Polyurethane provides a glossy finish to wood, aside from the water-resistant benefit. However, proper application is necessary to achieve the best results, especially after straining. Knowing how long to let stain dry before polyurethane is crucial to ensure smooth and even results.
In this post, I will share some personal tips that I use on my projects. Read on, and feel free to share your own tips in the comment section below.
When should you apply polyurethane after staining?
It’s extremely crucial to let the stain dry before applying polyurethane or any sealant on your wood. When it comes to stains, you have to be extremely patient, much so when waiting for tung oil to dry.
On my projects, I usually wait for at least 24 hours before I apply a polyurethane coating. When the humidity is high, I stretch it for 48 hours to be sure. I always err on the side of caution, especially when I’m working on large projects, where coating mistakes can be quite expensive.
However, you should know that the waiting time for the stain to dry depends on the stain product you used.
My ballpark drying time is around 8 hours for oil-based stains during favorable conditions and 24 hours when it’s too humid. As for water-based stains, drying time is usually shorter at 2 to 3 hours before you can put a polyurethane coat under ideal conditions.
My rule of thumb is to add an hour or two to the drying time indicated on the container. If you have the luxury of time, you can double it, to be sure.
Aside from that, you also have to factor in the type of wood you’re working on. Oily woods like rosewood, mahogany, and purpleheart need more time to take in stain and fully dry.
What happens if you apply polyurethane too soon?
When it comes to stains, you have to be patient with the drying time. Applying the polyurethane coating too soon will result in poor sealing. The poly coating will not adhere well, not to mention that you’ll also ruin the wet stain underneath.
Worse, your poly coating will remain tacky. The only solution here is to strip both the stain and polyurethane coatings then start again. This is a big hassle, especially on an expensive project. So instead of rushing, it pays off to wait a few more hours and ensure that your stain is no longer sticky.
How soon can you recoat polyurethane?
The answer to this boils down to the type of polyurethane product you’re using. For oil-based poly, the waiting would be around 7 to 10 hours before you can apply a second coating. Meanwhile, those using water-based polyurethane will have a much shorter waiting time at 3 to 4 hours.
If you still find this too long, you can look for quick-drying poly coatings instead. These products can be recoated after two hours, which will speed up the work on your part. Overall, you should read the instructions on the poly container.
Tips when applying polyurethane after staining
Aside from letting the stain dry, it’s also essential to apply your polyurethane coating properly for the best results. Here are some of my tips for woodworking beginners:
- Consider thinning oil-based poly. If this is your first time using oil-based polyurethane, you can try thinning it using mineral spirits. This will allow the poly to flow better into tiny crevices and crannies of the wood. It will also prevent excessive buildup on random spots. However, thinning isn’t always necessary.
- Brush along the grain. When applying a poly coating, you should brush it along the wood’s grain. This way, the poly will have a smoother finish.
- Invest in a quality brush. When it comes to polyurethane application, I always use the best brush in my shop. When applying oil-based poly, always use fine-bristled brushes. If you don’t have one, you can use foam brushes as alternatives.
- Mix the poly well. One of the biggest mistakes you can ever make is forgetting to mix the polyurethane before application. This will lead to an uneven finish, which requires more work or even a redo of the coating.
- Don’t work in direct sunlight. Polyurethane coating dries quickly under the sun. Unfortunately, this means that the coating may start drying even before you get to even it out.
- Finish it in one go. It’s important to finish applying poly finishes in one go. Working in patches with long time intervals will cause an uneven finish.
Do you have to put a topcoat on stained wood?
It’s highly recommended to seal a stain coat with a topcoat to protect it against harsh elements. While stains offer a level of protection, they won’t last long if you don’t seal them. In this case, a polyurethane coating will be an excellent option. This topcoat will shield your wood against moisture, scratches, rot, and other damages.
Take note that even after staining, the wood remains porous and penetrable. A poly topcoat would help it last longer, especially if the item will be used outdoors.
Can I apply polyurethane with a rag?
If you don’t have a brush handy, you can apply polyurethane using a clean piece of cloth. However, this will only deliver a thin layer, which will require you to apply multiple coatings. The advantage here is that the thin poly coating will dry faster, so you can recoat quite easily.
By applying using a rag, you’re also avoiding nasty brush marks. You can also use paper towels, which help reduce bubbles that occur when using brushes.
What happens when you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane?
You should never skip sanding between poly coats. If not, the finished texture would be rough and not as glossy as sanded ones.
Don’t worry because the polyurethane coats will still adhere well. However, if you don’t sand it, you’ll miss out on smoothening bumps and nicks as well as superficial bubbles that formed during application.
Nevertheless, the difference between sanded and non-sanded poly coats is more obvious in the texture than the appearance. You can’t easily see the difference using the naked eye alone.
How do you smooth the final coat of polyurethane?
Once you’ve applied enough polyurethane coatings on top of your stain, you need to sand it for a smooth result. I prefer using 240-grit sandpaper for this purpose to prevent scratching the top too much. I also do this to level the top layer in case there are bumps.
After that, I power buff the surface for a flawless finish. I do this using a handheld orbit sander fitted with a superfine rubbing pad.
However, you should know that a sander can’t reach corners and crevices. For this part, I manually buff these areas using the same pad but by hand.
If there are still nibs left after this process, you can use 1,500-grit sandpaper to spot-treat those areas. Give the wood a quick buff, and it’s all good.
How can I make polyurethane dry faster?
If the condition in your area makes polyurethane drying too slow, the following steps will help:
- Consider using water-based poly products. Water-based polyurethane coatings dry faster than oil-based counterparts. So if your place is prone to excessive humidity, you should consider this for your next project.
- Run a dehumidifier. Another way to beat high humidity levels is to suck them out from the air. I have a dehumidifier in my shop, which I run whenever I’m done applying polyurethane. However, you shouldn’t overdo the humidity reduction as it can cause respiratory irritation on your part.
- Use some heat. Hairdryers are heaven-sent if you want to speed up polyurethane drying. You can also use this method to speed up the drying of your stains. However, you should be modest with the temperature level as very hot settings can burn the wood.
How do you fix brush marks on polyurethane?
Brush marks are one of the most common problems in polyurethane application. This can happen despite all your efforts to thin and use the best brush available. If you’re dealing with this issue. Here are some fixes I recommend:
- Sand it. One of the easiest ways to remove nicks and brush marks is to sand them using fine-grit sandpaper. If the brush marks don’t budge, try applying pressure as you sand it. Don’t worry about scratching the surface a little bit since you can buff it later.
- Touch up. After sanding, you should clean up the dust produced. I use a vacuum cleaner for this part. Next, I touched up the sanded area with a small amount of polyurethane finish. Make sure that it’s only a small amount – imagine yourself applying nail polish. There should be no excess or dripping coating.
- Remove the excess. However, if you apply too much, you can wipe it with a clean rag. Let the touch-up dry before light sanding and power buffing.
Conclusion
Knowing how long to let stain dry before polyurethane saves you from a problematic finish. The waiting time depends on the stain you used, the condition in your place, and how thick your coating is. It’s best to be patient instead of rushing the topcoat.
