Get a Glass Finish on Wood with Spray on Poly
Wood stains and finishes will provide color and protection to wood surfaces, however, creating a glass-like finish takes time and effort.
What makes it worth the time and effort are when light bounces off the surface of your wood with the reflectivity of glass.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
A Clean Drop Cloth
Safety Goggles
Face Mask
Dry Sandpaper:
Grits; 80-150/220/320/400
Wet/Dry Sandpaper:
Grits; 600/800/1000
Clean Dry Cloths
Polyurethane Clearcoat:
Matt, Semi-Gloss, Gloss
Rubbing compound
Microfiber cloth
FOLLOW BASIC SAFETY PRACTICES WHILE SANDING AND FINISHING:
This finishing process will create dust and involve the use of chemicals with vapors that can be harmful if inhaled, so a well-ventilated area is a must. Put on safety goggles and a face mask to protect from wood dust and finish fumes. Your work area should be well ventilated.
1. Sand all tool marks or scratches away using 80grit or 150grit (depending on the depth of the marks) dry sandpaper. When marks or scratches are gone, continue sanding the entire surface progressing through grits to 400.
Wipe the surface clean of all dust between each grit during this process.
2. Spray a light coat of polyurethane of your choice onto the wood, being careful to cover it as evenly as possible. This first coat should be light enough to dry in about 20 minutes or until completely dry. A drying time of more than 20 minutes means that the first coat was too heavy. Remember to cut back on this first coat on your next project. See that the first coat is dry then continue to step 3.
3. Saturate a piece of 600grit wet sandpaper with some dish soap and water. Using a soft sponge to backup sandpaper, lightly rub, as if polishing, the entire surface with the 600grit sandpaper. Take care not to sand through the last applied coat of poly.
4. Apply a second coat of poly, slightly heavier than the first. Let this coat dry for 2 hours or until completely dry. If the second and following coats take more than 2 hours to dry this indicates that the spray coat was too heavy. You should then cut back on the next coat.
5. Saturate a piece of 800grit wet sandpaper with some dish soap and water. Using a soft sponge to backup sandpaper, lightly rub, as if polishing, the entire surface with the 800grit sandpaper. Take care not to sand through the last applied coat of poly.
6. Apply a third coat of poly, about the same as the second coat. Let this coat dry for 2 hours or until completely dry.
7. Saturate a piece of 1000grit wet sandpaper with some dish soap and water. Using a soft sponge to backup sandpaper, lightly rub, as if polishing, the entire surface with the 1000grit sandpaper. Take care not to sand through the last applied coat of poly.
8. Apply the fourth and final light coat of poly. Let this coat dry for 2 hours or until completely dry.
Spray some Windex or like-brand window cleaner onto a clean dry cloth and wipe gently across the surface of your now glossy-finished piece. Wipe the surface gently with a clean dry cloth until the surface is dry.
Using this process, you will see a surface shine with the reflectivity of glass.
