What does it mean to rub out a finish?

Rubbing out a finish is the last step in finishing and the object is to remove imperfections, even out and smooth the surface, and establish a consistent sheen to the finish.

Can you rub out water based polyurethane?

Yes you can rub out a water base polyurethane but not to satin. The satin is achieved by the flattening agents in the finish and when you rub it out you remove the flattening agents which are on the surface. The finish really needs to be applied and left alone. Spraying the finish is the best method for a satin finish.

Can you rub out polyurethane finish?

You can rub out all types of film forming finishes, including shellac, lacquer, oil based varnish and polyurethane, waterbased coatings and catalyzed or conversion coatings.

How do you rub a water based finish?

To rub out a thin finish, start with 600-grit paper backed only with your hand. Dry-sand along the grain using stearated paper, as the sanding powder will help you gauge your progress. (If the paper gums up, let the finish dry longer.) Apply just enough pressure to remove any brush strokes and dust pimples.

How do you make polyurethane finish less shiny?

The problems with water-based polyurethane are that it doesn’t level out as smoothly as an oil-based finish, and it doesn’t protect as well against the elements. If you’re committed to an oil-based finish, hand rubbing with polish or wipe-on varnish is probably the most effective way to cut the sheen.

What does it mean to rub out lacquer?

The process is called “rubbing out”, and serves the purpose of getting rid of minor imperfections in a surface film finish, such as varnish or lacquer, (sometimes) leveling the finished surface, and establishing a consistent sheen.

Can I wet sand water based polyurethane?

If you are going to wet-sand wood you need to give the polyurethane enough time to cure, and not simply just wait for it to dry. But as long as the polyurethane has cured, then yes, you can wet sand it.

Do you need to buff water based polyurethane?

Buffing wood is the best-kept secret of the wood finishing world. The dirty little secret of the wood finishing world is that waterbased urethane is significantly harder to apply well than its oil-based ancestor. Buffing really does make it easy to get superb results on wood finished with polyurethane, even waterbased.

How do you make polyurethane finish smooth?

Sand lightly with 240-grit sandpaper between coats, then let the last coat dry for at least 24 hours. This is standard practice with any wood finishing job, and is nothing out of the ordinary. That said, sanding bare wood beforehand to create a smooth foundation is key.

What kind of rag do you use for Wipe on Poly?

Here’s what I use when I apply wipe on poly to a finished piece of furniture: Minwax clear gloss wipe on poly. Minwax satin finish wipe on poly. White, lint-free cotton rags.

Is Watco Wipe on Poly oil-based?

Watco wipe-on poly is most like the Minwax oil-based product. Be careful when shopping; Watco’s beloved Danish oil finishes comes in a similar container, and it’s easy to grab the wrong product.

Which is the best finish to rub out wood?

The best finishes to rub are the evaporative finishes, shellac and lacquer. Multiple coats fuse together into one layer, and they cure brittle and hard. The reactive finishes (varnish and polyurethane) and coalescing finishes (water based) are more difficult to rub out.

What’s the purpose of rubbing out a finish?

The process is called “rubbing out”, and serves the purpose of getting rid of minor imperfections in a surface film finish, such as varnish or lacquer, (sometimes) leveling the finished surface, and establishing a consistent sheen.

What kind of sandpaper do you use to rub out a finish?

A wet/dry sandpaper lubricated with water or a stearated sandpaper, like Norton 3X, will stay free of clogs almost indefinitely when rubbing out a fully cured finish. Master wood finisher Jeff Jewitt prefers the stearate coated variety for this type of rubout.

How long does it take to dry a rub out finish?

Apply three coats in one day, or apply much thicker coats, and some finishes will take nine times as long to cure. All finishes prefer warm, dry conditions. Cold temperatures or high humidity will extend drying time substantially. For those reasons, the drying time listed on a can label must be taken with a grain of salt.