"Barry N. Turner" wrote in
news
I just turned a natural edge bowl from a piece of red cedar. I wiped
on a coat of Minwax poly........then wiped off the excess. I let it
dry overnight. No problem. I sanded lightly with 320, then sprayed a
couple of light coats of the same finish. Its been at least 8 hours
and its still tacky. What gives? Is the oil in the wood preventing
it from drying properly? The humidity has been a bit high today.
Maybe that's it. Thanks.


It's not likely the humidity. A lot of the cedars (and they vary quite
widely) have natural properties which cause finishes to refuse to cure.

I've had problems with Western Red Cedar and otherwise good spar varnish,
as well as all kinds of finishes used in blanket and 'treasure' chests,
with aromatic cedar 'closet lining' floors.

I don't have the answer for you, but thought I'd lead you to research the
right problem, perhaps.

I settled on wax, or left it unfinished (or opened and well ventilated, to
cure a 'neighboring finish'.

Patriarch