does not respond well to buffing.
I think you are moving to fast thru the process. You should let each application dry longer. Also if you are using the new version of mineral spirits stop. Many states have to sells this know because of VOC's. I think this is causing the drying problem.
Commercial tack cloths are semi-saturated with a slow-drying "sumpthin" to be sticky enough to pick up dust and debris from a surface. Your method may have added that substance to your finish. Give it a long time to dry, it might be fine..if after a coupla weeks it's still sticky you may have to do the hard thing.
In the future make your own tack cloths using cheesecloth and the finish being applied to the project.
I see my errors now. I had it in my head that between every finish coat I had to wipe with tack cloth and mineral spirits. Thank you all for your comments!
I have been using this product for years. Do not thin and apply in very thin coats, allow to dry and sand lightly between coats. I have put as many as six coats of wipe on poly sanding up to 1500 grit and produced glass like finishes.
After sanding a previous completely dry coat, there is nothing wrong with wiping it down with a cloth or paper towel slightly damp with mineral spirits. This helps remove the sanding dust and other debris in prep for another coat. You do not need to wipe with a tack cloth. You can but, don't use it in combination with mineral spirits as the mineral spirits may (probably will) dissolve the stuff in the tack cloth and leave it on the surface.
It's been a few extra days since the issue, has the tackiness disappeared?
Too cold. Get some heat in there with a fan. It will dry. I live in Hawaii and if I don’t dilute, I have to work too fast because it dries before I can get it off the brush.
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