My rush job on a dining chair taught me about finish curing

A customer needed a chair done fast, so I went with a quick dry varnish. It felt dry on the surface but was still soft underneath. I held off delivering it for a full day to let it harden. That patience saved the job from getting marks and dents. How long do you usually wait before calling a finish fully cured?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_grant2mo ago

Seriously? Maybe I'm just cheap but I wait like an hour and call it good. Most people aren't inspecting their dining chairs with a microscope. If it's dry to the touch it's usually fine for sitting, idk. The whole curing thing feels a bit over the top unless you're putting the piece in a museum.

king.brian2mo ago

24 hours drying time saves you trouble. I had a chair ruin jeans because I rushed it.

piperschmidt2mo ago

Used to think like that until I smeared fresh paint on my favorite jacket. Rushing it just ruins things even if it feels dry. Learned my lesson the hard way for sure.