Please help with refurbishing a cabinet top - clear varnish

[rookie2]

 

Hi everyone. I have been refurbishing a cabinet and spent weeks sanding down the top to perfection. It was looking great and nice and even until I put a clear varnish on and now it looks like this. Help! What is this? What has it happened? How do I fix it 😭

[redracer01]

Hello @rookie2 

I suspect this is left over stain of the original paint and has had a chemical reaction with the clear varnish that you've painted on. Using a 300 grit sand paper gently try to sand it off and see if it disappears. I understand you feel that you did a very thorough sanding of the furniture but sometimes it happens that the paint has traveled into the timber. After doing a finishing sanding ( usually 600 grit ) use a tack cloth to clear it and re-apply the varnish in the area you just repaired. If the blemish shows up again you may have to consider using a stain and varnish to color the furniture as the original paint is too well entrenched into the wood. I will ask our paint specialist and see if he has a solution for you.

Cheers,

Red

[rookie2]

Thank you so much @redracer01 

i don’t think it’s old paint as I had done a clear varnish over it before this but it got dust all over it while it was drying so I had to completely sand it back again. This didn’t happen with that first coat of varnish only with this one for some reason 😢

I will try sanding it though fingers crossed it works. 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @rookie2.

It's fantastic to have you join us. I see @redracer01 has already given you some helpful advice on your project which is fantastic. Please keep us updated on your progress and let us know if the issue persists after sanding. We look forward to hearing more about your projects around the house and garden and trust you'll find loads of inspiration for them within the community. Please don't hesitate to post anytime you need assistance with a project or have something to share with the community.

Mitchell

[Kaypee]

I had much the same result some time ago and eventually realised that I had sanded the 'timber' too deeply......if the 'timber' if MDF or Particleboard it has a veneer top and if this surface is compromised, the stain /varnish reacts adversely with the base timber. If this is the case, I don't know how to overcome the problem other than replace the timber or, as suggested otherwise, use a stain/varnish..............good luck !

Kaypee

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Kaypee. It's fantastic to have you join us and many thanks for contributing to the discussion.

I trust @rookie2 appreciates your experience on the subject and I'd be interested to hear if they ever found a solution.

We look forward to hearing more about your other projects around the house and garden and we'd encourage you to let us know if you ever need assistance with them or you'd like to share them with the community. I trust you'll find loads of inspiration for them from our creative members as they contribute their ideas and projects here all the time.

Mitchell