The end tables I made for SWMBO are Maple stained with H2O-based stain
and covered with Varnish.
I applied the Varnish thinned 2:1 with Mineral Spirits by wiping with
a rag. I waited 24 hours between coats. Between the 3rd & 4th and
5th & 6th coats I scraped away any nastiness. Between the 6th & 7th
and 7th & 8th coats I rubbed it with #00 to smooth everything up.
So now I have 8 coats all applied with at least 24 hours in between.
I wait 48 hours then glue the apron and legs together. I thought the
clamps ruined the finish on the legs but it was just some dust from
the rubber pads that came off with a rough rubbing of a dry rag. Next
day I screw the tops on with some Norm style blocks set in a dado on
the aprons. Tada!
Swmbo is happy they are done (me too). I take them upstairs and she
positions them and carefully places the lamps on the tables with
doilies (sp?) underneath. (72 hours drying time for the tops -
applied in the heated basement).
Yesterday I get curious and lift the lamps and see marks where the
lamps made impressions of the doily fabric on the tables. I mumble
and mutter to myself.
After the in-laws visit on the 25th I will buff the marks out and
apply another coat which will probably fix the marks. But...
How long does this stuff take to cure?
RayV wrote:
> The end tables I made for SWMBO are Maple stained with H2O-based stain
> and covered with Varnish.
<snip>
> How long does this stuff take to cure?
It depends on the specific details, but it's not uncommon for varnish to
take a couple weeks to fully cure. You might want to contact the
manufacturer and ask them...
Chris
"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:b8724bef-3f56-41e6-a674-e4e376338e92@b40g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> How long does this stuff take to cure?
>
>
Not knowing what "stuff" you used, I can't make an honest judgement.
Environmental conditions play a huge role in how quickly finish cures as
well. It may sound a little funny, but I smell the finish. When I can't
smell it any longer, it's cured. Not scientific but it seems to have
worked for me.
Cheers,
cc
Ray,
THE critical question . . . what KIND of Varnish?
If it was a 'long oil' Varnish - SPAR Varnish - the answer is 'Never'. That
stuff is supposed to be 'soft' and flexible.
If something is going to be in contact with the surface {shod feet, hands,
your butt, or a table lamp} you need a 'short oil' varnish.
For interior items, where 'contact use' is expected, I avoid the problem
entirely by applying my usual 6 coats using a water-based poly. If the
'traditional Amber' tone is desired, I'll do it with a prior light staining,
or add drops of dye to the poly until I reach the tone I want.
I do use 'short oil' varnish for interior work - where UV exposure
protection is required.
Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote ..
> The end tables I made for SWMBO are Maple stained with H2O-based stain
> and covered with Varnish.
>
> I applied the Varnish thinned 2:1 with Mineral Spirits by wiping with
> a rag.
SNIP
> So now I have 8 coats all applied with at least 24 hours in between.
SNIP
> How long does this stuff take to cure?
In article <[email protected]>, "Cubby" <[email protected]> wrote:
>"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:b8724bef-3f56-41e6-a674-e4e376338e92@b40g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>> How long does this stuff take to cure?
>
>Not knowing what "stuff" you used, I can't make an honest judgement.
>Environmental conditions play a huge role in how quickly finish cures as
>well. It may sound a little funny, but I smell the finish. When I can't
>smell it any longer, it's cured. Not scientific but it seems to have
>worked for me.
I agree, the smell test is the best way, with most finishes.
I recently refinished my front door with an oil based poly.
Since the temperatures were already down, it took almost
4 weeks for the smell to really disappear. Interestingly,
I noticed that the finish was a *lot* harder than it had
been after around one week (when it "looked" done).
--
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
| Malcolm Hoar "The more I practice, the luckier I get". |
| [email protected] Gary Player. |
| http://www.malch.com/ Shpx gur PQN. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> After the in-laws visit on the 25th I will buff the marks out and
> apply another coat which will probably fix the marks. But...
>
> How long does this stuff take to cure?
I've read at least two weeks. I've done some rubbed out poly that came out
fantastic, but I let it cure two weeks before I started the polishing.
Given the number of coats you used, I'd say it can be three or four weeks.
On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:44:48 -0800 (PST), RayV
<[email protected]> wrote:
>The end tables I made for SWMBO are Maple stained with H2O-based stain
>and covered with Varnish.
>
>I applied the Varnish thinned 2:1 with Mineral Spirits by wiping with
>a rag. I waited 24 hours between coats. Between the 3rd & 4th and
>5th & 6th coats I scraped away any nastiness. Between the 6th & 7th
>and 7th & 8th coats I rubbed it with #00 to smooth everything up.
>
>So now I have 8 coats all applied with at least 24 hours in between.
>I wait 48 hours then glue the apron and legs together. I thought the
>clamps ruined the finish on the legs but it was just some dust from
>the rubber pads that came off with a rough rubbing of a dry rag. Next
>day I screw the tops on with some Norm style blocks set in a dado on
>the aprons. Tada!
>
>Swmbo is happy they are done (me too). I take them upstairs and she
>positions them and carefully places the lamps on the tables with
>doilies (sp?) underneath. (72 hours drying time for the tops -
>applied in the heated basement).
>
>Yesterday I get curious and lift the lamps and see marks where the
>lamps made impressions of the doily fabric on the tables. I mumble
>and mutter to myself.
>
>After the in-laws visit on the 25th I will buff the marks out and
>apply another coat which will probably fix the marks. But...
>
>How long does this stuff take to cure?
>
I wait a month, sometimes 6 weeks. Then apply a coat a wax and buff.
A good finish takes patience.
"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:b8724bef-3f56-41e6-a674-e4e376338e92@b40g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
Snip
> How long does this stuff take to cure?
Temperature, humidity, and number of coats will all factor in on total cure
time. Time will tell.