Hey everyone! This is my first woodworking project, and I'm building a solid desktop for my PC setup. I've got some shelved legs to attach, and I'm now at the finishing stage. I'm following a tutorial that suggests applying a coat of Minwax oil-based polyurethane, letting it dry, sanding, and repeating this process three times for the top. After that, the tutorial says to let it cure for three days before using it. However, I've come across some info that says oil-based finishes might need a whole month to cure completely. I'm not in a rush, but I'd love to know how long you all think I should wait before placing my monitors and other gear on it.
Also, should I attach the legs before or after finishing? I'm worried that if I screw them in post-finishing, I could compromise the seal and create issues later on. I live in a humid area, but the desk will be indoors once finished. Just not sure how to handle the assembly and finishing—any tips would be appreciated!
2 Answers
You should be good to use it in a few days, but I'd avoid putting heavy items on it right away. They could leave impressions in the soft finish. As for attaching the legs, I recommend finishing first and then assembling. Remember, no finish is a perfect moisture barrier; they just slow absorption. Small breaks in the finish shouldn't be a huge issue!
That's a good question! I wonder why you went with oil-based poly instead of water-based? There’s actually a lot of great options out there that dry quicker and are easier to work with.
Haha, mostly because I followed the tutorial! I didn’t even realize there were water-based options until I started researching after buying the oil-based one. It's a bit of a rookie mistake!