Cassie Bustamante

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How Do I Finish?

November 4, 2010 by Cassie 20 Comments

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Let’s talk about finishing pieces, shall we? It’s the last step and an important one as it will protect your piece.  And let me tell you there is nothing worse than having poured hard work into a piece, and then having something go wrong in that final step.  The first thing I want to say before I get into specifics is that I NEVER USE POLYCRYLIC OR POLYEURATHANE ON WHITE OR LIGHT COLORS.  This choice is mine, and may or may not be the right way for you to go, but I have seen so many cases of yellowing occur, even if it says non-yellowing, or if I’ve heard it doesn’t yellow from a source; most times, given time, the topcoat has yellowed.  So that’s the most important tidbit of information you will get from this post.

Now, let’s get into specifics and I will show you the products I trust, and I will explain when I use them.

1. Minwax Paste Wax:

I just love this stuff!  It is so easy to use, and doesn’t yellow and dries rather quickly, in less than 15 minutes.  It is easy to apply.  You just use a rag and wipe it on, following the brushstroke or grain of the wood.  A little bit goes a long way, so don’t put too much in your rag.  Another huge plus is that the finished look it gives is soft, and not shiny at all.  I also really like how it feels to the touch, and typically one coat is enough.  The downsides are that it will need to be reapplied at some point down the road, probably within a year, to continue to protect.  Also, I have found that when I am using it on a piece that has been painted and then stained, it tends to remove some of the stain.  That being said, it remains my favorite, my go-to finishing product.  This product is also ALWAYS WHAT I USE ON WHITE.

2. Johnson’s Paste Wax:
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I also really like this product for finishing pieces.  It doesn’t dry as quickly as Minwax’s version and is much greasier and smellier, but it gives a very nice finish, low-lustre, and feels great to the touch.  This product works much better over those pieces that have been painted and then stained.  I also like to use this product on refinished pieces where I want a more rustic look.  If that is the case, then I typically use 3 or 4 coats.

3. Tung Oil Finish:
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Speaking of natural and rustic finishes on refinished wood, I also like to use Tung Oil Finish, which wipes on easily with a rag, and is low-lustre.  It gives a very natural finish.

4.Minwax Wipe On Poly- Satin Finish:

When using poly, this product is my absolute favorite.  I use it on refinished woods, and also on dark colors, like black, red, dark blues, and greens.  It wipes on easily with a rag, but the only thing I will caution is that you need to be sure that you are using a lint free rag as otherwise, lint will get stuck in it and you won’t be able to get it out easily.  Although the can states that it is satin, it will leave a bit of a sheen.

5. Minwax Water Based Polycrylic- Satin Finish:
Polycrylic Satin, Quart
This is the only poly/finish that I brush on.  It’s important to use a good quality brush, especially one that won’t shed bristles in your finish!  What I love about this product is the nice hard finish it gives a piece.  It protects really well- water just seems to bead up on it!  Although it has fabulous protection quotient, it yellows, so again, I only use it on colors where the yellowing won’t be noticeable.  Also, although it is supposedly satin, it is pretty shiny.  I have found that this stuff can serve to correct other paints mishaps.  I once used a paint that just stayed tacky.  It was a deep base, horrible quality.  I really didn’t want to strip it all off, so I read somewhere that this finish could be used over it and would still harden.  I tried, and it worked!  I didn’t have to take backwards steps, so that was a huge relief.

So that’s a wrap of everything I use!  I should add that I have also tried the spray versions of the polycrylic and the Minwax satin poly, and I don’t like them.  I think for small items, like little knick knacks, they’re fine, but for furniture, I think you can see the spray marks.  When you stand and catch it in just the right light, you see all the spray sheen, and it doesn’t look professional.

Please let me know if you have any questions!  I am happy to help.  You can comment here, or email me at [email protected]. Happy Wednesday!
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Comments

  1. Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife says

    November 4, 2010 at 12:44 am

    I love the Minwax Polyacrylic. It’s been a favorite of mine, over and over again!

    Reply
  2. gail myrepurposedlife.net says

    November 4, 2010 at 12:50 am

    great tips! I used the johnson’s paste wax once and I didn’t like it. I probably used it wrong. It seemed to leave a film, not a finish on the piece. The piece was a flat black paint. any ideas what I did wrong doc?
    I love the polycrylic and have to disagree with ya about the yellowing. I used it on my little white ikea table tops last year and there has been no yellowing. I love the hard (protective) surface it gives.
    I still have a LOT to learn from your tutes! Keep up the good work!
    ohhh do you have “labels” or tags? How can I find this and the other tute posts again?
    gail

    Reply
  3. Allison says

    November 4, 2010 at 12:51 am

    Great tips, Cassie. Very helpful! I had that situation happen with a paint I used where it stayed tacky for days. You probably remember that I emailed you and you suggested the water based poly and sure enough the paint hardened just like you thought. You are a wise woman of experience!

