Since you put on the Polycrylic too thick it is probably still somewhat soft. The most difficult part is locating a water base or compatible stain to add to the polycrylic but you can also use paint and paint tints. Polycrylic is water based which means you need to repaint the piece with a water-based paint, such as acrylic paint. If not, the newly-painted surface will bubble, peel, crack or generally not stick. It only takes a little so it's best to start out with a few drops, test and add or adjust as needed. Polycrylic can be applied over latex paint. It has very little odor, is non-flammable, cleans up easily with soap and water, and can be recoated in only 2 hours. The mirror finish is dependant on all of the stages of sanding. The Bottomline. Once again applying Polycrylic over stain is the exact same as with applying it over paint. If it was finished with a Minwax Polycrylic, don't try to paint over it with anything oil based. You want the base paint to be well cured, it will also go over Testors model paint. Avoiding Sanding and Priming Prep Surfaces with varnish, polyurethanes, or other sealants or finishes require sanding before any paint can be properly applied. Can you paint over Polycrylic without sanding? Other than that, applying Polycrylic over paint is the same as applying it on unfinished or unpainted wood. Minwax ® Polycrylic ® Protective Finish is a crystal clear, fast-drying protective topcoat for use over bare wood, oil- and water-based stains, paint and wallpaper. Ok, now for problem solving. Lets start with the bluish/white cast. You may have better luck with the newer MW Water Based Polyurethane. Tips for Applying Polycrylic Over Stain. With proper preparation, you can paint over water-based polyurethane. Polycrylic is not recommended for use over dark-colored paints or red mahogany stain, however, where it’s clear appearance can become somewhat opaque or milky. Just make sure that the stain is completely dry and that you … Minwax® Polycrylic® Protective Finish is a crystal clear, fast-drying protective topcoat for use over bare wood, oil- and water-based stains, paint and wallpaper. That is, if you started with 400 grit and next jump to 1,000 grit, the 1,000 may not get out all of the 400 grit scratches. The next time you’re in the paint aisle in search of the perfect protective finish, consider these points: You can use lustercoat clear over Rustolium but you have to be very careful to only mist the first 3 of so coats letting it dry between coats or the Rustolium will krinkle, after you put the mist coats on you can finish with a wet coat. On occasion I've been known to use old fashion water based tempera paint used by school kids everywhere. BTW - You need to wait about a month to 6 weeks to allow the latex to fully cure before applying the Polycrylic. Paint doesn’t raise the grain of the wood, so I typically do not sand between coats of polycrylic over paint. However, if it feels rough to the touch after a coat of polycrylic, you can sand with 400 grit sandpaper to make it smooth. Also, it needs to be sanded with 220 grit sandpaper and the dust needs to be removed completely before application. Having said that, it is best to allow the paint to be cured for 30 days, if new. Other types of paint would have to be tested on your own for compatibility. When I applied over the latex (Behr from HD) I used a cheap bristle brush from HF. In this post we’ll show you how to create a professional-grade paint … Additionally, can Minwax water based Polycrylic be used over paint? Doing so will cause the paint to peel. Make sure you clean the surface after sanding.