Hey everyone! I'm new to woodworking and recently built a side table to put next to the couch for my wife. I used an oil-based stain on it and have been letting it sit outside, but it still has a really strong smell. I've been looking up VOCs and stuff, but I thought I'd check here for any tips on how to speed up the off-gassing process. Any advice? Thanks!
2 Answers
To help with the off-gassing, you could try positioning a fan nearby while keeping the piece outside in a warm, dry spot, just avoid direct sunlight as that could worsen the smell. Also, have you thought about sealing it? Using a water-based polyurethane sealer can really cut down the off-gassing and typically has a minimal smell after just a day.
Heat can really speed up both the curing and off-gassing of your stain. If it’s safe, you might consider setting up a tent around it with an electric heater inside. Just be careful to keep anything flammable away from the heat. An oil-filled radiator could be a safer option!