When working with wood, choosing the right finish is important to protect and enhance your projects. Different types of polyurethane finishes offer unique benefits for various woodworking tasks. By understanding the different types, you can select the best one for …
What Is Polyurethane? Polyurethane is a versatile polymer material that is made by reacting a polyol with an isocyanate. The resulting product is a strong, durable material that can be used in a wide variety of applications. Polyurethanes are known …
In woodworking, patience is as important as precision, especially when it comes to finishes like polyurethane. QUICK ANSWER: For water-based polyurethane, the wait time is generally 2-4 hours, while for oil-based, it’s 8-24 hours. Environmental factors like humidity and ventilation …
I understand the importance of achieving the perfect finish on your projects. Applying polyurethane over stain can be a game-changer for both protection and aesthetics. Whether you’re working with water-based, oil-based, or gel stains, I will help you enhance the …
The finishing part of a woodworking project has many options, with staining and painting being the most obvious. It’s the choice of topcoat that has many more options, and one of the most common today is polyurethane. You’ve likely worked …
Ever wondered if you can mix oil-based polyurethane with water-based stain? You’re in the right place! I am going to dive into the nitty-gritty of combining these two finishes. Why does this matter? Because getting it right can transform your …
We all have a pretty good idea of the value of a topcoat on our stained projects. Stains will enhance the wood’s appearance and grain and provide color to the wood. However, stains offer no protection to the wood. Key …
Chances are you’ve used polyurethane as a topcoat for at least some of your woodworking projects. Chances are, too, you already know what polyurethane is, or at least have a general idea. Just to make sure, though, we’ll engage in …
We all want our woodworking projects to turn out well and seek a professional appearance when completed. Accurate cuts, solid assembly, and stain or paint all play an important part in that process, but the final touch is the finish. …
We know it to be a durable finish on our woodworking projects, and we’ve all likely used it in our shop. It’s a protective finish that saves the wood from heat (to a degree, pun intended) and moisture. It sits …
I gnashed my teeth looking at the polycrylic finish on my restored midcentury dresser – it had yellowed the gorgeous wood I uncovered after endless sanding! Before you set fire to your workshop in defeat, I’ll explain if using polyurethane …
Polyurethane is a common choice for finishing wood flooring and furniture, providing a hard, clear coating that safeguards against moisture and scratches. However, polyurethane’s drawback is its strong odor during application and drying. This odor is primarily due to VOCs …
In my woodworking projects, I often find myself reaching for polyurethane, whether it’s oil-based or water-based. This choice always leads to a crucial question: How many coats are necessary for that perfect finish? Water-based polyurethane requires 3 to 4 coats, …
I grimaced looking at the bubble-filled polyurethane finish I’d carefully brushed onto my DIY coffee table using a foam brush. It was supposed to leave a smooth, even coat not make my project look like a science experiment gone wrong! …
In my experience with woodworking, one of the key challenges I often face is dealing with cracks and knots in wood. These imperfections can affect both the look and strength of any wood project. I’ve found that polyurethane is effective …
We know polyurethane, and we like polyurethane. We use it as a finish for our woodworking projects often. We have a bit of experience, then, in washing our brushes after using polyurethane, as well as cleaning up after its use. …
Take a guess how much polyurethane is produced every year. Go ahead, guess. Here’s a hint: it’s a commodity product, meaning it is produced in huge quantities each year. If you guessed 25M metric tons every year, you are either …
We like oil finishes for our woodworking projects. There is something about the hand finish of rubbing oil onto the wood that is so satisfying, establishing that connection with the wood and the hard work that has gone into the …