Replies

1. 
   Mahoganaholic | May 20, 2009 09:17pm | #1

   What kind of stain did you use?

1. 
   jon_ID | May 20, 2009 10:03pm | #3

   the stain was a Minwax Stain

1. 
   Mahoganaholic | May 20, 2009 10:28pm | #5

   Oil based for both then?

   24 hours between coats?

   I don't see how it could happen, unless there was water under there somewhere.

   I use the same stuff -- the biggest problem I have with it is keeping dust off of it while it dries.

1. 
   jon_ID | May 21, 2009 12:37am | #7

   Water, moisture or humidity is what I had thought might be the problem.  I'll inquire further.  Thanks

    

2. 
   Dave45 | May 20, 2009 09:23pm | #2

   Is the poly water based, or oil based?

1. 
   jon_ID | May 20, 2009 10:04pm | #4

   the Polyurethane was an oil-based finish.

1. 
   Dave45 | May 20, 2009 11:08pm | #6

   Is the thinner old or contaminated? Try cleaning the brush with new thinner - or using a new brush.

1. 
   jon_ID | May 21, 2009 12:38am | #8

   Contaminated solvent.  That's an interesting idea.  I'll check.  Thanks.

1. 
   Dave45 | May 21, 2009 01:36am | #9

   I'm reaching with that one. Cleaning water based marerial out of a brush with paint thinner seemed like a better possibility. - lol

3. 
   PCM | May 21, 2009 04:33am | #10

   Was the poly already opened? How old is it (Minwax puts a Julian date on their products).

   If the first poly coat was o.k., there must be a reaction between the successive coats. Was there any additives in the "tack cloth" rag?

   Moisture somewhere seems the best answer.

   Pete

4. 
   HowardAcheson | May 21, 2009 05:10pm | #11

   Let me throw one more question into the hopper.

   Is the finish she is using gloss or satin?

   If what is being seen is sort of cloudy, gray areas, it sounds like a non-gloss finish that has not been thoroughly stirred. Non-gloss finishes should be stirred 100 strokes in one direction and then 100 strokes in the other keeping the stirrer in contact with the bottom of the can. Re-stir periodically during application.Howie.........

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/21/2009 3:30 pm ET by HowardAcheson

1. 
   Gretchen | May 21, 2009 08:12pm | #12

   I vote for Howard's idea. Good sleuthing, if it is a satin finish.  ;o)Gretchen

1. 
   Mahoganaholic | May 21, 2009 09:16pm | #13

   Yup, but if it were not mixed well, the flattening agent would still be at the bottom of the can.

   ...UNLESS! By the time the second coat was applied, they were at the bottom of the can.

   Possible solution: Get a bigger can!

1. 
   Gretchen | May 22, 2009 01:21am | #14

   And the cloudy layers were put on late in the application--yes, wasn't stirred, as Howard said.Gretchen

1. 
   Mahoganaholic | May 22, 2009 01:44am | #15

   Errrr... Grechen?

   Please re-read my earlier post -- and imagine the theme song from Maxwell Smart playing in the background. ~;-)

    

2. 
   HowardAcheson | May 22, 2009 03:44am | #16

   >>> Yup, but if it were not mixed well, the flattening agent would still be at the bottom of the can.Not necessarily, but some would. If the flatteners are not evenly distributed throughout the liquid, as you dip your brush in you will end up with more flatteners in some areas of the mixture than in others.

   However, if incomplete mixing is the problem the fix is easy. Buy a new can, stir it properly and apply a new coat. The gloss is determined by the last coat applied so it will end up with a uniform sheen."Gray" patches or streaks are in the top three issues that I deal with on the Minwax forums. It's an almost universal problem with new or inexperienced finishers when using non-gloss finishes.Howie.........

1. 
   Mahoganaholic | May 23, 2009 01:14am | #17

   Hopefully the OP will post again to let us know if that was the fix.

   I use satin poly once in a while, but I've never noticed any clouding. I mix the snot out of it tho... not 100 times in both directions (!), but I make sure the hazy stuff (flattening agents) is well incorporated.

   Have a good weekend