Sand very lightly in between and follow the dry time recommended on the can. First, make sure your projects surface preparation is complete, fully sanded, and clean of all dust and debris. When I lightly sand using 400 grit sandpaper I’m noticing that the shine is being removed and leaving dulled streak marks (I’m assuming it’s from where I’m pressing down harder than in other areas). I bleached my wood dining table- any suggestions for a clear topcoat that won’t darken the finish? If you want to use an oil-based polyurethane, Varathane’s had better results by far – click here for the current price. I don’t know about you but when it comes to furniture pieces that get a lot of use, I want them to be protected against the potential damage and unexpected spills of everyday life. Also, the wax and special bush are another cost consideration when picking the best chalk paint clear coat. This is due to the paint's inability to completely mask or hide the underlying paint colors. This topcoat was also the best clear coat for a tabletop because it’s resistant to scratches, stains, and water. By applying a clear coat to unsealed chalk paint, you can get a more durable, waterproof finish, but without the time, effort, and extra expense of wax! Instead, it wipes cleanly and easily from the topcoat! Your research project was so cool! Dupli-Color Clear Automotive Clear Coat. I just painted shelves white Marquee Paint. to my newsletter with updates and tips PLUS get instant access to my resource library with ALL of my other free files, wall art printables, and templates! Never use any water based topcoat with long oils such as Danish, Tung or Linseed. Any thoughts would be so appreciated. Hey Hallie, Waterbased polys don’t yellow so you can use the Varathane waterbased on the top and legs! If you used Marquee, I think you can get away without a clear coat unless they will be used very heavily. All of the clear coats tested did really in terms of water resistance. I am wanting to apply a new clear coat. This even goes for latex-painted furniture pieces. Also, you don’t want to worry about the color rubbing off on clothing. Clear Coats – super fine finishes: 1.4: All Around Tip – clears, base coat, single stage paints: 1.6: General Purpose – light to heavy viscosity materials: 1.8: Primers – will apply primer quickly: 2.2 -2.5: Gel Coats and Resins – for thick resins and not paints The Best Methods to Apply Oil-Based Paint to Kitchen Cabinets Polyurethane is a clear varnish that dries to a hard, solid finish. One was painted and one was stained. This clear coat is highly resistant to moisture and alcohol so it is great for use on any surface that demands a hard, tough, protective finish. My favorite clear coat that does not yellow is Varathane’s Water-based Polyurethane! If you use a good latex made for cabinets, it should be durable and water-resistant enough without the trouble of a topcoat. So, if you paint oil-based paint on top of a latex paint without priming first, the latex will flex so much underneath that the oil-paint will quickly fail. After sanding lightly, all three top clear coats would be a great choice for stained furniture. Click here for the current price. Thanks Laureen! I also want to check on your mention of using wax and polyurethane together. I prepared the cotton ball with alcohol before knocking the bottle of ubbing alcohol all over my beautiful driftwood table. Unlike latex-painted pieces or stained pieces, chalk painted furniture needs a protective finish unless you know a drinking glass won’t be set on it. As someone who has painted dozens of different furniture pieces, I’ve learned that not all topcoats are created equal and that different surfaces need different protective finishes. The Easiest Way to Stencil on Wood Furniture & Signs Don’t let your next project be ruined because of paint bleeding through your stencil. It also works really well as a sealant for chalk or milk paint as it won’t yellow over time and is easy to use. Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila, Solved! See the current price here. Hi this is a pretty recent post and I’ve used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It dries quickly and can be easily cleaned up with soap and water. But also, I realized the Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane that came in first has a matte version now, so I think I would opt for that one but all three should be good products. (For some reason the man told me I couldn’t get the pro classic in the color I wanted). Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The best sealer for chalk paint is General Finishes Top Coat which does an outstanding job of preserving the look, feel, and color of chalk paint. The clear coats I experimented with were all matte and satin finishes: Someone asked me how to refinish a piece of furniture that had been clear coated with an oil-based polyurethane. More watery than oil-based polys, so more coats are needed. The piece I’m doing is 86″ long and 31″ high, under an arched window that is about 9′ wide and 12′ tall starting about 33 inches from the floor and next to a fireplace, so I have to make sure I don’t do something that increases the risk of the piece catching on fire. Oil-based topcoats can have an ambering effect, which means that over time the clear coat can cause the surface of the furniture piece to yellow. Ahead, you’ll find pointers for using whatever paint products you like over oil-based paint. The best sealer for chalk paint should not only be durable but easy to apply. Combines the qualities of a water-based paint with some of the qualities of an oil-based paint. And what was the brand that your friend used on her cabinets? Thank you so much Liz! Have fun finishing your table! The clear coat is applied over it and is what gives the finished paint job a glossy effect. Clearcoat is a clear liquid that can be brushed on the surface with a regular brush. I’m telling you, this is my new favorite clear coat finish. I do have a question though. The more gloss a surface has the more it will show imperfections in the surface so a matte sheen is much more forgiving than a semi-gloss. Also, wax has to be reapplied every 6 months to a year to be effective! Then brush on the clear coat in long strokes in one direction with an inexpensive foam brush (like this one). To give painted furniture maximum protection, top coat paint with 3 coats of clear coat. My husband is disabled and unable to inject himself with insulin each night, so I do it for him. Thank you Stefen! The password is 'transformation' -- please copy and paste that in at the link above. The Magic Number for Coats of Primer, Solved! It’s pretty smelly so a lot of times I will just dab some over the knot holes (not the whole piece). Criteria for the Best Top Coat For Furniture Projects: After testing seven different topcoats, Varathane’s Water-Based Polyurethane was the clear winner! Also, it’s a good idea to use a top coat on any furniture pieces exposed to regular humidity in bathrooms or your kitchen. I’d wait 24 hours to be safe. After letting the last coat dry, I let the two wood planks cure for two weeks to reach maximum hardness and water impermeability for each sample. This piece took a lot of sanding with my sander to repair some water damage on the top but the results are well worth the process. Blessings. Your solid color sealed concrete will shine better than new. Traditionally, oil-based polyurethanes were the main clear coats used on furniture but now more water-based formulas are on the market. Would you recommend the Varathane Water-based Poly on the table top and legs? Your email address will not be published. For stained finishes, I recommend “sanding” with a paper bag so you don’t mar or scratch the stained finish. Have you added a protective finish to a furniture project only to realize it was a horrible product that ruined your finish? You can add me to your list of followers!! I love that this sealer has almost no odor making it perfect to use indoors when refinishing furniture projects making it a great chalk paint clear coat (Click here for more reviews on the best sealer for chalk paint). Used General Finishes flat out topcoat today, and it was a dream to apply and looks awesome. I was nervous to try redoing the tops but your instructions were clear and seemed pretty simple. Have a great day! Just like clear coating painted furniture, be sure to let the stain dry for at least 48 hours and sand very lightly. OIl based topcoats require mineral spirits for clean up. I was wondering if you have painted furniture for outdoors, of course using exterior durable paint, and if you have any recommendations for clear, protective finishes for these pieces? I highly recommend it. So, don’t put any clear coat over wax including polyurethane. Thanks Karen! Your clear coat testing save me from buying 2 new end tables! Thank you so much for your response! I painted the piece with a cabinet roller and the whole thing just feels sort of bumpy or pebbley if that makes any sense. The Minwax polyurethane separated so it took me a while to stir the product so it was once again consistent. Then I use rustoleum 2x spray colors on top of my acylic, so a clear finish that is compatible with acylic & spraypaint. There’s the General Finishes Water base Top Coat High Performance in Flat, than there’s General Finishes Flat Out Flat, they are both water based Top coats, is there a difference between the both? Oil-based products have a strong odor and can take longer to dry. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CURRENT PRICE FOR THE BEST CLEAR COAT FOR FURNITURE. This has a gorgeous matte finish but also comes in other sheens. One reviewer said she used it as a clear coat on white-painted wood salad bowls and after ten years, there was no yellowing. Especially if you have young kids, your tabletop, desk, or coffee table can be easily ruined with an accidental scratch or a drinking glass left on it for too long – not to mention spills! Let me know if you have anymore questions. HOWEVER, there were several bubbles in the Minwax surface and both caused pretty severe ambering of the painted surface. Any traditional sealer that you can brush on a a foam brush takes a lot less time and skill than waxing. Polycrylic is also a water-based