One Coat. One thing in particular I noted was that wherever I went to apply the stain, my rag left marks where I started on the wood. Leave your Minwax stain to penetrate for around 5 … While gel stains may seem dry to the touch quickly after wiping, you will need to wait a bit between coats. Coat soft, porous woods such as pine or alder with Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner by applying it with a brush or cloth. Overlapping stain on previously stained areas causes uneven colors. While conventional stains recommend 18 to 24 hours drying time, Minwax ® Performance Series Tintable Interior Wood Stain can be recoated in just 2 hours with oil based finishes and 6 hours with water based finishes. Minwax ® PolyShades ® provides rich wood color and long lasting protection while enhancing the wood grain. It sounds like this would be the best approach for you in your projects. It has always given us a professional and quality finish. My finance said I must have done something wrong. When it comes to delivering the smoothest finish possible, Varathane beats Minwax in this category. I used Minwax Polyurethane in a satin finish. Tools & Materials Minwax ® PolyShades ® combines beautiful oil based wood stain and polyurethane in one simple step. Measure the length and width of the floor. Semi-transparent. Minwax's poly is a "fast drying formula", taking about 4-6 hours between coats. To darken the color, apply additional coats of Minwax® Gel Stain repeating directions for application of first coat. Wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. I did a small staining project recently and was in a bit of a hurry so I didn't use it. The only time you can make this product work is if you are putting three or more coats on so you are really saving no time given the frustration. My rule: the more intricate the project, the more apt I am to fall back on the two-step method. Some people love it, others still prefer the two-step method that gives you more control as you apply the stain first, wipe off the excess, let it dry, then apply two or three coats of a clear finish. Gel Stains colors can be mixed together OR you can layer them. I then brushed on a thin coat of PolyShades®. Minwax® offers a variety of easy-to-use products to help clean and repair wood that is chipped, cracked, scratched, even decayed, to its original beauty. The better the wood preparation, the better the final result. So I scuffed up the cabinets and applied the poly in as thin a coat as I could. Now I’m the blogger behind a Disney inspired Home blog. Gel stain will also affect the depth of color on your floor. Add the square footage of the hallway, closet and doorway areas to that of the main area. Just remember that when you use a wipe-on urethane, you aren’t trying to flooding on a real thick layer. Wiped down with mineral spirits. Minimize this problem by applying thinner coats or by switching from standard brush-on poly to a wipe-on or spray finish, both of which can be applied in very thin coats. For example, if you have 400 square feet of floor to cover and a can of stain covers 220 square feet, you need two cans of that stain. Can I custom mix Gel Stains to create my own colors? You will be frustrated with the streaks in the poly and the colour streaks in the first two or three coats. But by the time I got to my doors, I was running out of steam, so I decided they were perfect candidates for Minwax® PolyShades®, a combination stain and finish in one can. Just use a paintbrush or a rag to lay a thin layer of the stain and let it dry. The square footage covered is listed on the stain container as a guide, as well. Finish the surface with PolyShades within two hours of application of the Minwax conditioner. If the floor is not rectangular or square, measure as close as you can to a rectangular or square shape. You have no control of the stain color,it drys to quick and irregular. You could try wiping the table down with mineral spirits to remove any excess stain, then allow it to dry and apply several coats of a tinted polyurethane (such as Minwax PolyShades). Multiply the length by the width of the larger area to determine the square footage of the area. Sorry for the delay in replying. However, you also must factor in how porous your wood floor is, how you will apply the stain, and whether you will apply one coat or more. Toners. Save money by purchasing stain in gallon containers instead of quarts if you determine you need a large amount of stain. Here are some tips to help make applying that second coat easier. Multiply the length by the width of the hallway, closet or doorway areas to determine their square footage. – Reg Smith. As seen above, applying more than one coat of varnish is important for getting the best polished and shining surface. It sounds like this would be the best approach for you in your projects. Optional, to help ensure uniform acceptance of the stain and finish, use Minwax® Water … Stain Application: Wait 3 minutes and remove the excess stain with a clean cloth, wiping in the direction of the grain. I honestly had no idea that it made SO much of a difference, but I will definitely be using a quality natural bristle brush in the future. Thanks so much for teaching me the proper techniques! This is one of those new better ideas that isn't. I am totally guilty of having stained pieces in the past with a foam brush! Put 2 coats of minwax stain on, wiped with mineral spirits in between coats. Oil stains allow you more working time. Divide the total square footage of the area you want to stain by the square footage covered by a can of your chosen stain. I was at SNAP! Instead, I use a