Tried a new water-based polyurethane on a vanity last week and it stayed tacky for 3 days straight

I mean I followed the can instructions exactly, 70 degrees in the shop, thin coats, and it still felt like flypaper, what am I missing with this stuff because I'm ready to toss the whole can.

3 comments

3 Comments

drews555d ago

Hey @gray314, did you try shaking the can for a full minute before opening it?

gray3146d ago

Oh man, I feel your pain. I had the same thing happen with a table last summer, 75 degrees in the garage, and it just stayed sticky forever. Turned out I hadn't stirred the can well enough before using it (like, really mixed it up from the bottom), and that was the whole problem.

zarag175d ago

Used to be the kind of person who just gave the can a quick swirl and called it good. Then I did a bookshelf with this same water-based stuff, thought I mixed it well, and ended up with a sticky mess for a WEEK. Drew's right, you gotta really DIG down to the bottom and stir like youre making cake batter, not just shake it. Now I use a stir stick and scrape the sides and bottom until it looks all one color. Total game changer, wish I learned it earlier.