How Long For Polycrylic To Cure

Learn how to employ polycrylic without streaks. There's cypher worse than spending hours painting a piece of furniture, only to feel like you've messed upwardly the topcoat.

I'g sharing my tips and tricks for fugitive castor strokes and bubbles, plus how to gear up them if they occur.

You lot might be interested in this post on refinishing a tabletop.

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Polycrylic is my favorite elevation coat when painting piece of furniture for many reasons.

Polycrylic is pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to utilise, like shooting fish in a barrel to find in stores, inexpensive, easy to make clean up (water-based), and most importantly: polycrylic doesn't yellowish over white paint or low-cal colors!

How to Apply Polycrylic without Streaks, Brush Strokes or Bubbles

How to Avoid Brush Strokes and Streaks

Keep a wet edge. This means only touch wet paint that yous've but painted.

Touching paint that has sat for fifty-fifty a few minutes can cause streaks. It picks up what you've already painted and drags it a bit.

Instead, skip that role and go it in the next coat. You won't be able to see information technology when you're finished.

applying top coat without streaks — Skip the wet areas and movement to a dry area. The next few coats will cover these spots.

Apply a good brush. I prefer this brush for painting polycrylic.

The soft beard minimize brush strokes, but it'south still large enough to become good coverage.

Pro tip: I store my brushes in plastic baggies between coats to make sure that the paint doesn't dry on the bristles. Just proceed in mind that the longer you exit the brush in the bag, the harder it volition be to clean.

Paint in one direction. Only paint in one direction and so that you don't accidentally touch an area where y'all already painted.

brushing long streaks of polycrylic on dresser

Use a new can of polycrylic. Polycrylic only lasts then long earlier it gets as well thick to use. For this reason, I prefer buying smaller cans.

A tightly sealed pigment container should concluding about a twelvemonth, especially if the can is full.

When the can starts getting empty, the consistency starts to change and it gets harder to work with.

Avoid painting in humid weather. Although polycrylic does ameliorate than whatever other topcoat in humidity, it makes your job then much harder considering information technology takes forever to dry.

If you can't avoid painting in humid atmospheric condition, give information technology plenty of time to dry between coats, and don't paint over moisture spots.

Use thinner coats. Thinner coats of paint dry faster. Thicker coats are more likely to end up with drips.

Apply a matte finish. Shiny finishes evidence more than flaws. A matte stop will minimize any flaws.

Sponge awarding. I've had mixed results with this technique, but I idea I would share information technology.

You tin wear gloves to avoid getting polycrylic on your hands, but I've found that it'south easy to clean up with lather and water.

Dense sponges piece of work improve. A cheap sponge may cause bubbles!

Moisture the sponge.
Dip it into the polycrylic can.
Wipe it on the surface slowly.
Avoid touching previously moisture places.
Let dry and apply more than coats for full coverage.

How to Avert Bubbles

Do not shake the can. Gently stir it to mix the contents so that you don't work air into the mixture.

Don't use a roller. Rollers tin cause bubbles and other textures.

Employ a skillful brush. A cheap brush (similar a cream brush) is probable to cause bubbles.

Pigment slowly. Sometimes bubbling course from painting too quickly.

How to Correct Streaks or Bubbles

Let the polycrylic dry completely.
Sand lightly to remove the texture.
Reapply polycrylic using the tips above. Remember to not impact wet paint!

Polycrylic FAQ's

Tin polycrylic be rolled on?

In near cases, I don't suggest rolling polycrylic. On furniture, a foam roller will produce an undesirable, bubbled texture.

Castor or spray it on for all-time results.

How many coats of polycrylic should you apply?

Apply 2-3 coats of polycrylic to create a long-lasting stop.

For surfaces that receive a lot of article of clothing and tear (like a tabletop or a flooring), yous might want to employ four or fifty-fifty 5 coats.

How long should the paint dry before applying polycrylic?

Information technology depends on the humidity levels and temperatures. Most paint dries in about 2 hours. Allow more time on humid days.

Polycrylic needs to dry for several hours betwixt coats.

How long should you wait between coats of polycrylic?

The time between coats will depend on the humidity level and temperature. Days with high humidity volition result in longer drying times.

On a normal day, I normally wait 30 minutes to ane hour before applying some other glaze.

Will polycrylic yellow over time?

No. This is i of my favorite features virtually polycrylic.

If you are seeing yellow, it'south not acquired past the polycrylic. It'due south acquired by tannins that have bled through the woods.

Click here to read a postal service on how to seal tannins when painting white furniture.

What'south the divergence between polycrylic and polyurethane?

Polycrylic is water-based, so information technology'south piece of cake to clean upwards, dries fast, and doesn't olfactory property bad. It likewise doesn't yellow over time.

Polyurethane is oil-based, and then make clean-upwards requires chemicals, it takes longer to dry out and it smells atrocious. It DOES yellowish over fourth dimension.

Do y'all have to sand betwixt coats of polycrylic?

Yes and no.

When I stain wood, I lightly sand between coats considering staining woods raised the grain. Sanding smooths it out and allows yous to get a buttery soft stop.

Paint doesn't enhance the grain of the forest, so I typically practise not sand between coats of polycrylic over paint.

Nevertheless, if it feels rough to the touch after a coat of polycrylic, yous can sand it with 400 grit sandpaper to make information technology polish.

Make sure you make clean the surface later sanding.

How do yous clean polycrylic off a paintbrush?

Run the brush under water until the h2o runs clear. Polycrylic is clear, simply the h2o will be slightly milky while rinsing the brush.

Wash the castor longer than yous think. Since polycrylic is clear, it tin can be harder to become it all out.

When I use polycrylic, I commonly make clean it with a bit of dish lather as well. Since it takes longer to rinse soap bubbles, it'south a good way to ensure that y'all've rinsed the brush for long enough.

For best results, utilize a brush cleaner to ensure that the brush is completely make clean. Brush cleaners also help keep your brushes in expert status.

If your castor dries with polycrylic, it'southward yet possible to rescue the dried brush using these tips.

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Emy is a vintage obsessed mama of 2 DIYer who loves sharing affordable solutions for common home problems. You don't need a behemothic upkeep to create a lovely home. Read more…