Expert: Jamie Yocono - 12/3/2007

Question
I stained some old cabinets (knot pine) in my kitchen this weekend.  I did not sand but did wipe the old ones down and stained over old finish. after two days the stain is still tacky. can I put a second coat and poly over while still tacky or what should I do? Thanks, Sean

Answer
Hi Sean,

I suspect that you applied a finish over the top of a surface finish, that's why the top coat won't dry. There are two types of finishes - surface ones, like varnish, shellac or lacquer and penetrating ones, like Tung Oil, Watco, or even Linseed Oil.

The difference is exactly what their names imply - a surface finish sits on the surface, almost like applying a sheet of plastic on top. A penetrating finish will soak deep into the wood, causing the wood to "feel" more real. Surface finishes are more protective, so they're perfect for kitchen cabinets, where you want to keep grime, grease and dirt out of the pores of the wood.

So the reason the finish you applied is still sticky is because it's just sitting there, not being absorbed. Over time, I imagine it will become like a magnet for dust. It's not a pretty picture.

You are probably going to have to strip that stuff off, I might try some turpentine or odorless mineral spirits on a rag, to see if it can be dissolved easily. If not, you may have to resort to some sort of paint stripper. And you may have to scrub it, to dissolve the goo. Wear gloves, that stripper can be caustic.

In order to stain your cabinets, you will have to remove everything that's sealing the pores. That means a deep stripper. It's hard work, and can come out blotchy if your don't do a good job of stripping and sanding the wood. All of the old finish must be removed.

Once it's off, I would sand the wood, and then reapply your stain. It should absorb this time around, and then you'll need to reapply some protective finish, like varnish. Or you could stain and protect in one step, using Watco Danish Oil. Read about it on this link:

http://www.woodcraft.com/articles.aspx?articleid=301

Good luck, this isn't a hard problem to solve, but it's going to take a little elbow grease.  The good news is- your kitchen will look great for years to come.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com