Clear finish can be applied over stain or directly to raw wood. It's an extra step, but it's always worth the time.
Polyurethane wood finishes are synthetic coatings that are highly durable and water resistant, making them the best clear coat for wood protection.
Yes! A polyurethane wood finish looks beautiful and is one of the most durable top coats for wood finishes. It works great on stained wood, raw wood, weathered wood finishes, and painted wood finishes too.
If you leave furniture raw without applying a new coat of wax or poly you are taking a risk of your furniture drying out, cracking, swelling or staining. To limit wood damage, preserve furniture AND keep it looking natural you'll want to seal raw wood with Liming or Cerusing wax.
The product I'd recommend for light duty sealing of raw wood pieces is Miss Mustard Seed's Hemp Oil. One of the things I really like about it is that it does a good job of preserving the beautiful patina on my more vintage (or vintage look) pieces.
Yes! You can treat untreated wood to make it weather resistant and more durable. You'll need to purchase a sealant and apply it to the surface before letting the wood dry.
Danish oil
It is often used on bare wood to provide a natural-looking, matte finish. This type of oil penetrates deeply into the wood grain, giving it a rich, lustrous appearance. Unlike wood finishes such as varnish or lacquer, Danish oil does not require sanding between coats and can be applied directly to bare wood.
Paint Or Seal Unfinished Furniture
Bare wood, when left unfinished, keeps your furniture with a natural wood look but the risk is exposing it to harsh elements, even if it's indoors, such as light, dust, moisture and water damage, making it more susceptible to stains, warping and cracking.
You can use natural oils, floor wax, or vinegar to clean your unfinished wood floors.
You'll get the best results from your polyurethane topcoat if you remove any old paint, varnish or other finishes before polyurethane application. For a smooth coating, you'll want the surface to be as smooth as possible. Prepare the wood by sanding it with a sanding block or orbital sander.
For optimal durability, we recommend sealing your piece with 3-4 coats of Clear Coat. Although the full cure time of Clear Coat is about 3-4 weeks, you can start using your piece after just 24 hours. Be gentle with your piece for the first few weeks and avoid rigorous cleaning to avoid damaging the finish.
Applying a clear finish to wood brings out the wood's natural beauty, while sealing and protecting the wood's surface. Oil-based polyurethane is an excellent product to use for this purpose. Start by sanding the surface thoroughly and wiping it down to remove any dust.
Yes. If you prefer the look of bare wood, you do not need to use stain before applying polyurethane. Polyurethane in matte finish offers a subtle appearance and soft-touch feel, while providing the long-term protection of polyurethane.
If you don't sand between layers of polyurethane, the surface may become streaky or discolored. This formula prevents chemical solvents from bonding to it. Once the first layer of paint is dry, you can apply a second coat to make sure everything remains. Each coat of oil-based polyurethane finishes is applied on top.
An oil based polyurethane will continue to amber and darken over time, while water-based poly will remain clear for the lifetime of the hardwood floor. This color difference is less noticeable over a stained hardwood floor, but an oil based poly will still exhibit an amber hue that will continue to darken over time.
And the answer is yes. Sometimes. Wood can be left unfinished if it won't encounter weather, water or significant handling. If your project is placed outside, will be somewhere wet, or will be used on a regular basis, then you should apply wood finish.
Which is better: polyurethane or polycrylic? Polyurethane is better for durability, but polycrylic is better for interior surfaces like cabinets, furniture, and trim. However, for light painted furniture and cabinets, polycyrlic is preferred because it doesn't yellow on the surface.
Use a brush or rag to apply a clear furniture wax such as beeswax. Remove excess and buff lightly (not too much as you don't want to polish the wax) Add cerusing wax over the clear wax, as needed, to counteract any darkening or warm tones in the wood.
Sealing or sizing a piece of wood greatly reduces the chance of stains, warping and rotting wood from your paint. Yes, this can happen!
Auto clear is used on wood all the time. It's super tough and easy to rub out. There are two types, a polyurethane and a urethane - they are different. Most car clears are actually urethane.