[abbymimi]

Do I put a satin polyurethane over a painted cabinet?

[ballengerb1]

Yes you can but tell us what you are trying to achieve.

[RickJ]

In my experience, this will not work. Polyurethane stain is designed to "sink into" the material it's put on. It will not be able to penetrate the paint. You'll end up with a runny mess.

[ballengerb1]

Rick I think your mind transposed the word satin into stain.

[RickJ]

Haha, yes it did!

I was focusing on the word Polyurethane. I've tried only a couple times with Poly over paint and had no luck. I don't think that the finish (satin - flat - gloss) would matter, though, would it?

PS - in any event, I'd highly recommend trying it on a spot before going full out on the whole project.

[ballengerb1]

They pretty much eliminated flat from the poly lineup but the others are still going strong. I have had good luck with spray poly over paint, two light coats. If I brush the poly my first coat is not thick, more of a tac surface and the second coat sticks better and flashes better. Always got to watch for runs.

[ballengerb1]

Hey Rick, thanks for the compliment. Minwax does make a stain poly called PolyShade. I do not use it much because each coat makes things get darker and you just don't have as much control as with rubbed stain. Have a good one.
Bob

[abbymimi]

ballengerb1 - you earlier told me if I put a polyurethane in my cabinet with an odor I didn't like, it would take care of the odor. Should I put it over the paint? I think it's latex.