Mike Marlow wrote:


"cm" wrote in message
...
We use water based finishes almost exclusively in our shop. So this
is
based
on my experience and what I see in your pictures.

I think you are getting an oil/water reaction to oil left in the
wood. You are going to have to completely remove the new finish.
Then finish sand
and
apply a coat of shellac. You can then proceed with your water based
finish.
The shellac should be a good buffer between the two. Try a test
piece
first
to see if shellac and your water based are compatible.


If his oil based finish (original), as we are guessing it to possibly
be, is older than a few weeks to a couple of months old, then there
should be no reaction between oil and water base. Actually, it
should be reaction free in less time than that, but I'm taking the
tail between the legs, utlra conservative approach to this. Once the
finish is cured, there is no oil left to react with a water based
finish.

Some more details:

* Table is 5+ years old. The old finish (unknown) was flaking, off to
bare wood.
* The table is not solid wood but veneer.
* Wife says no polish.
* I sanded using 80, 150, 220
* Does behave as if oil present when I apply poly.
* I didn't want to buy a new coffee table and figured I'd just
resurface this one. The rest of the table (legs) is fine. At this
point, it's not worth the time to restrip. Can I simply sand smooth and
coat with shellac or oil-based poly?

BTW, thanks for all the help!

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