How To Apply A Water Based Finish - Finishing 001

[@michelebarnes4059]

I love it when an instructor explains WHY you need this technique. Thank you for your kindness.

[@kirkgud3187]

after applying 10 coats and buying 3 different expensive brushes and not getting the smooth surface I was looking for on a table I made, I tried the foam brush, perfection finally, I didn't think it could be that easy, thanks for the info

[@dot803]

Awesome.... I am right there with you. Very frustrating!

[@jane1385]

Same here but I bought about 5 different expensive brushes and about 9 topcoats till it looked completely plastic! Going sand it down again and then attempt it with a new can of poly and a foam brush! 🤞🏼

[@outlawbackwoods931]

You can't go over the same place more then once. It will cause streaks in the polycrylic

[@MonsieurTarzan]

@@outlawbackwoods931 How are you supposed to cover a seven foot high bookcase, using a brush, without going over the same place more than once?

[@outlawbackwoods931]

@@MonsieurTarzan you don't go over the same place when it's wet. If you do then it will streak. You can also spray it. Just made a 4 by 2 cedar table and I think spraying is better then a bush

[@andreacarr8680]

I loved your video- it was just what I was looking for- a simple example shown with partial boards vs. a lengthy video time lapsed of someone doing w/ a whole project. Good info, condensed & great clarity. Thank you!

[@Babyjohn8170]

The way you explained the process was clear and easy to follow. You have a new subscriber.😃👍

[@Simplecove]

Awesome, thank you!

[@MonsieurTarzan]

@@Simplecove Dude, thanks for showing this being done with a foam brush. I used a nylon brush with subpar results for the first two coats. No matter how careful I was, coverage was uneven, making for a streaky look. After watching this video, I switched to a foam brush for another two coats and got nice even coverage. It was also a lot faster. A lot of people on the internet warn about air bubbles using a foam brush, but I didn't encounter that.

[@antiquevintageworlds]

Thanks for this straight forward video, very helpful!

[@southparkgdp]

For large surfaces like desks. Do what you normally do for your foundational coats. This is for your FINAL finish. Make a 50/50 Poly/Water mix and mix well. Dip a cloth into the mix and spread it liberally over the surface. Make sure everything is covered evenly. Then take the cloth and make continuous, end-to-end strokes with the grain. Make sure it looks good in reflected light. Go around and clean up the edges and look for any drips or pooling areas. It will dry very fast and it will be very smooth. No further sanding should be required.

[@nature1960]

Thank you I am at the point on dresser drawers and your video helped me make my decision.

[@ambarrios2303]

Great video! Excellent job providing details and explanations. This was all very helpful!

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

I've also had great success applying water-borne ploy using my HVLP sprayer. The finish can be slightly thinned and easily sprayed on. I got a factory refurb HVLP for under $50 and it works well.

[@Simplecove]

+John Treble Yeah thats a great tip, Jon! I would love to dip into HVLP, but don't have the room so i'm stuck with wipe on finishes.

[@carlcox7332]

I bought a 100$ home right hvlp and it works beautifully with the Minwax polycrylic with the smallest tip/needle set and tge poly thinned with maybe 2 tbls of water to a quart. I did some shelves. I brushed one coat and sanded smooth with 220 then sprayed 3 more coats and just used a light scotchbrite pad to gently remove the dust nibs between coats. The final reult was a perfect satin sheen. It reminded me of the factory finish you see on the guitar neck on a fender Stratocaster. I was blown away that I could get a finish that smooth with a 100$ hvlp

[@HeRacesTheSun]

Good info! Tip; You should be stirring liquid from top to bottom with an arc motion, bringing what's on the bottom to the top. Not simply stirring in a circle like he's doing here, it doesn't exchange liquids form top to bottom. Like mixing settled orange juice, the solids are settled on the bottom, need to turn container upside down a few times for proper mixing, not just swish side to side. Same thing applies to all liquids like this that need stirring, bottom to top mixing, not just a circle stir that won't intermix what's on the bottom with what's on the top.

[@InterWebGuy99]

Great demo. I've been very satisfied with the Minwax clear coat. As you said just don't grind the hell out of the finish when you're sanding between coats.

