Polyurethane stripping my stain

Theontopofus · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:58 pm **Posts:** 4

So this is my first foray into doing hardwood floors. I watched YouTube and did as much research as possible. I sanded then stained. The next step was to apply the polyurethane. I let my stain sit for 96 hours (4 days) before I applied the poly (this morning). Once I started laying down the poly, it began stripping the stain I'm certain spots. And by strip I mean it took the floor right down to the original wood. I can't seem to find any cause or insight via Google...what did I do wrong?

Advanced Wood Floors · **Posted:** Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:04 pm

How did you sand and what stain / urethane did you use

Theontopofus · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:58 pm **Posts:** 4

I used a random orbital sander. Did it 3 times with 36/80/100 grit. I used mini wax ebony stain and mini wax semi gloss polyurethane. After I did some exploring the polyurethane I bought said "not recommended for floors" but I don't understand how that would only affect a few quarter sized areas. I've since sanded said areas with 220 grit, used a mini wax stain pen and I'm waiting for that to dry before applying the mini wax polyurethane for floors. I'm hoping this polyurethane doesn't strip anything.

dumitavi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:49 am

It sounds to me like you didn't sand the floors properly, left old finish on the floor in some areas, and the stain could not penetrate the wood.

I assume that by "mini wax" u mean Minwax, correct?

Theontopofus · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:58 pm **Posts:** 4

Yes, auto correct since I'm on a phone. The floor seemed fine. Rough to the touch and sanded....

dumitavi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:57 pm

I didn't pay careful attention to your post. Orbital sander as in palm sander? I could almost bet the areas that are stripped now, had finish left on them.

I don't know what to say but, your poly won't "strip" your stain.

So, I'm afraid you gonna have to re sand, ideally with a belt sander

dumitavi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 3:05 pm

dumitavi wrote:

I didn't pay careful attention to your post. Orbital sander as in palm sander? I could almost bet the areas that are stripped now, had finish left on them.

I don't know what to say but, your poly won't "strip" your stain.

So, I'm afraid you gonna have to re sand, ideally with a belt sander

To make sure I'm not wrong about this, I'd suggest you take one of these spots (ideally a hidden one), scrape and sand them with your sander, apply stain and then finish. See if it "strips" anymore.

Theontopofus · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:58 pm **Posts:** 4

dumitavi wrote:

I didn't pay careful attention to your post. Orbital sander as in palm sander? I could almost bet the areas that are stripped now, had finish left on them.

I don't know what to say but, your poly won't "strip" your stain.

So, I'm afraid you gonna have to re sand, ideally with a belt sander

No I used one of the big ones with three pads on it to the floor. I did every inch 3 times...like I said I used the marker thing to fill in the area after hand sanding them. I'll try the new polyurethane tomorrow in a small area and see what happens. Thanks for the advice

dumitavi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:34 pm

Theontopofus wrote:

dumitavi wrote:

I didn't pay careful attention to your post. Orbital sander as in palm sander? I could almost bet the areas that are stripped now, had finish left on them.

I don't know what to say but, your poly won't "strip" your stain.

So, I'm afraid you gonna have to re sand, ideally with a belt sander

No I used one of the big ones with three pads on it to the floor. I did every inch 3 times...like I said I used the marker thing to fill in the area after hand sanding them. I'll try the new polyurethane tomorrow in a small area and see what happens. Thanks for the advice

Sounds good. Good luck and come back to tell us once you figure it out.

Polyurethane stripping my stain

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