Pro tip: I used a new water-based finish on a maple table and it dried cloudy in the corners.

I was finishing a kitchen table for a client in Boise and switched to a brand called ClearFlow, applying it with a foam brush in my 70-degree shop. The center looked great, but all the inside corners and tight spots turned milky white overnight, which I've never seen with my old oil-based stuff. Has anyone else run into this with water-based finishes in cooler temps, and did you find a fix besides just cranking up the heat?

3 comments

3 Comments

michaelnguyen3mo ago

That's a humidity issue, not a temperature problem.

piper1753mo ago

My apartment in Miami last summer hit 80% humidity. The AC was blasting but it still felt like a swamp.

willow73228d ago

God that sounds miserable honestly. I've dealt with similar in Houston and it's like breathing through a wet towel. AC helps but when the humidity is that high it just can't keep up. Dehumidifiers are a lifesaver in those conditions, even a small one in a bedroom makes a huge difference. Maybe see if your building maintenance can check the AC drainage line too, clogs make it way worse. Hang in there, summer in the south is no joke.