Regret Using Wax on My Refinished Table - How to Switch to Poly?
Asked by w00dCrafter92
I recently refinished a table using Danish oil, and it looked fantastic at first. However, I decided to apply wax on top, and now I'm having second thoughts about it. I really want to make the switch to a polyurethane finish. Do I need to completely sand down the table again and reapply the Danish oil, or is there a better way to handle this? Just looking for some advice. Thanks!
Answers
Besides getting rid of the wax, I’d suggest doing a light sanding of the whole surface to ensure the poly sticks well. Make sure to use an oil-based poly since water-based ones tend to sit on top of the Danish oil and peel off after a while.
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Unfortunately, you can't apply poly over wax—it just won't adhere properly. Instead, you can use shellac on top of waxed wood. I recommend scraping off any excess wax and then using a dewaxed shellac for the best results.
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To change from wax to poly, you’ll need to strip the wax first. A good way to do this is with some mineral spirits and a scrub pad. Once that's done, you can decide whether you want to add more Danish oil or go straight to the poly.
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w00dCrafter92: Thanks for the heads up on the oil-based poly! I didn’t think about that, and it would’ve ended badly for me.