removing shine

[woodwarlock]

a few weeks ago i started a project of making bedside cabinets for the bedroom which turned out nice considering I'm no expert in this. I completed everything, including giving them a shiny coating with polyurethane but there's a problem. I wanted a bit of a shine but these turned out more glossy than i hoped so now I'm looking to remove the coating without making a mess of the wood so, can someone help me? also, if i manage to de-gloss them, what should the finishing coat be that isn't as shiny?

 

[woodley45]

It sounds like the high gloss polymer finish reacted negatively with your cleaner that caused somestreaks. You'll need a floor finish stripper to remove it. test it in a hidden spot first, then gently scrub the affected areas. Rinse well afterwards. and try to go for those very low gloss poly.

 

[woodwarlock]

Thanks for the tip. I got Citristrip, removed the coating, sanded it and gave it a pass with furniture wax. It's shiny enough and I'm not too worried about the protection because it's indoors, so I doubt I'll have any issues down the line

 

[Stealth.lord]

Thanks for the tip. I got Citristrip, removed the coating, sanded it and gave it a pass with furniture wax. It's shiny enough and I'm not too worried about the protection because it's indoors, so I doubt I'll have any issues down the line

Yeah good thinking there but after you could use a satin or matte finish polyurethane would give you that less shiny look you want but since you're okay with the shine now, maybe next time

 

[revvy65]

Yeah good thinking there but after you could use a satin or matte finish polyurethane would give you that less shiny look you want but since you're okay with the shine now, maybe next time

Righttt, you can lightly sand the glossy polyurethane with fine grit sandpaper or use a de-glosser to reduce the shine without damaging the wood. After de-glossing, a satin or matte polyurethane or a wipe-on oil finish will give you a softer sheen thats not as reflective.

 

[Alan]

@woodwarlock sounds like you handled it well. If you want even less shine next time, lightly sanding or using a de-glosser before applying a satin or matte poly works great. Wipe-on oils also give a softer, natural look.