[@epoxyfreelifestyle842]

Appreciate the simple explanation of application.

[@brianpeterson3752]

Applying poly with a foam brush? Straining it before applying? Deadly. Poly turns out bubbly when any air is introduced into the liquid while it's being applied. You need to use a very high quality brush with thick bristles, soak it in water (if you're using water-based, mineral spirits if using oil based) to take out air from the brush, and then apply the poly extremely slowly and deliberately with long, minimal brush strokes.

[@lw216316]

better to apply with a rag ? (about to start my first project, advice please)

[@kittkatt032]

Yup!

[@lbjordan5082]

How long does it take to cure?

[@lw216316]

I went ahead and used a rag...glad I did....it turned out great.

[@albertthecur48]

LMAO

[@matthewanders4635]

Boss mode. To the point. THANK You Sir

[@bobleeswoodshop7919]

I like the water base finish the easy clean up and less smells inside the house .regards Bob Lee

[@Simplecove]

+Robert Lee I totally agree! My latest cabinet still smells like varnish 2 weeks later. Thanks for watching

[@ThekiBoran]

@Mike Studmuffin Try General Finishes high performance water based top coat. You won't be disappointed. It can be sprayed or brushed on. It's also very durable and no, I don't work for General Finishes.

[@timcgrew]

Great video. Just like all your videos. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with the KZbin community.

[@Simplecove]

Thanks Tim!

[@christinakinne9790]

Thank You for making that sweet and simple!

[@rw7532]

I am looking to use the polycrylic. Looks like it brought out the natural color of the wood. It went for a dull light brown to a really nice looking brownish red rich color. Am I seeing that correctly.?

[@olipranks1844]

Thanks SimpleCove!

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Extremely helpful video! Thanks so much. 💛😎

[@MichaelBorne-rh8co]

I installed a new entry back door, at the back of the house. It had 3 pieces of trim around the door/casing, the trim was prob cheapest pine door casing trim Lowes or HD had 20 yrs ago. It looked good though, held up over the yrs. It had stain and some type of clear over that. Anyway, the pieces were damaged when removing them and had to go buy 3 sticks of door/window casing trim from Lowes for replacement. The trim is raw pine, about 8 bucks for 7' sticks. I stained them with minwax "cognac" color stain. They look good, now I need to clear that and wondered if I should just use the water polycrylic. Or is it best to use oil based polyurethane? Don't forget, the trim is cheap box store pine. I've never stained door trim pieces before, sort of worried about the clear now because the 3 pieces I stained look pretty good and I def don't want to have to do any of it again because I screw up the clear coating! Hey, does anybody ever just buy a can of poly in the aerosol cans? And just spray it on things like the trim I did?? Can I just do that? Thanks for the video!

[@smcdaniel3894]

Very informative. One thing I’m confused about, you said the final coat to wax with white 3m scotchbrite pad. Am I applying wax or light sanding.? Thanks

[@AereForst]

Would this be a good finish to seal a bathroom stained wood frame? there will be exposure to steam from the shower from about 3 to 4 feet away

[@SidersRemixed]

At the end, do you simply buff it with a white 3m scotch brite pad? Or do you use some sort of wax with it?

[@MrBritrider]

Thanks for the video. Can you get a super glossy finish on Polycrylic by polishing out with a buffer and rubbing compound followed with polish? Most videos on YT only show doing this with oil based Poly..

[@HawkFest]

thank your for your efforts. At 2:08, I didn't understand what was said: "pueer twenty grit sand paper" (while the number is hidden by your hand but we can see "3")?

[@daveforgot127]

Great video but you lose me at the end when you said if you find any dust to wait 7 to 10 days and then wax pad it. What is that ? How is that done? Thanks

[@anat6395]

And can you use this over painted wood?

[@pinoythinkingcolorofficial2609]

Love it sir,very impormative.watching from philippines.we have also KZbin chanel sir.about paint mixing.

[@KTFG]

Excellent video, thanks. Liked and subbed.