quality natural bristle brush and just dip half an inch of the bristles into the can. All of the hard work in design and building went down the tubes after using this product. We will not be singing your praises anytime soon !!!!!!! Wipe-ons form thinner coats than brush-ons, so use them when wear isn't a concern. Water-Based Stain. Make sure you brush with the grain, not across it. I just stained two wooden crates for my boys last night. Allow the stain to dry 8 to 10 hours between coats. You need to use a bristle brush. With Minwax® wood stains, there’s a color to suit every style. It was there I fell in love with the beauty of the grain of the wood, either hidden beneath an old dark finish or highlighted with a new coat of stain. In most cases, we prefer two unless you use an overly dense wood that cannot absorb more than one coat. Whether you are installing a new hardwood floor, refinishing an old one, or just keeping your existing floor looking as good as new, Minwax® has a full range of products to make and keep your floors beautiful. Determine what kind of wood is on your floor. How Long Should You Leave Minwax Stain to Penetrate? In a followup to his question from eZine 312’s Q&A section on how many coats of stain he should apply to the bureau he’s building, this reader wondered: Would it be advisable to use a shellac over Minwax?, or should I have used the shellac first, then Minwax? Oak is a popular wood for floors, but it is porous and will soak up more stain. If you use a brush, allowing you to work the stain into the wood, more stain is used. Ash and chestnut are similar to oak. You have disappointed us and caused additional work. Brushes hold a lot of finish, so you can cover a wide area each time you load them up. -Bruce. Minwax Design Series washes, wood effects and waxes offer new options for bare wood and wood that's already stained. At Minwax, Genovese says you can build up the color by applying several thin coats. For each coat of the poly my process was: wipe on with foam brush, wait 5-10 mins then wipe down with tack cloth. 2 coats . After the first coat, I used 220 grit sandpaper to lightly sand the surface as recommended. Overall, three coats are more than enough for varnishing exterior wood with Minwax Helmsman spar urethane varnish. The products that have made Minwax® an American icon will add color and beauty to your wood—in oil or water-based stains. It isn’t necessary, but wax does give the wood a nice sheen and makes it feel velvety smooth to the touch. And then remove sanding dust and … We decided to use your new product Minwax Poly Shades. When Leigh Ann and I first met, my house was 90% office and 10% home. , Heidi @ http://www.HappinessIsHomemade.com. From furniture to floors, trust Minwax® products that beautify and protect wood. Apply three or four coats of wipe-on poly, straight from the can, and you should be all set. Lindsay from Artsy-Fartsy Mama (artsyfartsymama.com), Thanks, Lindsay! . Some people love it, others still prefer the two-step method that gives you more control as you apply the stain first, wipe off the excess, let it dry, then apply two or three coats of a clear finish. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. 2. How to Remove Excess Stain From Wood That Is Dry, How to Prevent Bubbles in Furniture Refinishing, Curtis Lumber: How Much Paint or Stain Do I Need. On this sample I experimented with Antique Walnut, (I ended up choosing Pecan for my pine doors) lightly smoothing out my brush strokes with a long, uninterrupted pass on the final stroke. I used minwax quick drying polyurethane to topcoat a dining room table. And when it came time to stain and finish the three unfinished pine doors, I went looking for a way to save myself some time. Decided to use the “one step” approach and am regretting it. Can I use a slip coat for easier application and longer working time? When applying polyurethane on vertical surfaces, you may experience drips or runs. I just got started back in woodworking and built my Daughter a hope chest for Christmas. Apply an even coat of this product to the areas of the door that you’ve already stained. Work in manageable areas. While conventional stains recommend 18 to 24 hours drying time, Minwax ® Performance Series Tintable Interior Wood Stain can be recoated in just 2 hours with oil based finishes and 6 hours with water based finishes. Apply with a high quality brush, paint or stain pad, or with spray equipment. I used 2 coats. The finish is below average at best…hard to work with and little control on shading. Immediately wipe it off with a dry cloth. That means you can apply stain and two topcoats in a … Stained wood is unprotected wood. Minwax® Water Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner, Minwax® Performance Series Sanding Sealer, Minwax® Express Color™ Wiping Stain & Finish, Minwax® Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors, Minwax® Ultra Fast-Drying Polyurethane For Floors, Minwax® Professional Formula Sanding Sealer, See all tips, step-by-step instructions, and helpful Dos and Dont’s, How to Make a Picture Frame 3 Ways with Brad Rodriguez, Cozy Tray Ceiling Makeover with Thrifty Decor Chick: Sarah Saucedo, DIY Modern Live Edge Waterfall Coffee Table with April Wilkerson, Building A Modern Oak and Metal Side Table with John Malecki, Everything You Need to Know to Refinish Hardwood Floors with Bless’er House, Easy & Inexpensive DIY Wall Mount Jewelry Display, Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane for Floors. Touch quickly after wiping, you will need to get the right amount of time as two coats of you... 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