product and one of the topcoats we tested. This clear coat is great for interior products including furniture, cabinets, trim, and doors. That causes air bubbles to show up in the finish. I was shopping for new ones when I saw you painting tips. Also, this formula was the best performing water-based clear coat when it came to water rings as no ring was left after 24 hours. Some bubbles were left in the finish but they quickly popped upon drying leaving a super smooth finish with no brush marks. Sometimes those glazes are not waterproof so you can easily seal in those details for good with a top coat! I think all of them might darken it slightly. It’s easy to clear coat over latex furniture with a few simple tips! I found these by going to 4 different Facebook furniture groups I am apart of. *, Hi! Wax is not the only option when it comes to Although wax can be used to increase chalk paint’s durability, it requires frequent reapplication. To my surprise, there was no damage whatsoever. I’m not a huge fan of polycrylic because it is known for leaving streaks so I have to wonder if the layers of polycrylic are making moisture come to the surface when a cold drink is placed on it. My end tables were in good shape except for the tops. What do you think? – Karin. Choose a natural bristle brush when applying oil-based paints and top coats, varnishes, shellac, decorative chalk paint (for an antique look), enamel, and polyurethane. I’m planning to repaint an antique dresser for use as a changing table in our nursery. I was intentionally looking for a non yellowing varnish/clear coat that didn’t have solvents or harsh chemicals that are yellowing my acylic white primer/paint. Then simply follow the directions on the oil you have chosen. See the best chalk paint topcoat here. A few years ago, I refinished our coffee table creating a driftwood finish on the top with white chalk paint legs. Sand off any paint that is peeling up too much so the clear coat lays flat on your chalk painted furniture surface. Hmm, good question. Each group consists of hundreds of professional furniture painters. I am inexperienced and in the process of finishing antique Duncan Phyfe table and chairs. So I painted a piece of furniture(night stand for bedroom set) I wanted to top coat it with a chalk paint top coat. Oil-based polys are very water-resistant but are not recommended for outdoor use as they may crack or yellow when exposed to UV light. I painted a wooden sewing cabinet with it and now I have decided to go back and add a sealant. Glad you had a good experience with it. Well stirred and two lovely smooth coats later, and a week to cure, and… it has not held up AT All. I’m hearing different answers, some say I can apply 24 hrs after painting, than I saw where you have to let the chalk paint cure for 2 to 3 weeks before applying topcoat. I don’t usually use wax at all but use the clear coats mentioned in the post. Although this coating is expensive, the price goes down significantly if you buy it in the gallon size. (See the Runner Up for the Best Sealer for Chalk Paint if you want a lower-cost version here: Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane in Matte This is also an amazing sealer for chalk-painted furniture! The Olympic Maximum Clear Exterior Waterproofing Sealant allows for weather-ready application. The protective coating makes cleaning furniture pieces easier because dirt can’t penetrate into the paint surface. I guess my most important question is can I use the water based products over the finish after lightly sanding out the wear marks? I have done it on a side table that had tons of TINY scratches and the Varathane Waterbased Poly made it look like a whole new table. I love to hear your thoughts and answer any questions! It’s totally trashed after one year of use.
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. Best Satin Clear Coat – Click here for reviews and the current price. I have a Pottery Barn stained dining table that through the years has been well used. Anyone can renovate a house but only God can transform our hearts! However, the longer drying time can mean fewer brush strokes. You only need 8 hours of dry weather after application. Varathane states it has the best scratch and stain resistance available and based on our findings, I believe them! You can apply polyurethane over latex and oil-based paint, but before you do, the paint must be dry and fully cured. I’m using SW emerald paint for my project. With this polyurethane, you can easily protect … You can even apply in weather as cold as 35 degrees! The finish and feel of this chalk paint clear coat are very reminiscent of wax without the cost and hassle. Use a natural bristle brush for oil-based polyurethane and a synthetic bristle brush for water-based polyurethane. If you don’t stir in the solids, your finish will be high gloss. Our top three clear coats would all do well on painted furniture – CLICK HERE TO COMPARE THE TOP THREE. I hope I’m headed in the right direction. That’s so strange Julie! After finding out their favorite clear coats, I narrowed down their favorites to the top 7. Hey Dee, These are all great questions.