    Reply
  4. Kristen says

    November 4, 2010 at 12:56 am

    blugh, i also HAAAAAATE polyurethane. i almost had catastrophe this summer with poly yellowing. i almost called minwax to complain! no matter what you do – it yellows 🙁

    i also think that weather makes a difference in yellowing…i’ve yet to prove it, but i think it makes a difference.

    Reply
  5. Kristine at The Painted Hive says

    November 4, 2010 at 1:02 am

    Cool post. Shame we have none of that stuff here though – oh poo!

    Reply
  6. Emily says

    November 4, 2010 at 1:25 am

    ohh, can i put my 2 cents in? i used the polycrylic on a bench that i painted about 2 years ago. it has been outside since then, even through our million feet of snow this past winter and is still holding up strong!

    Reply
  7. kathie says

    November 4, 2010 at 1:44 am

    Bravo! Well said, all of it! I’ll be sending people your way to read this 🙂

    Reply
  8. Cathy @ The Far Fifty says

    November 4, 2010 at 1:54 am

    These are great tips. I used to use spray varathane and hated it. Now I’ve just started using minwax polycrylic and I don’t love it, maybe I’ll go to the paste wax next.

    Reply
  9. Chrissie says

    November 4, 2010 at 2:34 am

    Thanks for the great tips!

    Reply
  10. Christa @ Stories of a House says

    November 4, 2010 at 2:35 am

    Topcoats are tricky. It’s a lot of trial and error. I’ve found my favorites, but I’ve learned it varies so much from person to person.

    Reply
  11. [email protected] Road says

    November 4, 2010 at 3:18 am

    Thanks for sharing~I like learning from the pros. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Enchanted Rose Studio says

    November 4, 2010 at 5:58 am

    Thank you for sharing that with us, Cassie! Valuable info that will be helpful to all!

    Cheers!
    Tina

    Reply
  13. cindy @ cottage instincts says

    November 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    Oh man….I have THE worst luck with finishing products. Just yesterday (after 2 coats of primer and 4 coats of paint on 3 huge pieces of my son’s bedroom furniture) I had to sand down the top coat I used (varethane diamond urethane which I had heard raves about) because it dried with little white bubbles where I used a foam roller, and white streaks where I tried to brush it on. Grrrrrr. I’m sure it’s my technique and not the product, but I’m soooo frustrated! I went over everything again with the paint, and now I’m stuck wondering what to use while my son sleeps on mattresses on the floor and his clothes and books are heaped all over his room. I used a deep red, so maybe I’ll try the wipe on poly. Don’t have any lint free cloths though. I need to find my kids’ old birdseye cloth dipes.

    I think it’s so hard to get even coats because the finish products are clear-ish. I suppose that’s why they say use very light coats and do lots of ’em. Finishing is definitely my LEAST favorite part of repainting furniture. I’m considering using oil based paints that need no topcoat…but then you have to deal with the stink and the glossy finish. 🙁

    Reply
  14. Christa @ Stories of a House says

    November 4, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    I just re-read this (I LOVE your product reviews) and I’m glad you mentioned that all the “non-yellowing” topcoats certainly do yellow! I was disappointed that my laundry cabinets didn’t turn out the color I wanted. Waaa. Thanks again for this great post, Cassie!

    Reply
  15. Kelly at I Dream of Decor says

    November 4, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Cassie do you recommend the minwax finishing wax/paste stuff for white pieces? I am in the process of painting dining room chairs white and the first one I finished just looks chalky to me (if that makes sense) i was hoping some sort of top coat or sealer would help…

    Reply
  16. Rene says

    November 4, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Great advice Cassie. Will definitely bookmark this for future reference.

    -Rene

    Reply
  17. Ellie says

    November 5, 2010 at 12:38 am

    Cassie! I was just going to email you and ask this very question! I’m finally getting to a project that I’m doing in white and wanted to know what you recommend. I’m not keeping it though and so I want to do something more permanent than the first option above. What would you suggest? Thanks!

    Reply
  18. [email protected] Chic says

    November 5, 2010 at 1:16 am

    Love this helpful post, Cassie. What would you recommend for a piece with a white finish so it won’t yellow? Thanks!

    Reply
  19. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    November 5, 2010 at 1:20 am

    thanks for all the comments- i have edited the first paste wax to note that that is always what i use on white. always. i tell clients they may want to reapply in a year or so to continue protection, but i use this on all the white pieces i sell. hope this helps!

    Reply
  20. bego says

    November 5, 2010 at 5:17 am

    Hi, Cassie! i love your ideas, your furnitures and your blog, obviusly! i invite you to know my work. Translate my blog or look in “antes y después” (“before and after” in english) Kisses

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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