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What do I use to apply POLY? Help please!!

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javeryh:

I think I'm ready to put the first coat of poly on my cab - there are 2 coats of stain on there already and even though I can still see a little bit of the wood coloring in some spots I'm afraid a third coat of stain will make it so you can't see the grain at all. 

Anyway, how do I apply the poly?  A brush seems like it would leave streaks/brush marks and I'm not sure a roller could get into all of the corners and cover all the surfaces.  Can I cut up a cotton t-shirt and fold it into a square and use it to apply the poly?  Any suggestions would be great.  Please help!  THANKS!

AceTKK:

I believe a piece of soft cloth / towell is the right way to go.  There are many different kinds of poly though, so follow the directions on the can.

-Ace-

javeryh:

Thanks.  I've put 2 coats on and it doesn't seem to be "smoothing out" - I can still feel the wood grain when I run my hand over the wood.  Tomorrow I am going ot put 2-3 more coats on but I don't have faith that it will be as smooth as I want.  I'm sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper in between each coat.  How many coats does it usually take?  Is there something I might be doing wrong?

Timoe:

Where do you people get this High asked grit paper?   1000, 500, 3000??

All you need for your project is 200.  200 should make it like glass.  Three coats of poly and sand between coats.

Get a good paint brush for oil based paints.  Paint it on slow and steady and go in one consistent direction like the direction of the grain.  It will dry fairly smooth.  Then you sand and repeat.  By the time you get to your third coat you shouldn't need to sand.


ONE THOUSAND grit!  What is that... like silk?  :P

javeryh:

 ;D  1000 grit - it is a little like silk...  I bought some 220 like the back of the can of poly said to use but on my test piece it was removing the stain color when I sanded so I went out and got some smoother sandpaper.  Am I just supposed to lightly scuff it?

Coat #2 to the test piece still didn't make it that smooth - maybe I'm applying the poly too thin?  I'm worried that 3 coats won't com close either... 

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