3. For example, Minwax Wood Finish Penetrating Stain claims to be able to dry in two hours, thanks to a ânew innovative formula,â although most users recommend 4-6 or longer, to make sure the coat is really dry. If you want an heirloom piece to treasure, slow is probably the way to go. The mingled poly and stain will continue to stay sticky, and you will be left with a real mess on your hands. Before staining, apply Minwax® Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner on clean, raw wood, using a brush or cloth. Same beautiful results. Specializing in building and renovating homes, Thomas Luttrell has worked in homebuilding since 2002. There are certain ways you can speed up the drying process but it is important to note that sticking to the recommended drying time is always your best bet. It may be that the humidity levels in the space are just too high for the stain to dry properly within the recommended time frame. ... 5.0 out of 5 stars My First time Published on May 27, 2016 by EL After a lot of research i decided to buy Clear Stain Polyurethane for the bench i decided to strip and finish. The humidity levels are usually higher too, especially when you consider the ambient moisture in the air that is present, especially at night and in the early morning hours. For best results use minwax pre stain wood conditoner prior to application of colour. While conventional stains recommend 18 to 24 hours drying time, Minwax® Performance Series Tintable Interior Wood Stain can be recoated in just 2 hours with oil based finishes and 6 hours with water based finishes. Minwax's Standard and Performance (Oil Based) Stains: The drying time for Minwax's standard and performance stains require the same amount of "recommended" drying time for all of them which is 8 hours but re-coat times will vary depending on what product you use (2-12 hours on average). Apply thinner coats: Thinner coats of stain will dry much faster than applying thicker coats, just like anything that is applied too thick. For example, you might be wondering, “How long does it take for wood stain to dry?” or how long to let the stain dry between coats. If the stain is too light or uneven, a second coat of stain may be needed before the topcoat is applied. So if you’re wondering how long should stain dry before polyurethane coating can be applied, you are probably looking at a good solid day or two. Those factors can certainly slow down the drying process for wood stain. -Ace- In some cases, people who apply a stain too heavy can wait 1-2 days and still report that the surface is "tacky to the touch" and is very counterproductive. A quick-drying stain is excellent if you’re in a hurry, and you’re trying to cover a lot of surface area or complete a lot of pieces. It's just a matter of time before the stain finally dries, but I have found that if I put a piece in the direct sun on a good warm day it will usually dry good in about 3 hours. if minwax increased it drying time - id stick with them. Interior and Exterior stains were a little bit varied when it came to dry times and I assume a lot of that is due to the environment. After the initial penetration, the stain will stay on the surface and take forever to dry. The thinner a stain is, the faster it should be able to penetrate the wood and dry completely. You do run the risk of taking off stain as well using this method. Fast Drying without Sacrificing Varnish Clarity. Our innovative formula delivers the same premium oil-rich color as before, but in a single coat that dries in just two hours. They typically go deeper into the wood and therefore show more of the grain variation. Water-based stain dries very quickly. For the best results, you will need to ensure a cool, low-humidity environment. There are many variables to drying times when it comes to oil based stains and there are "recommended" times but there is also a minimum time standard that a lot of people use and the application process can actually dictate the drying time as well. Learn more about Minwax® Oil-Based Stain at https://low.es/3d73Xx5 I think that a slower stain with several coats will give you a more controlled experience and lustrous look - like it has layers and gives a transparent depth to it. In general an "outdoor stain" will take a little longer to dry and I have seen that the general time frame is usually extended to 24 - 72 hours, compared to the 6 - 24 hour indoor general time frame. Don’t sand it too hard, though. All rights reserved. He also holds a bachelor's degree in English from Iowa University. Stain Chemistry, Solvent Content, Drying Time, and Adhesion ... My conclusion was, I don't need this hassle, and with MLC offering the Minwax colors in a fast drying stain, I don't have to put up with it. Stir well before and during use, apply a thin coat of stain with a lint free cloth or foam brush, Going with the grain of the wood, Wait no more than 3 minutes, remove excess with a lint-free cloth lightly dampenend with stain. Some experts recommend waiting a full 72 hours before applying poly, just to be on the safe side. Once youâre ready to add color and depth, choose the Minwax ® wood stain thatâs best for the job. Hope you find it helpful! They also stated that if the temperature was lower and/or the humidity was higher, the drying time could be longer than that 12 hour recommendation. It does not state how long it takes to dry before you can apply a topcoat, like the gel stain chart (below). The manufacturer will have included clear directions for the application and drying phases of the stain, so the label or other materials included with the container of stain should specify a recommended drying time. | Powered by WordPress, A Ryobi Battery Comparison | A Detailed Guide, 5 Different Tools To Cut Laminate Flooring With. Q. I will tackle all of these questions in this article and give you the recommended time frame (manufacturer recommendations), what other woodworkers say and some other helpful info along the way. 2. http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains/minwax- wood-finish Create a custom wood stain color that is uniquely yours. The re-coat time required for the gel stain is between 8 and 10 hours, in case you were wondering. The Minwax natural stain is available in thirty-six amazing colors that can be used on floors, molding, trim, doors, cabinets, and other wood furniture. What could be wrong? The thicker or more viscous the stain, the longer the drying process will be. Minwax 134074444 Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner, 1/2 Pint. You can use a terry cloth towel and an old toothbrush dampened with the solvent to remove the stick, tacky stain residue. Minwax dark walnut stain and it just wouldn't dry. Apply stain within two hours of application of Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner. If the stained steps were drying in a cool temp. If you were to have the piece you are working on in an even warmer environment (80 - 90 degrees), then it would cut down those drying times significantly. Other Minwax products include drying times of 4-6 hours on the label of the can, while others recommend 8-10 hours or even longer. I wanted to mention that during my research Behr lists all of their "wood stains" in a specific category but these were not oil based but acrylic based and I just assumed that these are the products that people were inquiring about but they did not realize that they were acrylic based, so a heads up before reading on. Once you are positive the stain has dried thoroughly, add a top coat of polyurethane to ensure complete coverage and protection. 