Well, here's the follow-up.
It looks like it wasn't mixed.
I've always let the stir stick drip into the can and looked for swirls
to see if there's a difference - indicating not fully mixed. Didn't
see anything odd on either of the first two applications.
Had flipped the can over daily over the last week to try to get any
mixing possible.
When I stirred it this weekend, I had a bead of gummy poly the size of
a BB on the stir stick, yet felt no drag on the bottom of the can.
I braved the air bubble monster and vigorously stirred for about 20
minutes. Somewhere in the middle the appearance in the can changed
from clear to the creamy that I'm used to - and saw on the first
application.
Result - looks great.
Never had this happen before even with less attention to mixing, and
this is a large special project for SWMBO - hence the concern.
Thanks for all the responses.

(Yes, I'd been sanding between coats - what I'd referred to was
buffing with steel wool to dull the surface to a satin finish at the
end.)

Thanks, again.




On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:50:30 -0700, Joe's Place
wrote:

The title says it all.
I'm using a new gallon can of Minwax satin poly on stained oak.
Wiped on the first coat thinned 25% with mineral spirits as often
described in this group.
Sanded and brushed on a full-strength second coat a week after the
wipe-on coat. Now, a week later, it still looks as if I just got done
putting it on - very shiny. The wiped-on coat did have a 'satin'
appearance once dry, though not as much as expected.
Can says it dries in 4-6 hours. It feels dry. Temperature
maintained at 75-77, AC keeping humidity down.
Ideas / suggestions? I got the satin to avoid the steel wool cycle.