Polyurethane is a common finish used by many woodworkers on wood surfaces, giving excellent protection from dust and moisture. If you’re looking for unique options for creating a beautiful sheen, then the idea of tinting poly may have crossed your mind.
But can you tint polyurethane to achieve the color and sheen you desire? Read on as our resident painters explain this matter in detail.
Is it Possible to Add Tint to Polyurethane?
Yes, it’s possible to tint clear polyurethane. You can add different tints to poly to help make custom colors for your wood furniture or wood floors. Furthermore, a tinted polyurethane adds ultraviolet protection to wooden surfaces.
There’s no guide or exact formula to arrive at the pigment color that you want. You may need to have a trial and error to get your preferred perfect finish.
5 Steps to Tint Polyurethane
Tinting polyurethane is easy. However, before adding color, you must gather a few things before proceeding with the steps.
Tools & Materials You’ll Need
Here are some tools and materials that you will need to achieve a tinted polyurethane coating:
- Sanding block
- Reliable shop vacuum
- Automotive polishing compound
- Automotive rubbing compound
- Quality wood sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Fine bristled paintbrush or any clean brush
- Eyedropper
- Wooden stir stick
- Scrap wood
Step #1: Pour Clear Poly into a Mixing Bowl and Stir
Pour clear polyurethane into a mixing bowl and stir thoroughly using a flat stick. It’s best to utilize universal pigment colors to tint oil- or water-based polyurethane.
Step #2: Do a Batch Test
Doing a batch test will help determine whether the resulting mixture is the tinted polyurethane you want for your project.
Take a measuring cup and pour a small amount of polyurethane into it. Continue to add the small amount of liquid into a separate container. If you decide to color a quarter of polyurethane, pour approximately three ounces into a container.
Step #3: Mix Drops of Paint Pigment into the Polyurethane
Mix drops of paint pigment into the clear polyurethane. Add approximately three drops into the batch and stir it using a stick. Blend the solution thoroughly until you get an even and uniform mixture. You can blend as many colors as you please.
Step #4: Check the Tint Color of the Polyurethane
Check the resulting tint color of the polyurethane by applying it to a cheaper piece of wood. You can add drops of some more color or different shades until you get your desired color.
Don’t worry if you have not achieved the custom color you like. You can easily toss the test batch away and start the process again from scratch.
Step #5: Begin Tinting the Polyurethane’s Color
Once you have the shade of tint you prefer, you can create large quantities of the mixture with the same color. Make sure that this batch is mixed thoroughly.
If you used one-tenth a quarter for a test batch, the remaining nine-tenth would be in the container. Multiply one drop by nine to get the exact color in bigger batches.
Applying Tinted Polyurethane Into Clear Poly
If you want to apply polyurethane that you have tinted into clear polyurethane, the process isn’t complicated as well. Simply follow these steps:
- Sand the surface
- Apply the first coat
- Allow the coat to dry before adding more coats
Should You Tint Oil-Based Poly?
You can tint oil-based polyurethane to prevent a yellowish color on wood as time goes by.
While oil-based paint or poly has a durable finish, and can resist abrasion, with excellent scratch resistance, it tends to turn yellow over time. So, tinting polyurethane is one of the better solutions for preventing this from happening.
Make sure to allow at least 12 hours of drying time between each coat of polyurethane. If you sum the hours, it will take you days to finish a project, so make sure to plan ahead.
Should You Tint Water-Based Poly?
You can tint water-based polyurethane, as it’s designed to produce a clear finish with less odor. Furthermore, tinted water-based poly needs a shorter time to dry, but you need to add multiple coats. It is recommended to apply four tinted top coats on the surface per day.
Interesting Read: How to Apply Poly Without Bubbles
Should You Tint Poly with Acrylic Paint?
It’s possible to tint polyurethane with paint. Acrylic paints [1] are biodegradable and not oily. Paints offer many benefits, and adding acrylic paint to polyurethane minimizes its greasy texture.
However, if you’re using oil-based poly, you might not be able to color it using acrylic. You can use universal color pigments to add to oil-borne polyurethane. On the other hand, water-borne poly is easy to tint with acrylic.
Water vs. Oil-Based: Which is the Better Tinted Poly?
There are some differences between water- and oil-based polyurethane. They both have a long-lasting finish, especially if applied properly using premium products. You can choose the appropriate one based on the following factors:
Color
In terms of hue, water-based polyurethane has no color and results in a clear finish. Oil-based polyurethane finish results in an amber hue.
Dry Time
These two types of polyurethane have different drying times. A clear coat of oil-based polyurethane will take approximately 24 hours to completely dry. A water-based polyurethane, on the other hand, will take 4 to 6 hours.
Smell
Oil-based polyurethane will emit a strong and pungent odor. This chemical odor is released during drying, so wear a respirator during application. Water-based polyurethane has little to no smell.
Texture
In terms of texture and feel, oil-based polyurethane results in a smooth finish.
Coat
Water-based polyurethane costs more compared to oil-based polyurethane.
Is it Possible to Tint Poly with Latex Paint?
It’s possible to tint polyurethane with paint. You can blend poly and plain latex paint. This mixture can result in a durable and strong finish, ensuring the surface won’t get greasy during the humid and hot summers.
We recommend sanding the latex paints before applying the oil-based polyurethane. It is also advisable to use an oil-based primer once you have sanded the finish.
How Can You Make Poly Darker?
You can darken it by mixing it with pigments. Here are the steps to darken it:
- Sand the finish.
- Clean after sanding.
- Blend the polyurethane with dark pigments.
- Proceed to applying tinted polyurethane on the surface
- Allow the coat to dry before applying more coats.
FAQ
Can I mix poly and paint?
You can blend poly with most paints. Make sure to mix petroleum-based poly with oil-based paint and mix water-based poly with water-based paint.
(But can you paint over polyurethane? Find out next!)
Can you use wood stain to tint polyurethane?
You can use wood stain to tint poly. A stain can deepen polyurethane’s color.
Can you mix poly’s color?
You can blend the polyurethane color to get a clear finish. If you wish to make the poly opaque color of the paint rather than transparent. You can add color to the mixture if you wish.
Can you dye polyurethane?
You can dye polyurethane using dyes such as Rit and Tintex. You can also use a soluble dye with poly to create different colors.
Conclusion
It’s very important to learn how you can tint polyurethane. Learning the process can save you a lot of time and effort and lessen the chances of mistakes.
But make sure to be cautious when doing this process, ready the necessary materials, and follow the steps properly.
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