One of the challenging choices a person would make is painting furniture white, and the reason why i think it is a challenging choice is because of the several steps you have to take make sure there are no bleeds on the paint. You need to also ensure that what you are painting doesn’t turn yellow over a short period, and this has prompted us to talk about how to seal white painted furniture.
In this exciting post, we will be talking about the suitable and reliable clear cut choice that can be used in sealing white painted furniture. You should have it in mind that there are several other alternatives you can make use of asides from Minwax Polycrylic, but the reason why so many people prefer using Minwax Polycrylic is because it has yielded the best results for every user over the years.
There are some clear coat sealers that you should not consider making use of, and these clear coat sealers are what we want to show you next in this interesting post. Interestingly, this list contains two clear coats products that you should stay away from when dealing with a white painted surface, and trust this post when it says this two clear coats are not suitable for use on a white painted furniture.
Lacquer And Varnish
When dealing with an already painted white furniture, you should avoid making use of lacquer and varnish, and lacquer particularly cannot be used for white painted surfaces even though it can be used in several other applications. Lacquer is also not suitable for use on bright colors, and the reason for this is because varnish and lacquer are likely to turn yellow over a short time frame.
The only time you can make use of lacquer and varnish is when you are dealing with natural wood colors or when you are dealing with an old furniture style that has been used over the years. Surprisingly, there is a new product that is being used today known as Watco Lacquer, and the reason why people use this product on white painted surface is because of its ability to retain its white color and its durability.
If you are keen on trying out or exploring this new product then you can go ahead and give it a try, and there is a very high possibility that you are going to like this product as its feel is different from that you will get from the regular paint. No matter how good or the positive reviews that comes with using the Watco product, it is far from being exceptional.
Polyurethane
As long as you are working on a white painted furniture, you should not consider using polyurethane on it. The purpose of using polyurethane is to provide a protective sealing or finish on natural wood colors or surfaces, and using it on a surface with the possibility of turning yellow is not considered as a wise step to take in woodworking. Polyurethane is one of the excellent finish you can use on wood, but it shouldn’t be used on bright or white surfaces.
It is only allowed that you use polyurethane on tables or items with near wooden colors.
How To Seal White Painted Furniture
Since we have talked about the clear coat you should avoid when working on a white painted furniture, let us show you the best and most reliable clear coat you can make use of.
Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish
This is considered as the most durable, best, and reliable clear coat anyone can use on a white painted furniture, and trust me when i say you will appreciate the excellence that comes with using the Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish. The fact that this product will stay when used on a white surface without turning yellow makes it very durable and reliable, and this is the major reason why so many users have fallen in love with.
However, this product is likely to form bubbles on some parts that it is used, and it can also get dried in thick amounts. The reason for this to happen is when you stained the furniture before applying this product on it, and the Minwax Polycrylic ended up absorbing some of the stains when it came in contact with the furniture. Applying the Minwax Polycrylic in thin coats is required if you want to avoid having this problem, and you will get a clear finish.
When working on a furniture or surface painted with white chalk paint then you can consider using a water-based polycrylic finish. This is because the water based polycrylic finish will handle any issues of yellowing that will arise just like how polyurethane will. Judging by all the benefits that comes with using the Minwax Polycrylic protective finish, you can see why it has stayed relevant over the years.
How To Seal White Painted Furniture Using Polycrylic
Below are some of the steps you can take when sealing a white painted furniture surface using polycrylic.
- The first step is applying a thin coat to the dry painted surface, and this can be done using a synthetic or foam brush
- The thin coats should be allowed some drying time, after which it should be sanded using a 220-grit sandpaper
- The second thin coat should be applied, and this should be done till like three to five coats
- The last coat applied doesn’t require sanding, so don’t sand coat five.
One important fact about Minwax Polycrylic you should know is it has a yellow tint, so applying a white finishing wax is necessary. This makes sure all the surface appears entirely white, and big companies that specialize on furniture painting and chalk paints provide better white paint wax choices. However, there are so many finishing waxes on the market but the one we recommend is the Minwax Paste finishing wax.
Using the minwax paste finishing wax means everything will come out white and there will be no chance of a yellow tint appearing on the furniture surface.
Difference Between Oil Based And Water Based Clear Coats
The first thing you have to consider when talking about the difference between a water based and oil based clear coat is the product we have discussed above. That is the Minwax Polycrylic protective finish, and we also mentioned that this product is a water based clear coat. Its water based design is the reason why it doesn’t turn yellow when used on a white surface, but using an oil based clear coat has a huge tendency to turn yellow over time.
This is the significant difference you should know about the water based and oil based clear coat. Water based clear coats are perfect at maintaining a white color, but they lack the durability of the oil based clear coats. The reason behind the popularity of the water based clear coats is its ability to remain white for a long time when applied on a white furniture surface.
However, below are some of the tips that will help in identifying the type of paint you can use for your furniture.
Sheen Levels
Based on their components, oil based clear coats are known to have a higher sheen level but this sheen can turn dull over a short period. Water based clear coats on the other hand have lower sheen levels, but their ability to maintain this sheen for a long period makes them very reliable.
Durability
Oil based paints are known to dry harder, making them very resistant to wear and tear. The flexibility of the paint gets questioned as the paint gets dried over time. Oil based paints will turn chalky and cracked over time, and this is another reason why you should opt fora water based paint as it will last longer when used on furniture. They are not vulnerable to cracking or turning chalky.
Final Note – How To Seal White Painted Furniture
We have gotten to the end of this interesting article, and we hope you enjoyed reading this post as we also enjoyed writing it. Do not forget the necessary steps we have mentioned in this post when you want to paint a white furniture, and trust me when i say the task might be a little bit difficult. The fact that it is a bit difficult means there is a need to apply a primer, and priming when combined with a water based paint will help provide good results.
In addition, you should also make use of the best sealer we have talked about in this post. Make sure the products that encourage white paints to turn yellow are avoided if you desire to achieve outstanding and amazing results.