Pete A. wrote:
Is your finish freshly opened as a new can?
Poly will start to harden inside a closed can. First way to notice is a film on top of the finish, but hardening already has started when it is exposed to air. The poly starts to harden and tiny clumps are made which will seem like sand when this finish is spread.
It may not be dust, but grit from older poly-urethane stored with air above it.
I use this type of poly for the first coat only sine it will be smoothed by screening.
If this is the case, you will need to screen and coat again with fresh oil modified poly-urethane.
Yes, it is a freshly open can.I did some experiments before I saw this post. I sanded 400 ,grit then 1000 ,then 4000 then car compound and topped it off with polish compound.
Wow,the amount of energy and work that was put in Compared to the end result was not good.The high ends of the grain are dull(satin) and the low ends are glossy.During sanding I noticed that most of those bumps were air bubbles.
I would like to ask you;Do you strain your poly? Should I use a different product than Varathane? The oil base take too long to dry…Should I just go with water base if I’m fully sanding the floor .Do you have any poly recommendations?Thank You