I recently purchased a can of tinted polyurethane finish and applied it to the top of a desk. The desk had previously been finished but the old finish was cracked and coming off so I had stripped and sanded the top before this new finish coat. After the typically recommended two coats I realized that I had used GLOSS finish and now the top is all shiny and does not at all match the sheen of the sides and drawer fronts of the other parts of the desk.
So here is my question. If I purchase and apply a new coat of SATIN finish will that work OK over a the GLOSS finish?
Best Answer
The sheen is determined by the top coat, so going over it in satin will lower it. The only caveat is that the thicker film may be noticeable if you're laying down very thick coats.
Rottenstone might be a better option than steel wool for getting into the grain.