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Hardwood floor finishing problems trocket 09-06-2006
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Posted by on September 6, 2006, 10:18 pm
Hey all,

I'm new to this group, but I was very hopefull I might get some advice
here. I've been looking though a number of groups but haven't found an
answer.

I installed new hardwood floors in the past weeks. I used unfinished
brazilian cherry. The installation went well enough, then I went to
finishing them. Sanding went well, took the floor down level and
smooth. I applied a natural stain which brought out the beautiful color
in the wood. Now comes the problem:

I installed the floor on my upper and main floor. The upper floor
looked great and after 2 days was dry and I applied a water based
finish to it. 4 coats later I have a lovely floor that is done.

The main floor had some area where I didn't apply enough stain and
needed another coat. I went to two stores and couldn't find the same
stain I used (Minwax ) so I grabbed another brand of natural colored
stain ( Watco ) thinking it would work fine. Both are oil based
although the Minwax is recommended for floors and the Watco is not
which I know now but not then.

Where the first coat dried and was ready for a finish in 2 days, it has
now been over a week since I applied the 2nd coat and it is still
sticky. I did a test area 3 days after the 2nd coat of stain, but the
finish dried cloudy and very badly. After a week and no improvement I
tried some mineral spirits to help clear up the 2nd coat of stain. That
may have been a bad idea, but either way it seemed to help at first,
but a few days later the floor is still to sticky for the finish.

I finally decided to try and sand it down again and start over, I have
to get this done. As some of you may have guessed that doesn't work
because it doesn't take any time for the sandpaper to get gummed with
the sticky wood up then start ripping. I went through several papers
and got very little floor taken down.

Feel free to say that any approach I've taken is just stupid, I just
need to know what to do. If anyone has any ideas or can point me to a
post that might help, I'm about to put a shovel through my floor out of
pure frustration, and my wife has been very patient, but I don't know
how much longer she'll put up with our furniture in the garage and our
kitchen out on the porch. Thanks,

Trock


AppliancePartsPros.com, Inc.
Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on September 6, 2006, 10:36 pm

>
> The main floor had some area where I didn't apply enough stain and
> needed another coat. I went to two stores and couldn't find the same
> stain I used (Minwax ) so I grabbed another brand of natural colored
> stain ( Watco ) thinking it would work fine. Both are oil based
> although the Minwax is recommended for floors and the Watco is not
> which I know now but not then.
>
> Where the first coat dried and was ready for a finish in 2 days, it has
> now been over a week since I applied the 2nd coat and it is still
> sticky.
>

What exactly did you use? AFAIK, Watco does not make a stain, but does make
various finishing oils
http://www.watco.net/brand.asp?frm_brand_id=23&SBL=1

If you used a Danish oil, it will look nice, but, not being a stain, will
not cure the same way. I don't know of any cures aside from time, but you
are beyond normal time.
a.. A surface coat is not necessary over WATCO wood finishes,
however if a clear finish is desired, use Varathane Professional or Interior
Diamond Wood Finish. These products may be applied 72 hours after applying a
WATCO wood finish or Rejuvenating Oil.
If no one here can help, try http://www.woodanswers.com/




Posted by Trock on September 7, 2006, 12:00 am
You are right. I used a Watco Danish finish oil. I don't know if the
previous Minwax coat is preventing the drying, would a couple of area
heaters make quick work of this?


Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> >
> > The main floor had some area where I didn't apply enough stain and
> > needed another coat. I went to two stores and couldn't find the same
> > stain I used (Minwax ) so I grabbed another brand of natural colored
> > stain ( Watco ) thinking it would work fine. Both are oil based
> > although the Minwax is recommended for floors and the Watco is not
> > which I know now but not then.
> >
> > Where the first coat dried and was ready for a finish in 2 days, it has
> > now been over a week since I applied the 2nd coat and it is still
> > sticky.
> >
>
> What exactly did you use? AFAIK, Watco does not make a stain, but does make
> various finishing oils
> http://www.watco.net/brand.asp?frm_brand_id=23&SBL=1
>
> If you used a Danish oil, it will look nice, but, not being a stain, will
> not cure the same way. I don't know of any cures aside from time, but you
> are beyond normal time.
> a.. A surface coat is not necessary over WATCO wood finishes,
> however if a clear finish is desired, use Varathane Professional or Interior
> Diamond Wood Finish. These products may be applied 72 hours after applying a
> WATCO wood finish or Rejuvenating Oil.
> If no one here can help, try http://www.woodanswers.com/


Posted by Art on September 7, 2006, 2:11 am
Don't burn down the house.



> You are right. I used a Watco Danish finish oil. I don't know if the
> previous Minwax coat is preventing the drying, would a couple of area
> heaters make quick work of this?
>
>
> Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>> >
>> > The main floor had some area where I didn't apply enough stain and
>> > needed another coat. I went to two stores and couldn't find the same
>> > stain I used (Minwax ) so I grabbed another brand of natural colored
>> > stain ( Watco ) thinking it would work fine. Both are oil based
>> > although the Minwax is recommended for floors and the Watco is not
>> > which I know now but not then.
>> >
>> > Where the first coat dried and was ready for a finish in 2 days, it has
>> > now been over a week since I applied the 2nd coat and it is still
>> > sticky.
>> >
>>
>> What exactly did you use? AFAIK, Watco does not make a stain, but does
>> make
>> various finishing oils
>> http://www.watco.net/brand.asp?frm_brand_id=23&SBL=1
>>
>> If you used a Danish oil, it will look nice, but, not being a stain, will
>> not cure the same way. I don't know of any cures aside from time, but
>> you
>> are beyond normal time.
>> a.. A surface coat is not necessary over WATCO wood
>> finishes,
>> however if a clear finish is desired, use Varathane Professional or
>> Interior
>> Diamond Wood Finish. These products may be applied 72 hours after
>> applying a
>> WATCO wood finish or Rejuvenating Oil.
>> If no one here can help, try http://www.woodanswers.com/
>



Posted by Norminn on September 7, 2006, 7:22 am
Trock wrote:

> You are right. I used a Watco Danish finish oil. I don't know if the
> previous Minwax coat is preventing the drying, would a couple of area
> heaters make quick work of this?
>
>
Follow label instructions, which usually include temp and humidity
limits. Drying surface too quickly, as in hot sun, traps solvents below
the surface film because the film formed too quickly.

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