Hey all,

I'm new to this group, but I was very hopefull I might get some advice
here. I've been looking though a number of groups but haven't found an
answer.

I installed new hardwood floors in the past weeks. I used unfinished
brazilian cherry. The installation went well enough, then I went to
finishing them. Sanding went well, took the floor down level and
smooth. I applied a natural stain which brought out the beautiful color
in the wood. Now comes the problem:

I installed the floor on my upper and main floor. The upper floor
looked great and after 2 days was dry and I applied a water based
finish to it. 4 coats later I have a lovely floor that is done.

The main floor had some area where I didn't apply enough stain and
needed another coat. I went to two stores and couldn't find the same
stain I used ( ) so I grabbed another natural colored stain ( )
thinking it would work fine. Both are oil based ?

Where the first coat dried and was ready for a finish in 2 days, it has
now been over a week since I applied the 2nd coat and it is still
sticky. I did a test area 3 days after the 2nd coat of stain, but the
finish dried cloudy and very badly. After a week and no improvement I
tried some mineral spirits to help clear up the 2nd coat of stain. That
may have been a bad idea, but either way it seemed to help at first,
but a few days later the floor is still to sticky for the finish.

I finally decided to try and sand it down again and start over, I have
to get this done. As some of you may have guessed that doesn't work
because it doesn't take any time for the sandpaper to get gummed with
the sticky wood up then start ripping. I went through several papers
and got very little floor taken down.

Feel free to say that any approach I've taken is just stupid, I just
need to know what to do. If anyone has any ideas or can point me to a
post that might help, I'm about to put a shovel through my floor out of
pure frustration, and my wife has been very patient, but I don't know
how much longer she'll put up with our furniture in the garage and our
kitchen out on the porch. Thanks,

Trock

"Trock" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip
I finally decided to try and sand it down again and start over, I have
to get this done. As some of you may have guessed that doesn't work
because it doesn't take any time for the sandpaper to get gummed with
the sticky wood up then start ripping. I went through several papers
and got very little floor taken down.

Feel free to say that any approach I've taken is just stupid, I just
need to know what to do. If anyone has any ideas or can point me to a
post that might help, I'm about to put a shovel through my floor out of
pure frustration, and my wife has been very patient, but I don't know
how much longer she'll put up with our furniture in the garage and our
kitchen out on the porch. Thanks,

Trock


Anytime I've had a wood floor sticky finish problem I used a floor buffer
(can be rented with a quick discussion of operation) and #3 steel wool pad,
it comes in a roll or pads. (Janitorial supply house) and lots of paint
thinner.....a wet vac with towels, mops etc to pick up the goo wouldn't hurt
either. I never found it particularly flammable but a fire extinguishers
would be worthwhile.......Rod

Thanks Robert and Rod both. That is a pretty detailed description
Robert, and I have a few areas I could test that on. Your knowledge of
the staining oils is impressive, and I only wish I had that 2 weeks
ago. Well, live and learn.

As for a floor buffer, ironically I had one yesterday with a sanding
attachment. Of course my attempts to sand it down were useless, but I
didn't try buffing it out. Perhaps I will just have to break down and
rent the machine again if the buffing will work.

Thanks both,

Trock