Expert: Greg Scholl - 3/25/2011

Question
I have used this product on the insides of my front doors and worked great as a trial. I used it again on some kitchen cabinets and all steps worked fine except the last one - the protective top coat. The product allows only a short 5 minute span to apply before drying begins. After 12 hours of drying I found some scuff or marring type looking marks in various locations. They suggest touching them up but after doing so the product doesn't blend in and looks worse than it did originally. Would sanding with a 1000 grit help or another grit strength? What's you suggestions, please. I'm holding off continuing my project until I know and can correct this problem. Thank you for this great service.

Answer
My guess is what you're seeing is "holidays", areas where you either missed applying the clear coat, or areas where it was much thinner than the surrounding areas, or even perhaps the previous coat was not thoroughly dry in those areas, and affected the final sheen.... You'd need to recoat the whole surface likely to blend in an area like this...and that might affect the sheen from one surface to the next...(more coats may look glossier...).These acrylic topcoats do dry fast, and it's doubly bad if there is air movement in the area you're working in, or it's too warm. I'm not sure, but I assume this is an Acrylic urethane product, and some of them do dry too fast....perhaps you could contact them and ask if there's a retarder for the clear coat....or switch to another product like Zar's excellent Ultra Max. I use it almost exclusively now when wanting a water white (clear non amber)acrylic urethane., as it has a longer open time and seems to allow more brushing time, as well....but it too is a fast drying clear coat , but it is an oil modified waterborne product that is very good, very clear, and quite tough when cured, which it does by Oxygen coalescing and crosslinking.They claim it is up to 4 times harder and more durable than similar products, (tough enough for floors)...and I've been very satisfied with it. It's also available in 4 sheens, incuding an "Antique Flat". 1000 grit would tend to polish the surface and increase the glossiness of it, I think 400-600 would be better for 'scuff' sanding the clear before recoating, but clear finishing cabinets with a brush is difficult no matter what, hence the main reason cabinet finishers spray the top coats.......please post back and let me know what they say- regards- Greg

http://www.ugl.com/zarWoodFinishing/zarInteriorPolyurethane/zarUltraMax.php