TIL a trick for getting rid of those tiny bubbles in polyurethane

I was finishing a maple table last Friday and kept getting these small air bubbles in my final coat, even after stirring slowly. My buddy in Cincinnati said to warm the can in a bucket of hot water for ten minutes before you pour it out, and it worked perfectly. What other simple fixes do you guys use for a glass-smooth finish?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel_gonzalez27d ago

Wade250 is onto something with the conditioner. A light mist of denatured alcohol from a spray bottle right after the coat can knock down bubbles too. Just don't overdo it or you'll get fisheyes. The real key is applying it thin. Thick coats trap air and take forever to level out.

hayden_ramirez27d ago

My last paint job looked like a bubble bath, so maybe I should try that.

wade25027d ago

Oh that hot water trick is a lifesaver! I also have really good luck with a few drops of paint conditioner, the kind for latex. Thins it just enough to let bubbles pop.