[@johnc1280]

I just painted my kitchen cabinets. For the interior shelving (which I painted as well with white latex paint) what do you recommend to fortify up the surface for all the heavy traffic that they’ll be enduring? I’ve read oil based polys may ‘yellow up’ the white paint over time

[@JulianPaulJonesSfatcu]

Wonderful! Thank you very much for sharing! I will definitely try it. Julian

[@ifollowjesus1667]

Nice! Thank you

[@roadstar499]

I been doing research and these type of water based products are also being used to seal painted counter tops...I am pretty sure they don't release harmful vapor...nice demo...

[@jenniferdanesi8225]

roadstar499 that's why I'm here. I've painted and now I'm about to seal and I'm having 2nd thoughts about my polycrylic.

[@mohammedabdallah1466]

i like to use water based varnish over shellac , i tested it with a small piece of wood and it seems to be okay. but as i am not much expert in wood finishing i would like to hear your opinion on using water-based varnish over shellac . i am using raw shellac flakes mixed with red alcohol, and i don't know if it is waxed or not

[@kennethnied5242]

Nice demonstration. I noticed that you criss-crossed the two pieces between the original coats and the second coats. The first Polycrylic coat went on the smaller piece and the other finish on the larger. When you applied the second coat, the Poly went on the larger. No big deal, just something I noticed. I like using Polycrylic because of the water-based cleanup and fast drying time (2 hrs. or less), though I prefer the satin finish to the high gloss. But I'm not making "show" pieces like coffee tables, etc. High gloss might be more suitable for those.

[@Simplecove]

Thanks for the reply. I just watched again and It may appear that I crisscrossed them but I didn't. I think I confused the matter by putting the small board on the left for the first coat (Enduro-Var) and then moving it to the right for the second coat.

[@cadjoe77]

Actually you did mix them up. You can see the different sizes of the boards.

[@Simplecove]

Actually I didn't. I moved the boards but also moved the finish I applied. As I mentioned to Kenneth. I moved the small board from the left to right but also moved the endurovar from left to right, thus applying the same finish.

[@azimmey]

Thank you for the video, I went with the instructions on the canned and it said use a very good synthetic brush which I did every single coat that I did I got some bubbles in certain areas scenarios are perfectly smooth no bubbles nothing it’s beautiful. But some places it’s just a lot of bubbles and is drive me crazy I can’t resend it because it leaves sandbox so it was a foam brush the answer? And if it’s not how do you get air bubbles out of the finished coat? Without scratching it up

[@ColinMill1]

I guess it depends what sort of finish you want to achieve but I have to say that, for the kind of finish I like (where it still looks like wood and not a piece of glossy wood-effect plastic), applying water-based acrylic with a foam pad is perfect. I apply perhaps 5 or 6 coats with the pad only just moist enough to wet the surface and work it fairly firmly. I use a warmed, ventilated chamber to help accelerate the drying (that is, with such thin coats very fast anyway) so I can sand and put down subsequent coats in well under the normal 2 hour interval. No way am I going back to applying it with a brush.

[@CraigLafferty]

I use the foam pad with a panty hose footie wrapped around it.

[@ColinMill1]

@@CraigLafferty How very sporting of you to admit it on a public forum 8-)= Seriously though that sounds like a good idea - I'll give it a try. Thanks.

[@GJJC13]

Great video. Questions: 1) Which is more durable and better finish: General Finishes Enduro-Var or the Polycrilic? 2) Can these be sprayed and would the end result be smoother?

[@susans_painted_blessings]

or Gator Hide Dixie Belle!

[@jcarlin]

The instructions say to use a synthetic bristle brush and very light coats. You're using a foam brush and thicker coats. Does it work as well that way?

[@Simplecove]

Jason, I wouldn't have used the foam brush if it didn't work as well that way.

[@jcarlin]

@@Simplecove Ask a silly question…

[@BurtBowers]

Is it really necessary to apply so many coats of this stuff & having to sand in between the coats what happens if I just apply couple coats without sanding on an already stained piece of mahogony?

[@genesmay4877]

Sanding will make it super smooth and give depth. Unsanded will leave possible brush strokes, dust nibs, rough, dull look.

