Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Question on finish
Johanna
>I am putting finish on a desktop (actually 3 desktops that will be connected to make one really large U-shaped desk). At this point, I have applied 3 coats of SealCoat and one coat of poly. I sanded between the coats of shellac.
The question is, do I really need a second coat of poly? It will get lots of hard use, but it sure is hard to wait to get my office space back in use!
Re: Question on finish
Dale Lenz
>I usually put 2 one pound coats of shellac. Then a min. of 3 coats of a top coat. Might put more for a desk top. Just my gut answer. Dale
Re: Question on finish
George@Colonel's Workshop-Havertown PA
>Good Evening Joanna,
Be patient. I've done a few desks overcoated in poly. I'd say a minimum of three; I shoot for more than that as its going to be thinned by the rubout/leveling process. Desk tops take a lot of wear and abrasion, and poly always was my first choice. I am assuming you are using oil based unthinned polyurethane.
George
Ah, Ambiguity!
George@Colonel's Workshop-Havertown PA
>What I meant by "thinning" is the finish which has been built thru multiple applications of poly will be a little less thick after rub out and leveling, and may require additional applications of poly to build to your desires.
I "thin" my poly with naptha, so didn't want to confuse the issue.
George
for durability, you have it backwards
Michael Dresdner
>I would have put one coat of SealCoat, enough to seal the wood, and followed with three coats of polyurethane instead of the other way around. If it were oil based polyurethane, I would not have even bothered with the SealCoat. A finish is only as strong as its weakest link, and at least when it comes to heat, that would be the shellac (SealCoat) layer. In any case, I would still go with more than one coat of polyurethane.
Re: for durability, you have it backwards
Johanna
>Oh, well, should have asked you in the first place. I was using Seal Coat so the poly would not bubble as much on oak. I did use grain filler (Moser's transparent), but learned that I should have applied it 3 times! I found that out from Teri Masaschi (sp?) on Saturday.
Anyway, I will apply 3 coats of poly. It's just that I really, really, want my office back ASAP!