Help - Problem with Poly

[Tim Wirtz]

I built a foot stool for my wife to use as she sits at her study desk. She is short and her feet dangle if the chair is adjusted to fit her in the proper writing position so I made the stool to help her.

Anyway, I finished the stool with three coats of wipe on poly (Formby's). The first two coats went on perfectly. I used steel wool between each coat. The third coat has been drying now for 5 days and is still "waxy". It isn't really tacky but it isn't smooth either. When I drag the back of my hand lightly across it, it feels like the bottom of cross country skis - waxy. What happened? How can I fix this and get it smooth? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Tim

[Matt P]

If it's oil-based poly I would wipe it down with mineral spirits to remove the last waxy coating, then re-apply another coat of poly and MAKE SURE TO STIR it first.. just my two sense.