I made a Galbert rocking chair from Black Walnut – sanded to 320.
I tested 3 different finishes on a test piece before applying anything to my chair.
They were:
1) Sam Maloof poly/oil + Sam Maloof oil/wax.
2) 1/3 Rockler tung oil + 1/3 PL38 Gloss + 1/3 M.S.
3) 1/2 Satin Spar Varnish + 1/2 M.S.
I put equal application of each finish on the test piece - a total of 7.
The only difference was after 4 coats of the Maloof poly/oil, I finished with 3 coats of the Maloof oil/wax.
The Maloof finish popped the grain more and had greater depth. (It could be because it was a thicker solution than the others)
I decided to go with the Maloof combination, but instead of using it straight, I mixed a third of the #2 into it. This made it thinner and easier to apply.
I put on 4 coats of poly/oil (a day in between each application) then I put on one coat of the Maloof oil/wax straight from the can.
It’s been a week since I put this last coat on and there is a sticky-tacky feel to the chair. I have a thermometer in the shop that gives me the high and low temps. It never went below 50 degrees.
I thought I had wiped off all the finish between coats but obviously I didn’t get it all off. The test piece that I did was fine.
My question is what now.
1) Can I wait it out?
2) Do I sand it until it’s not tacky and apply a final coat?
3) Do I sand it completely down to wood?
4) Can I put something on it, like M.S.
5) ????????