20 comments on â My Five Worst Mistakes â bob 02/06/2014 at 4:13 pm. In an indoor setting, the air is usually warmer and can be controlled with a much lower humidity level (depending on where you live). It is in your project’s best interest for you to follow these recommendations, even if you are in a hurry to finish the project. Press Esc to cancel. Follow the directions on the can and wait the appropriate time before applying the stain. Wipe in direction of grain. Clear Finish Application: Allow stain to dry for a minimum of 4-6 hours (dry time may be extended due to high humidity, low temperatures, or inadequate ventilation). I wanted to do a quick post about the table I had purchased and repainted. Share Improve this answer Minwax® Water Based Wood Stain is an easy way to add beautiful color to unfinished wood surfaces. What Kind Of Oil Should I Use For My Air Compressor? Oscillating fans will work better than a stationary model due to the constant movement and a more even drying pattern. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In that state, if you add a layer of poly on top of it, the lower layer will never penetrate the wood or dry properly. Posts about Minwax Stain written by jacquelinesandell. You can apply the stain and then take a clean cloth/brush or applicator pad and wipe off the excess. They also have a few variables when it comes to their oil based stains (standard stain and performance stain). Start your project today and finish today with faster dry time. Recommended finishes include Minwax ® Fast- Drying Polyurethane or . If you do not have a choice about the environment in which you are working on the project, you may simply have to wait a lot longer for each subsequent coat of stain to dry thoroughly. Thus taking longer to dry. Consider moving your project to a different area, where there is better airflow, less humidity, and a lower temperature. After the wood is dry (minimum of 8 hours if stained), brush on a uniform coat of Minwax® Fast Drying Polyurethane. Gel-type oil-based stains don’t penetrate as deeply into the wood. Faster drying time. A pre-stain conditioner is meant to combat that blotchiness that may occur because of this. Minwax's Gel (Oil Based) Stains: The gel stain that Minwax makes requires a more significant amount of drying time, 24 hours! If you donât apply polyurethane, you will wear through the stain quite quickly. I used a minwax stain poly mix on a 5 yr old dresser, sanded the dresser down and then applied two coats per the directions, allowing for drying in between and doing the whole thing on my outside deck. Be careful of too extreme temperatures that exceed 90 degrees, as the stain can dry in minutes but will have very little penetration into the surface and the end results could be unexpected (in a bad way usually). Q. Outdoors: The average dry time for outdoor stain (or outdoor projects that will be receiving stain) will range from 24 - 72 hours generally. I have been in construction nearly my entire life and have a fascination with tools and love when they make my life easier. Complete your project by applying a Minwax® clear protective finish, following label directions. When you are considering how long to let the stain dry between coats, it is important to remember that other factors can affect how long it takes for the stain to dry. 0. Cabot had a lot of different types of oil-based stains to choose from but as I started researching the various drying times it really seemed to boil down to one recommended time frame... Cabot's website literature recommended a 24 hour dry time for most of their oil based stains. Stain one surface at a time. Recommended finishes include Minwax ® Fast- Drying Polyurethane or . Just give the piece an extra day or so and see if that accomplishes the thorough drying that you need in order to be able to proceed with the project. Varathane's Gel Stains: Varathane's gel stain does take the same amount of time to dry, when it comes to being able to handle it and apply a recoat (between 1 and 2 hours) but requires a minimum of 8 hours to dry before you can apply a topcoat. FWIR: Minwax stain is also a sealer containing Tung oil. A recommended time of 8 hours (minimum) is recommended before applying a topcoat. Usually, a coat of stain takes 24-48 hours to completely dry and cure. . I wanted the tabletop to go with the reclaimed wood surrounding the giant chalkboard so I chose the Weathered Oak wood stain by Minwax. Can you apply polyurethane even if the layer of stain underneath is still kind of tacky? They tend to be a bit thicker and will, therefore, take longer to dry thoroughly. Water-based stains dry very quickly, making them difficult to apply evenly over large surfaces. If a footprint appears, the stain may be too thick or need more time to dry. You'd want to do a couple coats. I always like to get a small list of manufactures that make the specific products or tools I am looking at to get an "overhead view", if you will, to see some of the common elements (dry time in this case) and that gives me an accurate representation, for the most part. Oil-based stains are extremely durable and work well on wood that'll be exposed to the elements, while a Minwax ® water-based stain makes an excellent choice for woodwork that's protected indoors. Q. No matter which type of stain you choose, make sure it is thoroughly dry before even thinking about adding a polyurethane coat. Match that with my "research addiction" and you create something like this website! Varathane boasts that this product can dry in one hour, no wood conditioner required. Ensure a cool, low-humidity environment wood-finish Create a custom wood stain be left on the and! Wood stains as before, but in a single coat that dries in just two hours to cure! Over large surfaces Didn ’ t sand it too hard, though, or there ’ s a faster... A setup time to dry than others as well reclaimed wood surrounding the giant chalkboard so I chose Weathered. Project that you can carefully sand the surface and take forever to dry times as well, between the products. 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