How I get that glass smooth top with polyurethane Tips and Tricks for Furniture Makeover

Instead of using the 1000 grit sandpaper, would wet sanding with a blue Scotch-Brite kitchen cleaning pad work? Some people say it is similar to 1000 grit sandpaper.

I always enjoy your content and seeing how you transform different pieces of furniture, but I found this concise and particularly informative as well. I know this is an older video, but thought I’d let you know your content endures. Keep up the great work. This helped me as I’m applying finish to a coffee table I refurbished. Appreciate it!

Hello! Thank you for the excellent video. I just applied my first coat of oil-based poly & I got dust nubs. They were smoothed out by the gentle wet sand but unfortunately, two hairs got stuck in the poly, too. The gentle wet sanding didn’t work. Ideas?

Great! Thanks for posting.

He said to lay it on thick. Another experienced finisher says to lay it on very thin.

Can you finish polycrylic the same way? I have a ton of brush marks on my piece and I’ve sanded and recoated three times and just can’t get this glass like top. Any tips for water based polycrylic? My wife LOATHES the smell of polyurethane which is why I have to use polycrylic. Thank you, and awesome video!

Im waiting for 3rd coat to dry. Do you wet sand the last coat? It looked and felt great after sanding the 1st to coats

For a glass smooth finish, I put on top a piece of glass. Just Kidding! I use oil poly, been doing similar projects like yours for over 40 years!

What would you think about using 000 steel wool instead of wet sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper? I've always used 000 steel wool (except when the store supply is gone, then I use 0000 with extra pressure).

Great vid! Can you roll it on?

Do you sand after the 3rd coat?

I’m impressed that the episode includes additional information that reflects viewers questions and input, the sign of a professional who cares about accuracy. Good job, dude!

I know it’s self leveling but what about smaller custom pieces? That have curves or crevices and are not a flat level surface?

It's been days and it's still tacky. First I diluted 3 to1 with paint thinner and it never dried, I had to scrape and sand it off. I live in a tropical climate with high humidity.

@Dean, Can I wet sand water based poly?
Thanks

I've tried several techniques and yours helped me the most by far!
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the video. Really helped out a lot . 👍🏽

how long after you wet sand, do you let it dry before putting on the next coat?

Hello from toledo ohio!!!! Dean............ you smexy man beast... that is top is almost as groovy as you my buff hunky Texas furniture cowboy! yeeehaaa WE LOVE YOU DEANOOOO

Can u tell me y my poly is still sticky after 2 days?

Thank you for showing and explaining about the waiting times. Do you think this smooth top would be suitable for a computer desk, which will have monitor, mouse and keyboard?

Looks good bro! Never tried the soapy water gonna give a try on. NExt project

Great video, thanks. I have a table top that I stained already (oil base stain), but I scratched it up too aggressively with 150 grit. The stain didn't help cover the sanding scratches at all. I have not applied poly yet, so can I wet-sand it to try to get the scratches to disappear or will the liquid mess up my stain?

I need pain my table is look the same color you used in this video !!

What. Color stein is that?

Very nice.
Does it matter if the poly is water or oil based when wet sanding?

Thanks for explaining how to get that shiny finish, I am working with a polyurethane product and I am looking at a matte finish. I will try your 1,000 grit wet sand. Thanks for the INFO.

Hi Dean, sorry for my ignorance but what about the wet sanding process if i use an oil based poly ? I guess i need to wet sand it with Turpentine instead of water ? Total noob here :)

I love all minwax products .

i wasnt happy with my first try so i sanded it all off and im going to give your method a shot.wish me luck

What do you do if the final coat has particles of dust or debris from the air, that are very difficult to prevent. If you do any sanding on the final coat it will dull the finish, right? How do you ensure a perfect finish in the final coat?

Very nice finish! Good job! I'll be applying these methods to a desk that I built. Thanks!

Love the Julia Child nod. Just don’t sample the urethane.

I love the glass finish I seen this done on cars but never thought about doing it on furniture. I need to try it out thank you for such great advice I love your tips you give thanks 🙏

👍🥇👍🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦

Beautiful job!

I have learned a lot from your video. I am actually doing the exact project right now. The end result on your dresser is absolutely stunning. I'm praying mine will as well.

Okay whats mineral spirits? Im painting my counter tops i used a high gloss acrylic paint and polyester roller and it came out like mini stucco. Or like leather i cant explain it but you can feel the texture. I was thinking of sanding or buffing it out a little till it got smooth and adding Olympic self leveling polyurethane over it. Since epoxy is too expensive. What do you think?also its not the oil kind of polyurethane.

I appreciate that he showed much of the process without jump cuts then used speed for the repetitive parts. Also love that he got busy without a ton of jabber. Great video.

Sanding between coats with water and dish soap - does the presence of the dish soap become a bond breaker or cause any negative bonding to further coats? Do you have to additionally wash or rinse the soap off?

The best no BS instructional video ever!

Dose it work the same way with oil base polyurethane?
I just starting into wood working. I use the oil base one because it going to be hanging out side

One word...Excellent! Thank you! Will sub for more amazing tips. I'm a newbie and having so much fun refinishing.

I was looking for tricks I could use on guitar clear coats. On a guitar it's common to sand and polish, and sometimes wax and / or oil after the last coat of poly. The reflections go from blurry to razor sharp like looking in a mirror. From where you stopped, I'd wet sand with 2000, then buff with Turtle Wax polishing compound on a foam pad on a drill, then hand wax and polish with Johnson paste wax, then rub down and polish with mineral oil. If you can prevent contaminants, you don't need to sand between coats. You just have to build up enough poly to not sand through it when you sand it level at the end. Just build up your coats, sand it flat, sand to 2000 or so, polish, wax, and oil.

I have a butcher block island new .I just would like to finish it natural . Would I sand it first and then pre stain conditioner . Sand again but what do I do next .

Great instructional video. Good tips . Thanks and all the best

The Dawn soap and water is a great tip to give the mild abrasive some glide, gunna try that! Thank you! 🔨

How's it going, Excellent idea using the Wet and Dry Sandpaper and A spray bottle. I use the use 320,
I usually will do 3 Coats or just put on one heavy coat, Then I'll do my standing, Then go over that with a Rattle can of Polly for my finish.

When using oil based Minwax polyurethane on pine, how do I keep this very porous wood from completely absorbing All of it? Oak hasn’t been an issue, but I can’t figure out how to stop the pine from having the wood look like it’s never been polyurethanes? thanksp