[@daveleighton4683]

I prefer water based sealers because they leave the piece looking more natural than solvent based varnishes and they seem to handle the effects of sun better.

[@alcameron6071]

I’m going to be staining some red oak boards for my tape deck. Can you use a pre-conditioner not of the same company that makes the stain I want to use? The stain I am using is ninwax but they don’t sell small cans like they do with their stains. Another brand does sell smaller cans. Is it OK to use two different manufacturers? Thanks.

[@rosegeraci373]

I spilled some on my laminate floor! Any tips on how to remove it?

[@sharlenedanchuk3625]

Are all black foam brushes the same? I applied poly to a painted drawer once and found little specks of black foam all in my finish. Now I’m worried about using one again. Any info would be helpful. Thanks.

[@stoplying]

I'm planning on using the General Finishes satin top coat on my kitchen cabinets that I am painting with the GF milk paint. Would I need to sand in between top coat applications since the cabinets are a milk paint finish and not a natural wood? Thanks for the video, good stuff!

[@tinaknutsen]

Nice video. TFS

[@willie90210]

Question for you, how can I make water base clear polyurethane darker? (Oak)

[@voxagreed]

Hello, in the case of water-based polyurethane, what samples can be applied to a wooden staircase?

[@33SpookyNerd]

That was so easy and helpful, thanks!

[@gasousman]

Hi. I mistakenly used Polyacrylic instead of water based polyurethane on a butcher block counter top (Lowe's had it sitting right next to their oil based polyurethane). Now, months later, the paper from boxes, like cereal or popcorn, sticks to the polyacrylic. I then have to scrape the paper free. How can I fix this?

[@bertoc7122]

Can I get away with doing 2-3 coats on Cornhole boards? Or do I need to apply more? Only asking because of time constraints. I do not make the boards, but I purchased a set of unfinished boards and just wanted to know if 2-3 coats is ok and if the bags will play good on them still.

[@rongmohor]

Between these two varnishes which is best for handpainted phone case

[@isapalmer]

Can I use a foam roller to apply water based polycrylic?

[@efrentaeza3535]

I thought you used oil-based poly on the narrow board. Then when you wiped it with the blue paper that you had wetted with water, you said the coat you had applied was water based. Am I wrong?

[@Simplecove]

Both are water based.

[@rmhutchins7]

I enjoyed your video. It was very helpful. Thank you!

[@allisonwhite1779]

What is the best product to put on a outdoor sign? The wood is already stained and acrylic painted. I need something that will not change the paint color also.

[@nicholaskostella6019]

Do not use a finish like poly unless recommended for outdoors. The finish will not last long at all. You need a finish designed for outdoors.

[@maryannalmeida3873]

I stained a dresser with oil based stain and used water based poly but some spots looks like it didn't get enough how do I fix

[@namsoemmanson8338]

Can the process used on the concrete wall?

[@randykelley2122]

So do you sand and wipe down with a wet rag on your very last coat also?

[@dianev100]

Does the color of the wood get darker with each subsequent layer of stain?

[@LITTLEROCK2517]

Yo

[@gsilcoful]

Sean, I enjoy your videos and find that you explain things simply and clearly. My dad wont use a foam brush, says it makes bubbles. Is that your experience?

[@Simplecove]

Every finishing method has it's negatives. Whether you spray, use a foam brush or a synthetic brush, you can have problems. It's all about knowing how to fix them and trying to avoid them. I did not get any bubbles in the enduro-var but did get some in 1 coat of the polycrylic. To fix it, I just sanded and applied another coat.

[@gsilcoful]

Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate the info very much.

[@nkel6111]

what was the first finish @ 1:00 ? and the poly...what use, exterior or interior use? sm for first application?

[@stingray427man]

Ive actually had great results, wet sanding 1000 grit between polycrylic coats.

[@djjackson-pickett7558]

Thank you!!!!

[@dot803]

What causes the tiny bubble? I tried brushing slowly. Tried applying super thin. Just curious if you know or have advice. Thank you for this video! Well done:)

[@ardgross]

The more times you change directions with a foam brush the more bubbles you put into the finish. Foam bushes are not made to "work in" the finish. Think of a foam brush as a squeegie. The fewer strokes you make the smoother your finish will be. Apply the material and smear it around (with the grain).

