I would sand the surface with a fine grit paper to remove any brush marks. Wipe it down with denatured alcohol to remove the dust. Get you a foam roller and roll a coat onto the surface. Roll slowly to prevent too many air bubbles.

How do you keep polyurethane from brush marking?

When the brush marks don’t resolve themselves, try a few corrective techniques.

  1. Use a foam brush or a lambswool applicator instead of a brush. …
  2. Use a natural-bristle brush rather than a synthetic one if you are using a bristle brush. …
  3. Thin your polyurethane with paint thinner, mixing it with a paint stir stick.

Why do I have brush strokes in my polyurethane?





Bruce Wedlock replies: Brush streaks come from the finish not smoothing out after the application. Viscous finishes like typical oil varnishes don’t flow easily, so brush marks can result. One solution is to thin the finish so it flows evenly before it tacks up.

How do you reduce brush marks when applying a finish?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I apply i apply paint to about a quarter inch maybe a third of the brush. Itself. And then i apply that paint to the surface. And you want to ensure the entire.

How do I get a smooth finish with polyurethane?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But you don't want to use the sandpaper by hand now this sample here has four coats of water-based urethane and the first step involves knocking off the dust bumps. So you're just drawing.

How do you apply polyurethane to wood without streaks?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You just take some high grit sandpaper. And you just touch it up you don't want to rub too hard on it because you don't want to take off your layer that you just put on.

Should I use a foam brush for polyurethane?





Yes, it is OK to use a foam brush to apply polyurethane. However, it isn’t the best choice for larger projects because the foam doesn’t spread the polyurethane as well as a synthetic or natural brush. Use a foam brush to apply polyurethane to smaller projects, like finishing a birdhouse.

How do you get an even coat of polyurethane?

Use a Roller on Large, Flat Surfaces

  1. A 6-in. rollers lets you apply the poly fast and evenly. …
  2. Don’t freak out when you see the finish right after you lay it down. …
  3. After each coat, re-dip the roller in mineral spirits and put it into a zippered plastic bag for the next coat and leave the wet tray to dry.


Should you sand between coats of polyurethane?

Yes. Minwax Polyurethane should be sanded between coats. Sand with 320 grit sandpaper to get rid of any fine particles of dust that have settled on it while it was still wet. Sanding in this case not only allows for a smoother finish but can also help abrade the surface and increase inter-coat adhesion.

Do you sand after last coat of polyurethane?



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.

Can you use steel wool to sand between coats of polyurethane?

Using steel wool or sand paper allows you to create a uniform surface for the next coat of polyurethane, which generally looks nicer, more professionally, etc.

Can you buff out polyurethane?

Add a pea-sized amount of car paste wax to a polishing pad or cloth. Work in short, smooth motions until there are no visible scratches in the polyurethane. Move the pad in smooth, horizontal motions so you can apply an even coat of wax to the surface. You can also use a section of 0000 steel wool to buff the surface.

What is the best applicator for polyurethane?



Apply oil-based poly using a fine-bristled brush (natural or synthetic bristles) or a foam brush. Avoid inexpensive bristle brushes, as these tend to leave obvious brush strokes. Foam brushes are inexpensive (and disposable) and work well for most flat surfaces.

What grit sandpaper is used between coats of polyurethane?

I use 220 grit. You sand polyurethane to (a) remove any dust bumps in the lower coat, and (b) cut the surface of the lower coat so that the upper coat has more surface area to bond to. You don’t need the lower coat to be super-smooth because the upper coat will cover the roughness from sanding anyway.

What grit sandpaper should I use for polyurethane?

Start with 120-grit sandpaper on refinished pieces and 80-grit on new wood. After sanding the entire surface thoroughly, wipe off the dust and all loose sandpaper grit with a clean cloth. Then, sand with 180-grit until you’ve removed all the marks left by the 120-grit, and the surface appears level.

Should I sand after first coat of polyurethane?

Note: The first coat needs the most sanding to appear smooth; don’t worry if it doesn’t look as flawless as you’d like at first. After the third coat, sand with 320-grit, then 400-, and finally 600-grit sandpaper.

Can you put too many coats of polyurethane?



Generally, more than 3 coats of poly doesn’t do much good. It’s really not needed nor recommended. Each additional coat needs to be buffed so you are kind of buffing off half of the previous layer. So 4 coats is more like 3.5 coats.