And make sure that there’s no dust on the surface left after sanding. In short, yes it is absolutely necessary to sand between coats of stains. Is 400 good So, you’ll need to do some light sanding between coats of stain. How To Clean Enamel Paint From Paint Brushes? So, ask yourself if you’re okay with that or not and act accordingly. I think there are three good reasons to not sand between the last and previous coats of oil based paint as long as the earlier coat has not dried very hard over an extended delay. Our main focus of this article is to know different wood stain types and the necessity of sanding each type. Lacquer stains can melt and mix with another layer of the stain. You have to sand those with very light sandpapers. HP is our little corner on internet to share our experiences, tips, and interests. Solved. Because those stains dry quickly enough and let you wipe off the excess stain. … Do not sand the final coat. Blot Excess Stain. Here I will suggest using an oil-based polyurethane if already you have used the oil-based wood stain. An oil-based topcoat should only need 2-3 coats while the water-based topcoat may require 4 or more thin coats. The reasons you may need to sand between coats are to "de nib", that is to take off dust specs and knock the tops off any bubbles in the finish. Your email address will not be published. I think what may be best for your project is called an acrylic lacquer. When it's smooth, it's ready for stain, and there are two types commonly used, oil-based and water-based. 400 or Scotchbrite between coats, and just enough to rough it up so the next coat sticks. with Full Process, How To Fix Hairline Cracks In Drywall Ceiling, How to Remove Sand Textured Paint from a Wall, Best Sealer for Redwood Deck & Fence [Maximum Wood Protection], 9 Best Plywood for Painting 2021 to Save Beautiful Artwork. Osmo Oil for slate, tiles and furniture. Using steel wool to sand between the coats is strictly prohibited. Previously, most oil stains were made with linseed oil. Use dye instead of an oil stain: Dyes are available in liquid form, usually called non-grain-raising and in powders that you dissolve in a liquid. Allow the finish to dry 24 hours before light use. And now you’ll have to sand the entire floor with 220 grit sand paper and clean all the dust up! Our first type and the most commonly used stain is the oil-based stain. Our go to polyurethane for never having to sand between coats is Minwax Super Fast Drying Polyurethane For Floors*. When I am working on a piece like this, I typically just sand the top down to the bare wood to remove all of the old stain and finish. You should see a fine, white powder after sanding -- if not, allow it to dry longer between coats. is there anyway to get that stuff out? If applying in this manner, you may not have to sand between coats as you do with oil-based poly; check the manufacturer's recommendations. Should you Sand Between Coats of Stain? Although you can use your bare hands too, that’s completely up to you. That’s why we wrote this entire article for you explaining every single thing about this topic. After the shellac dries, a light scuff-sand will leave an excellent surface for the poly to grip. It will give a warming tint to the piece whereas a water-based polyurethane topcoat should only be used over a water-based stain. Tim Inman: “Minwax” is a brand name. Whether the stain you use is oil-based or water-based, be sure the surface is clean and dry before you brush on the seal coat. ... cabinets, trim. I have 5 layers of Minwax Wipe-on oil based poly (satin finish) on the table, having sanded with 220 lightly (in the direction of the grain) between each application. my three coats of stain are done and now its on to poly. This sanding serves the same purpose: It evens the finish and helps the next coat adhere better. Second, polyurethane doesn’t have real good intercoat adhesion. You need to sand between coats of polyurethane varnish. There are also water-based stains available. With oil based paints there is normally a certain amount of time between coats in which sanding isn't required (say 18 hrs), after which it is sanded with fine sandpaper so the next coat can properly bond. I think what may be best for your project is called an acrylic lacquer. The initial coat should be dry within a couple of hours, and you can then apply a second coat. We would suggest you go for the 320 grit papers and move up to 400 grit sandpapers. You can identify water-based stains by … When brushing on heavy, dry time will be longer; let dry 48 hours between coats. Because polyurethane creates a coat of polymer over the hardwood floor, it will need an inter-coat scratch minimum of one time during the process. On the other hand, polyurethane stains require something different. Sand carefully, however, to avoid sanding through the finish and marring the stained surface. You can do much sanding as it can affect the layer of the stain. For all types of stain, the question must come in front you that should you sand between coats of wood stain? • Water-based products are lower odor and generally dry faster than oil-based products. I love to write about tools, home improvement, and DIYs. Dry times are based on good ventilation, temperature of 77° and 50% relative humidity. With oil-based topcoats, the more coats you apply, the darker and richer the wood will become. With water-based topcoats, sand any "grain-raise" smooth before applying the final coat. Allow it to penetrate for 5-15 minutes, then wipe away the excess with