I thought I would send this question along as it is leaving me perplexed, both to cause and solution.
I refurbished y kitchen a couple years ago, replacing the counter tops and moving things around, and most importantly, by changing all the cabinet doors and paneling. I replaced everything with birch plywood– simple panels with edge banding. I gave all surfaces 4 coats of Deft urethane, applied by roller. The product indicated it was good for kitchen use.
2 years later I am seeing a fair bit of ‘checking’ — patches where there lines showing in the finish that look like the finish is cracking. Of note, the upper cabinet doors don’t seem to be showing the problem, but it appears on some surfaces on the lower level, and shows particularly on a panel that abuts the counter surface. I am thinking that humidity might have something to do with it, but for the life of me I can’t figure why some would be different than others.
I did the work in my heated garage in winter. I live in the Northwest Territories, and it is very dry during the winter months.
I am considering trying a top coat of some other type of urethane in the hopes that this will seep into an fissures and meld everything back together. On the other hand, maybe I have to sand the surfaces down andrefinish (ugh). Any thoughts? I would greatly appreciate any advice.
AFox
Replies
Did you use Baltic Birch ply? Ive had trouble with the veneers developing surface cracks. I would think Deft would be a good enough product to seal the wood adequately.
Are the worst areas near the sink or the dishwasher?
I used cabinen grade 3/4 ply. Baltic birch didn't seem necessary given that i was edge banding everything anyway. The part that is perhaps the most noticeable is 16inches from the sink. But the panel that is right above the kettle, which used multiple times a day, shows no signs at all.
btw -- like the quote. this problem is something that appears to be progressing -- and cosmetically ruining something that took many hours to complete. (of course, my 2 year old son and his little hammer are adding their own 'surface decoration', but i look at those rather fondly.
regards,
Did you apply the finish to all sides equally?
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Yes, although in one case of a panel that was partially hidden from view, i left the hidden area uncoated. I wonder if this is some sort of humidity. mositure issue creeping slowly over the season. Could this be causing plywood to swell or contract in excess of the fnishes' ability to expand/contract with it?
Hmmm.
It does sound like movement in the top veneer that is the cause of it, but why that is happening is an open question in my mind. No finish on thebacksides would have explained it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
deft makes a few products was it the lacquer or the oil based urathane that you used? Four coats with a roller is heavy...you may have built up the finish with to many mils. If you used oil urathane you are hosed. If you used lacquer thinner based deft you have a chance to redo. Checking may be caused by many things. stinky
I was just thinking more about this - I have never used a roller for this type of finish and rarely done more than three coats.
Was the shop warm and the material dry and clean?
the Knots forum for fine woodworking has some pretty good finish guys - have you posted this over there?
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
warm and clean - check! This is my first time trying this discussion forum, and I only just now realized that there was another one -- the knots forum. I think I might try it tomorrow.
thanks for your suggestions!
why wait?That is the forum associated with Fine Woodworking magazineThey drink their tea with sugar in itwe put burbon in oursand hold the tea
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I think Stinky might have hit on something - could be your finish is to thick. I've seen crazing from that problelm on a few jobs. Some laq directions even mention crazing as a side effect of to much finish at one time - Isnt allowed to fully cure before next coat is applied.
Doug
I'm certainly no expert, but the combo of thick finish and artificial heat (with accompanying low humidity) would seem to be a suspect.
Do the affected areas receive direct sunlight from nearby windows? Given the spotty nature of the problem, I'd look to see what's different about these areas.
Most brands of urethane tell you on the can not to use a roller. It invites bubbles. Also, it sounds like you might have put it on too thick. Most cans tell you not to thin, but don't believe them. One of my specialties is re-finishing kitchen cabinets. I use urethane to refinish them. You didn't say if you stained, or used a wash coat, or sanding sealer. You have to apply solvent base stains, and let them sit long enough to let the solvents gas off. If you don't, you will get patchs of bubbles, checking, and crazing. You HAVE to thin urethane. It has to go on in two coats at least! The first coat should be thinned about 35-40%. The second coat about 25%. I have many times applied it with a staining pad, by hand. With practice, it looks good. Also, no over-spray!
If you put it on in one coat with a roller, and heavy, that could be the reason it is checking. You can recoat laquer, and it will re-melt in. However, urethane just builds coats...one on top of the other. You might have to get the ol' sander out and go to work on it. You should scuff sand it with 220 anyway.
Hope this helps...
Mike
Thanks for the advice! It was a lacquer base, so maybe I will be saved. one of the things that made me choose that particular finish was that it said could be applied by roller, which had obvious advantages given the number fo flat panels I was dealing with. And bubbling was not a problem at all -- the finish when installed was pretty much perfect. I'll be trying a recoat and see how it goes.
btw - Benjamin Moore sells a water based urethane than says it can go on with a roller. I've used that on subsequent projects and am pleased with the performance, though it is apparent that it does not have the hardness of an oil base urethane.
regards,