I'm building my first butcher block desk and ran into an issue. I applied two coats of wood conditioner on the bottom side and followed up with two coats of polyurethane, which turned out great. However, when I flipped it over to treat the top, after the second coat of conditioner, it became super tacky and doesn't seem to dry at all. It's really hot out (97 degrees), and I'm wondering if that's part of the problem or if I made a mistake. Should I wipe it down with mineral spirits? I saw a video that suggested applying more product and wiping it down, but they were using stain, not conditioner. I want to avoid any further issues, so I'd love some advice from others who might have experienced this.
1 Answer
Can you share the specific conditioner you used? Sometimes, what’s labeled as butcher block conditioner is just a mix of beeswax and mineral oil. Those types can really mess with clear coatings like poly. Just a heads up!
I used one from Home Depot that’s just a heavy block, so it shouldn't be food safe since it’s for a desk. No issues on the bottom, but the top is acting up.