a cloth. Sanding on the preparation stage can help apply the oil-based stain. Apply an oil-based poly using a very good brush for applying it. Also, for polyurethane stain, you can use very light sandpaper. Use a soft cloth to blot these pools of stain. Start sanding the wood with a sanding tool. Where necessary, a second coat can be applied after a light buffing with fine steel wool and wiping with a … It’s because water-based stain raises the wood grain, which doesn’t look good until you sand it. Apply two coats of topcoat, finish sanding in between coats. i posted on the facebook page but thought i might have a better chance over here. Every DIY home project guy faced this question once in their lifetime. Now that you know that it’s absolutely necessary to sand between coats of stains, you need to know how to do it. A minimum of two coats is recommended. However, once you apply the stain, it’s not necessary to sand the wood again. Dry Time Oil based products dry more slowly than water based products. The reasons you may need to sand between coats are to "de nib", that is to take off dust specs and knock the tops off any bubbles in the finish. It’s not overly hot/cold weather wise. Sand Between Coats. This is not mandatory for oil-based stain. When I'm painting high-gloss oil-based on woodwork (architraves, skirtingboards, windows), I have been following the tin's advice and sanding between all coats. If you want a perfect bond between the wood and the stain, you have to do it. I am a mechanical engineer. • Oil-based products do not raise the grain, eliminating the need for additional sanding. Adding a fresh coat of stain can really bring out the beauty in a wooden staircase. Is Sanding Between Coats of Stain Necessary? As you move along with your second coat of stain, you should pay special attention to the spots where it is pooling instead of being smoothed out. The thinner a stain is, the faster it should be able to penetrate the wood and dry completely. So, we’re going to know which stain needs sanding on the preparation stage, which one needs sanding in between coats, and if the stain needs sanding at all. You can begin with 80 grit sandpapers and move towards finer sandpapers. I'm planning on applying polyurethane to a pine bench I've finished staining. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For a better finish and perfect bonding between two layers of stain, the answer is yes. You can sand between coats of stain if you are a perfectionist, and we appreciate it. The first recommendation is to use 220 grit or 240 grit sandpaper. But if you’re using a water-based stain, start with 80 grit sandpaper. Similar to oil stains, it doesn’t need sanding before applying another coat of stain. You can't thin water borne finishes. Enduro-Var is also water based but it ambers. Is it necessary to sand between coats of stain? You see, oil-based stains take a lot of time to dry. There are three major types of wood stains: resin, alkyd, and oil. The coating should no longer feel tacky to the touch. NEW SOYA OIL VS. LINSEED There are now two main types of oils used as a base for stains. I have started a second top coat yet. After that, you’ll notice the whitish powder is gone. Therefore, if you are looking to apply water-based poly formula over the stain, you should ensure that you sand the surface before you can apply your finish. If you want a perfect bond between the wood and the stain, you have to do it. They dry quite fast. But it’ll be gone once you’ve put another layer of stain. I’ve found that water-based polyurethane has a much less impact on final wood color, when compared to equal coats of an oil-based polyurethane. If you choose the Oil based Deck and Exterior Stain, the timber will need to be completely dry. Instead, “bury” the raised grain with the first coat of finish. So, you don’t need to sand it. Don’t worry about those. I typically spray either conversion varnish, or oil-based polyurethane depending on the item I'm spraying. Water-based Stain Water-based stains use water-based finish as the binder and replace most of the organic thinner with water. • Oil-based stains give you a longer working time, en-abling you to stain floors, cabinets and doors without the worry of dried lap marks. NOTE: Use a good-quality natural bristle brush to … This is an area where 'prevention is better than cure' definitely applies. Daniel Pitts( Owner & Chief Editor), who is a 15 years Blogger and IT Engineer from the USA, is recently pursuing MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School. For some type of stain, sanding is the right thing to do where it’s prohibited for some types. And even then you can sand. Again, if you use a water-based wood stain, use a water-based polyurethane in that case. After you’re done with sanding, you’ll see that the surface is a lot finer than before. Without 320 or 400 grit sandpaper, the entire look of the can get destroyed. Like before you have to sand it with some very light sandpaper if the surface gets dirty. You could start with 80 grit sandpaper and slowly bring in the lighter sandpapers. Let’s start and you’ll know what we mean-. We can suggest 600 grit sandpapers. A dry coat of poly is around 0.003” thick, and the grains on 220 sandpaper are 0.0045”. However, it has a few properties that are quite different from oil stains. In good conditions, allow 6-8 hours. Most importantly, it ruins the entire finish of the stain. Water-based poly can have adhesion problems when applied over an oil-based stain that's not thoroughly cured.