How do I stop polyurethane from yellowing white painted furniture?
by
Pilar
+9
Made a side table, painted white and used clear coat of polyurethane to protect it...it turned a yellowish color I don't like. Got a gallon of this stuff for other projects I too want to paint white, but afraid will turn yellow too.
Polyurethane is oil based and will always add an amber color or yellowing over white/light paints. There is a water based poly called Polycrylic that is not supposed to yellow, but msny people have problems with it yellowing as well. I use the Minwax paste wax over my painted furniture. It is white and dries clear. You can buff it a lot and make it shiny, or just rub it on, wipe it off and have a soft sheen.
You need to strip it and paint with a weather paint, that will hold up. It. You need a high gloss paint.
Thank you for the fast responses.
Melody, I knew about the polycrilic as I use it for fine furniture that goes inside ( it holds up great and I love it!😊). Although, this was a project for a side table to go outside and didn't know or was sure that the polycrilic will hold up to the weather well ( like in the winter time), do you think it will? I was hoping maybe there was a chemical or home remedy to avoid it to go yellow on white furniture? I have heard about the wax, but never used. Will it work for outside furniture?
Abbjdl, what do you recommend as for outside and to hold up to the weather up north of these USA.
there are 'non-yellowing' types ... but to fix this, you will have to repaint the items ... and I'd use a high gloss enamel for outdoor use...
Polyurethane yellows. Car clear coat or many art finishes do not. They are more costly, but will keep your whites white. (And car clear coats will hold up well to weather.) If ordering or buying a clear coat, make sure you buy the right thinner to use with it and be prepared for stinky fumes. It will be worth it, though, if you get a good one.
happened to me too! I sanded. Repainted, 2 coats. 2 coats poly -yup the SAME poly! Then, without sanding, ONE coat of paint. One coat of poly ! That was almost 1mo ago - so far so good, esp. considering the yellowing had occurred almost immediately!
Use the remaining polyurethane over dark colors. It won't make a difference. White paint needs special care to keep it white. You need to use water-based polycrylic to keep it from yellowing.