Wood Finishing help needed

[kiddiedoc]

My son and I are working on a desk using butcher block. Every coat of poly keeps bubbling, with tiny specks everywhere. We have sanded, used 0000 steel wool, and tried both brushing and spraying.

It's super annoying. Any advice?

 

[tn4elvis]

My son and I are working on a desk using butcher block. Every coat of poly keeps bubbling, with tiny specks everywhere. We have sanded, used 0000 steel wool, and tried both brushing and spraying.

It's super annoying. Any advice?

Maybe a clear primer

 

[Carl Pickens]

My son and I are working on a desk using butcher block. Every coat of poly keeps bubbling, with tiny specks everywhere. We have sanded, used 0000 steel wool, and tried both brushing and spraying.

It's super annoying. Any advice?

What about this?
How to Remove Bubbles from Polyurethane
The most common causes for bubbles are shaking the can and improper brush prep—you don’t stick a brush into the finish without first soaking the bristles in mineral spirits, for oil-based polys, or in water, for water-based polys.

 

[DancingOutlaw]

You can use a heat gun or torch to work the bubbles out.

 

[walkenvol]

Personally, I like butcher block oil on butcher block. Reapply occasionally to perk up the finish. If you’re set on a poly finish, try a couple coats of sanding sealer prior to the poly with light sanding. Did you use an oil based stain? If so, it can be really hard to get it completely dry in a grainy wood like red oak and on end grains. Set it out in the sun a bit and it will bring some of the excess stain out of the grain. Use mineral spirits on a rag to clean it off. Keep repeating until no stain rises out of the grain when you set it back in the sun again, then sanding sealer / poly. Good luck

 

[kiddiedoc]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I soaked the brush in mineral spirits, and I also tried spraying.

 

[kiddiedoc]

You can use a heat gun or torch to work the bubbles out.

Trying this today

 

[Grand Vol]

Maybe try the Flex Seal? I've never had it bubble up.

But be careful with the application. It does tend to run before it cures. And it'll be tacky for up to three or four days.