I usually stain & poly the pieces, cut to size, stain the exposed end-grain, install, putty, then one more coat of poly. Staining & poly before you cut makes sense when you’re doing alot of trim – you can fit alot more material on your saw horses when its in 10′ pieces.

Should you stain trim before installing?

Once you get your trim home, sand and stain or paint the trim before you install it. It’s a lot easier to finish trim before installation, working on sawhorses, than afterward, lying on the floor with sandpaper and a staining rag. Plus you can do a better job of sanding and finishing the pieces.

Do you stain wood before or after cutting?





Staining before cutting will also help to prevent stain from getting on the back and create gluing problems.

How do you install stained window trim?


Quote from Youtube video: And a rag to do the installation. What we'll do is we'll take each piece individually stain it and then immediately go behind it and wipe down any excess stain off of the trim.

How do you stain and poly trim?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: All I'm going to do is just dip my rag. In the stain obviously. And then the way that I do it to get the actual color is I just throw it on there really thick.

Can you stain trim after installing?

If the trim is already installed on the wall, modify the steps by first taping off the walls and laying a drop cloth on the floor. Fill gaps, gouges and other imperfections in the trim with wood putty, and then proceed with sanding and finishing. Stain may be applied with clean rags, cheesecloth or brushes.

Can you stain polyurethane molding?





The polyurethane molding and accent features can be painted or stained.

Is it better to stain before or after assembly?

Staining before assembly prevents glue from getting on the wood surface which tends to seal out stain and produce uneven color. Staining first also ensures complete stain coverage, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Should I polyurethane before assembly?

But good woodworkers don’t always finish last. In some cases, it makes sense to apply finish before you glue parts together. For example, in the assembly shown above, the spindles will be less than 1″ apart after being joined to the rails.

Can you stain after assembly?

You will probably want to go ahead and apply the finish also before glue-up if you are using a water-based stain. I used to always assemble and then stain/finish. I still prefer that but I think I do get better results finishing first. You don’t have to worry about glue spots and stuff.

How do you apply Poly stain?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You're going to take a natural bristle brush dip it right into your poly shades. And you're going to brush a fresh coat on in the direction of the grain of the wood.

How do you apply polyurethane after staining?

Apply the First Coat of Polyurethane

  1. Within 24 hours of applying the seal coat, brush on a coat of finish right from the can. …
  2. Spread the varnish over the entire surface with long, even strokes. …
  3. Overlap your strokes to get a uniform coating.
  4. Catch any drips, especially along the bottom edges.


How do you apply polyurethane to wood trim?



Apply a very thin coat of polyurethane with a fine brush, foam pad, or cloth. Work with the grain, and avoid applying too much polyurethane to avoid raising the grain. The initial coat should be dry within a couple of hours, and you can then apply a second coat.

How do you apply polyurethane without brush marks?

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.

What do you do after the final coat of polyurethane?

How to Dry Sand the Last Coat of Polyurethane

  1. Step 1: Vacuum the Surface. …
  2. Step 2: Wipe the Surface with Mineral Spirits or Water* …
  3. Step 3: Let the Water Evaporate. …
  4. Step 4: Start Sanding. …
  5. Step 5: Clean the Surface. …
  6. Step 6: Use a Finer grit.


How do you apply Minwax polyurethane?



APPLICATION

  1. Apply a THIN coat of Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane using a high-quality, natural bristle or foam brush.
  2. Let dry 3-4 hours. Then lightly sand entire surface with fine sandpaper (220-grit) to ensure an even finish and proper adhesion. …
  3. Apply a second coat. …
  4. After final coat, allow 24 hours before light use.


How long should stain dry before Poly?

In general, you should wait between 24-48 hours for the stain to dry before polyurethane. If you don’t want to take any chances or think the stain might not be dry enough, wait an extra day before applying poly.

What happens if you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane?

For some types of poly, nothing happens if you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane. However, most polyurethane will not adhere properly if you skip sanding dust nibs and brush marks on the finish. The polyurethane finish will eventually peel off or become deformed.

Is 1 coat of polyurethane enough?



Is One Coat of Polyurethane Enough? No, one coat of Polyurethane is not enough to provide a nice finish. . Apply three to four coats of polyurethane for a professional quality finish. A single coat won’t protect the wood from scratching and denting.

How many coats of polyurethane do you put on a window?

For ideal results, you should use about three or four coats. You will also have to wait quite some time between coats, as this polyurethane takes longer to dry. No matter how many coats of polyurethane you apply, it will always be quite a time-consuming process when using an oil-based finish.

Do you sand after first coat of polyurethane?

Sand the dried and cured first coat of polyurethane no sooner than 24 hours after applying it. Use a very fine-grit abrasive, sanding with the grain of the wood. Remove the sanding dust first with a static duster, followed by a tack cloth.