[@loripare3441]

Hi Sean. Great teaching video for a newbie. Would you recommend the foam applicator or using a bristle brush for a beginner? I read all the comments and saw your reply that there are pros and cons to everything. Just curious what you would recommend. I’m planning to seal a sofa table with the no wax polycrylic in satin. Thanks!

[@Simplecove]

Before you apply any of the finishes to the sofa table, I recommend testing on a sample board. The cheapest route would be to use a foam brush to test on the sample board, and if you are able to apply the finish without bubbles, then use the foam brush. But if you for some reason continue to get bubbles, give a bristle brush a try.

[@mikeecho33]

so for a bathtub tray can I get away with one coat of the polyacrylic?

[@Simplecove]

No. I would put at least 4-5 coats.

[@aperrins76]

Hi Sean, I'm new to finishing and was wondering if these water based finishes work well with pine or spruce? Would you recommend using a wood conditioner first? See, I told you I was new:) My project I'm attempting is a hanging wood diffuser (wall art with sound acoustic properties) with 144 2x2 pieces scientifically spaced and sized 1"-4" pieces. Sooooo, I'm hoping for a one to two time application product that is safe and easy to work with. Thanks for your help!

[@Simplecove]

+Rue Vision these are the top coats that protect the surface and give them a satin, semi-gloss or gloss sheen. They are not a stain or dye which colors the surface. If you are only putting this over the pine and not staining it, you do not need a conditioner. If you are staining or dying pine, I would recommend using a conditioner unless you use a gel stain as gel stains don't penetrate as deeply. BUT, I always recommend that you make a sample board to make sure it's what you want.

[@wendykerney2103]

Why did I end up with little whitish clumps on my finish piece. I had to redo it!

[@Simplecove]

Most likely either dirty brush or old/dirty can of finish.

[@jokejazz]

Thanks for a great video, hoping to get results similar to yours.

[@derrickpritchard3663]

Thanks for the information. It's saved me a lot of mistakes.

[@draffter4055]

How many foam brushes did you use for this demo?

[@AsilandNefer]

Thanks for the information!

[@anat6395]

So what happens if you only do one coat of the polycrylic?

[@louishollandjr]

What about Water test or over painted Cabinets or Wood. I want Redo a kitchen table with black water base Stain or oil.

[@kimkorb]

I'm applying the third coat to my piece tomorrow. I sanded after one and two because I noticed a lot of brush streaks or raising the grain, not sure. I'd like a glossy finish for the third and top coat, any ideas how to achieve that? I'm using a bristle brush. Should I use something else besides the brush for the last coat?

[@Simplecove]

+Kim Korb when you sand, make sure you sand enough to remove the previous brush strokes. When applying the coat, put light pressure on the brush and don't go back over your work.

[@theburningred01]

Can polycrylic be used on exterior, no traffic areas ...and will it hold up in the sun?

[@Simplecove]

I wouldn't use it for exterior projects. I would use an spar varnish which will hold up better

[@theburningred01]

Okay I will try some of that. Thanks for the reply and the info!

[@toddbill6878]

Thanks for the good tips! Appreciate ya!

[@danreynolds8028]

Great job but why did you change your shirt?

[@Simplecove]

Really?

[@zacharysmola8032]

I had a problem with brush marks being seen on the wood.

[@edouardst-pierre3817]

Great video! Thank you.

[@McFarlanMade]

Did you actually wait 24 hrs in between coats, or do you just wear the same Nautica shirts every day?

[@Simplecove]

It's a shirt I wear in the shop so I wear it more than once since I only work an hour a night in the shop.

[@McFarlanMade]

Cool, I understand. No need to mess up all of your clothes right???

[@johncleghorne93]

Can you apply water base polycrylic to laminate wraps?

[@LunaGirl1111]

Do you need ore than one coat of the polycrylic? I painted a buffet and it seems fine with the one coat. Thanks in advance.

[@Simplecove]

I would put at least 2 coats on, sanding lightly after the first coat personally.

[@lookingatyouforever]

Thank you!

