Powdery/milky residue/film on freshly stained wood. Any idea why?

[Doppel]

Yesterday I stained a table (virgin wood, freshly sanded down and wiped clean--had never been stained). I used some stain + poly. It went on fine but as it dried over about 80-90% of the wood there is a white powder look to it. This stuff kind of rubs away, but not entirely.

The only thing I can think of is that the stain + poly was quite old (couple years) and totally separated when I opened the can. However, before using it I stirred it very thoroughly and it appeared fully reconstituted. I couldn't find much on google about this...

 

[Meghan54]

I believe that's called blushing and is from excess humidity being absorbed and then trapped in the poly.

You can try to wait it out, time may allow the humidity trapped to evap....but maybe not. Some suggest using something like a hair dryer to speed drying, but impractical for your job. I've heard applying a coat of lacquer can help. And, of course, there's always refinishing it.

 

[Doppel]

I believe that's called blushing and is from excess humidity being absorbed and then trapped in the poly.

You can try to wait it out, time may allow the humidity trapped to evap....but maybe not. Some suggest using something like a hair dryer to speed drying, but impractical for your job. I've heard applying a coat of lacquer can help. And, of course, there's always refinishing it.

I may have to finish It's pretty chill here, though; I think the air is quite dry, though what you say I did see somewhere else so it could be happening!

I'm experimenting on an area with poly-only and I am hopeful that the poly will mask the whiteness, even when it dries (i.e. kind of a "wet" look).

 

[BrokenVisage]

After you stained it... I stained it.

 

[Engineer]

From here...

http://www.refinishfurniture.com/email_polyurethane_cloudy.htm

Reply: Hi Kim The humidity could be the problem. The age of the polyurethane could be another problem. If the inside of the can is white it's probably lined with epoxy and over time the polyurethane will react with the epoxy causing problems.

If you used a water base stain and it wasn't completely dry it could also be the problem. Just my personal opinion, polyurethane is a problem.

You might try testing the polyurethane on a piece of scrap wood. Just sand the wood and clean it with a tack rag, then brush on some polyurethane. If it dries clear then you know it's reacting with something else on the table, possibly the stain. You might try a sanding sealer. Be sure that the sanding sealer is compatible with the type of polyurethane you're using.

If the test dries cloudy it's a good chance the humidity is the culprit. Polyurethane generally takes long enough to dry that it can absorb lots of moisture from the air. You might try another test and use a blow dryer or heat gun to coax the polyurethane to dry a little quicker. The dry electric heat will help to lower the humidity around your work too. Don't get the heat too close to the work though or it'll bubble it.

You might try Deft Brushing Lacquer. It takes lots of ventilation, because it's stinky as the dickens, so it could be a problem controlling humidity using cross ventilation. Deft will dry in just a few minutes and by using the extra heat it'll dry almost instantly so will have less time to absorb humidity.

How to fix....

http://www.ehow.com/how_12209916_fix-cloudy-polyurethane-finish.html

eHow
Home Building & Remodeling
Floor Finishes & Refinishing
Polyurethane Floor Finishes
How to Fix a Cloudy Polyurethane Finish

How to Fix a Cloudy Polyurethane Finish
By Emily Pate, eHow Contributor

Print this article

How to Fix a Cloudy Polyurethane Finish thumbnail
Removing cloudiness may require sanding.

Cloudy finishes appear for several reasons, including using an old product or one that's been stored in a very cold or hot environment. Proper application also requires stirring the polyurethane coating immediately before placing it on the surface, which should be clean and oil-free. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need

Mineral spirits
Clean sponges
Clean white cotton squares

Show (2) More
Instructions

1

Check that the polyurethane is completely dry, if you've refinished the piece recently.
2

Clear out the work area, and turn off any open flames or pilot lights nearby.
3

Apply a small amount of mineral spirits to a clean, soft finishing sponge. Wrap the sponge in a clean white cotton cloth. Twist the top to form a handle.
4

Rub the wrapped sponge back and forth on the finish to remove about the first coat. Let it dry, then load a clean sponge and cloth, and repeat. Do this until you've removed the blotching and finish and are down to the stain. Let the surface dry completely.
5

Lightly sand the piece with 220-grit sandpaper, if cloudiness persists. Sand until the polyurethane finish is removed. Reapply the finish per label directions, stirring the product as you work.

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Read more: How to Fix a Cloudy Polyurethane Finish | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_12209916_fix-cloudy-polyurethane-finish.html#ixzz2FyqFV8di

 

[Doppel]

Thanks! I am thinking in this case age was the culprit...

 

[Engineer]

Thanks! I am thinking in this case age was the culprit...

I would tend to agree as this time of year is typically dry (why you get gaps in your wood floors in Winter because it dries out), but with the recent rain, it could be somewhat humid depending on where you live.

Good luck.

 

[Dallis]

I have an issue..
Not sure how to resolve.. the rest of the deck looks amazing!
This one area has a milky looking film.
It seems to have dried.. but this is not what I would like the finished product to look like here!!
Help!!!

 

[PB&J Painting]

I'm experiencing the same dilemma. I applied PPG Pro Luxe log in satin cedar finish and the last wood I stained in the evening were the railings. The weather was in the 70's and low humidity and that side of deck is shady til mid-afternoon. Could the night's dew deter it from drying correctly? So, I applied paint thinner and then coated again and now it's fine, what gives? I don't want this to happen again, it cost me time a money to fix.

 

[Captante]

Two in a row ... what are the odds?