[@charlesholland6851]

cool. i hate finishing. so it is danish oil and briwax for me

[@Simplecove]

+Charles Holland Yeah Oils and varnishes are a lot easier to apply and have more open time. They are my go to finish for sure.

[@deyerlevideos]

when you did the waxing step at the end, did you actually use wax? Or where you just buffing it with the 3m pad to get bubbles and streaks out?

[@Simplecove]

Well it depends. The wax will help lubricate the 3m pad, which will prevent the 3m pad from removing too much of the sheen. If you used gloss but wanted a satin sheen, I would not use the wax. If I used a semi-gloss but want to keep it close to that sheen I will use wax to lubricate the 3m pad to prevent it from removing too much of the finish and making fine scratches.

[@bunzos71]

I was wondering the same thing. I recently painted two dressers black, topped with 3 coats of Polycrylic, and sanded between every paint & Polycrylic coat. I'm disappointed that I still ended up with some brushstrokes. I'm wondering if I should buff them with a wax, to rub out the brushstrokes? If so, which wax do you recommend and will I need to re-wax the pieces every so often (unlike Polycrylic finish by itself)?

[@Simplecove]

It depends on how bad the brush strokes are. If they are real deep your best bet would be to sand it and apply another coat. Try applying a thinner coat with the brush next time and see if that makes a difference. I use Howards citrus shield paste wax on a lot of projects but some woodworkers will stick to a wax color that matches the wood. So if it's a darker wood, they get a darker wax so that when it dries and you missed removing some wax, you won't notice it. The lighter waxes will dry white while the darker waxes will dry dark. If you wax a piece sooner or later, depending on the usage of the piece of furniture, you may have to apply another coat to keep the protection. Since you mention it's a dresser, you may not have to apply another coat of wax for a year or two since it's not a high traffic piece of furniture. Just dust it with a cloth to keep it clean.

[@poofypoopy8838]

bunzos71 min wax products are garbage! Stick with GeneralFinishes and you can't go wrong. The products are made for the professional.

[@femfic2551]

Who even mentioned min-wax spaz?

[@frankbiz]

Very helpful 👍🏻

[@ega0117]

How many coats do you apply??? 3 or 10?

[@rep1989]

Do you have to put multiple coats? I'm reworking a table that I need for desktop type reviews and product photos. I plan to stain it with either special walnut.

[@Simplecove]

I would recommend at least 2 coats for protection and to get the desired sheen. One coat is basically sealing the surface but not adding too much protection.

[@rep1989]

I wanted to come back by and thank you your video helped me so much I had found an old table at a yard sale with a metal frame and legs the top was scratched bad but I sanded stained and then put the polycrylic on sanded and put another coat it turned out awesome. I think this may turn into a new hobby. Thanks again for all the help.

[@Simplecove]

Glad to hear! Thanks for coming back and letting me know.

[@justinrrizzo]

That polycrylic always bubbles and has many minor imperfections. I don't like it. But it is easy to apply.

[@Simplecove]

Yeah I get similar results. I always buy general finishes high performance which is a water based poly but I feel like it's a better product.

[@donzi32boats80]

I wish I would of found this video prior to laying down my polyurethane ( water based ). My first project wasn't going well, after watching this video an applying the concepts, theres hope. Thank you!!

[@rheyza4475]

Love your vids man!

[@lukealvarez6096]

This helped me a lot thanks

[@vinr1187]

Does these finishes seal a picture which is printed on a wood ? I have a picture printed on a wood and I am trying to seal it permanently. Do you have any suggestions ?

[@chrisgraham2904]

You should be fine to use water based poly over a print on wood as long as the printed inks on the wood are not water soluble.

[@fvids1603]

Prep surface strain and spray easiest and best method.

[@Simplecove]

Yeah it is the easiest if you're able to spray. Most don't really have the room for it(including myself).

[@132colinnorth]

Comparing a gloss with a semigloss?

[@Simplecove]

No. Showing application methods.

[@Taitiji]

They all say "thin coats of polycrilic" but it doesn't look 'thin' for me...?

[@jamieflores9691]

Can u mix stain with an water polyurethane finish?