Experts recommend varnishing in several layers, with each subsequent layer applied only after the previous coating has completely dried. If the paint material takes a long time to dry, it will slow down the repair process and cause some inconvenience. In order for the varnished coating to be of the highest quality and the finish to last for a long time, you need to know exactly how long the varnish used for the coating dries. This article will discuss the main types of popular varnish compositions, their properties and drying period.
Different categories of drying periods
There are 3 main categories of drying periods for the varnish layer:
- Touch dry. This period implies a period of time after which debris and dust will no longer stick to the varnished surface. Different types of varnish dry touch differently, some dry in 10 minutes and some take an hour or longer.
- Drying period of the layer. This category implies a time interval starting from the moment the composition is applied to the surface and ending with its drying, when it can be covered with the next layer. Each type will dry differently, this interval ranges from one hour to a day.
- The time required for the final drying of the varnished material. Only after this time interval can you begin to use the treated surface. Each type of composition will dry differently, it depends on temperature, humidity, and other factors, usually this time ranges from 3 hours to 3 days.
If the floor has been varnished, for example, wooden boards or parquet, and the composition has already become quite viscous, but has not yet completely dried and continues to dry out, then you can put cellophane or plastic bags on the floor. You can also lay carpet during the period of incomplete drying, but it may leave fluff on the floor that will be very difficult to remove.
Application
Stir the varnish well before use. And we do this in such a way as to avoid bubbling. If the varnish is not mixed, it will not be possible to achieve a uniform tone of the coating.
We apply the alkyd-urethane mixture in two or three layers, since this composition is very deeply absorbed into the wood structure. If the wood is not too porous, you can limit yourself to a couple of layers, but for highly porous woods you will need three layers. The varnish layers should be thin, so the surface will dry faster. We varnish the surface in the direction of the wood fibers or from the window side. Before applying each subsequent layer, wait for the surface to dry completely.
Advice! The surface will dry much faster if there is good air circulation in the room.
If it is necessary to tint wood, it is recommended that you read the instructions from the manufacturer especially carefully. For example, when applying Aura Balance varnish, the color composition is applied first, and a clear paint composition is used for the remaining layers.
The varnish is applied to the surface using a brush, roller or special spatula. The bristle of the brush should be held securely on the instrument to avoid it getting on the wet coating. A varnish spatula is recommended to be used in cases where a light tone of the coating is required. The fact is that when working with a spatula, the paint and varnish material is absorbed into the wood less significantly than in the case of a roller or brush.
If the floor will be used under heavy loads, it is recommended to give preference to hardwood parquet. The fact is that soft varieties (pine, spruce, etc.) will be deformed regardless of the strength characteristics of the varnish.
Advice! If wood varnishing is carried out in a dry and hot climate, it is necessary to limit excessive air circulation. This is necessary to prevent the floor from drying out too quickly, which could result in cracking of the coating.
Types of varnishes and their drying speed
Many people purchase varnish based on how long it will take to dry. The drying period is one of the most important properties of paint and varnish products. Practice has shown that when varnishes dry very quickly, their other technical characteristics suffer.
A mixture that will dry very quickly is quite expensive, its price is much higher than the cost of slow-drying solutions. In addition, varnishes that dry quickly are not environmentally friendly for human health, and usually the service life of such coatings is shorter than other mixtures. Each specialist has his own requirements for drying a varnished surface. Some people want the base to be dry within an hour, while others are willing to wait a couple of days for the coating to be of the highest quality.
How long it takes for floor varnish or furniture composition to dry depends on various factors. The main factor is the composition of the mixture. Nitrocellulose products dry as quickly as possible, while, for example, acrylic aqueous solutions dry much longer. Many people are interested in how long does wood varnish take to dry? Typically, liquid dries on wood in the same amount of time as on other materials.
Professional products
Despite the effectiveness of some home methods, manicurists, of course, do not use them. To dry the varnish as quickly as possible, there are special tools and devices. First of all, these are chemical dryers; they can be used both in the salon and at home:
- Visually they appear as a clear varnish, but in reality they are a kind of topcoat (fixer). It is applied a minute after the usual color layer, and air dried. It will not only save time, but also give durability to the manicure and prolong the glossy shine.
You need to paint the top coat in one thin layer, otherwise the colored varnish may shrink.
- Express dryers come in the form of a spray; they are more convenient to use than a top coat. Immediately after painting, you need to spray your nails generously and wait about five minutes for them to dry. Often, the composition includes caring substances, so you can not only reduce the time for manicure, but also nourish the cuticle and skin of your hands
- There are oil-based formulations. Everyone knows about the beneficial effects of oils on the periungual skin, so with constant use of this product you can get rid of many problems
Nail salons are often equipped with a special device with a built-in fan. You place your hand in it after painting, and the air flow dries it in just a couple of minutes. Its cost is not too high, so if the varnish coating is used often, you can purchase such a device for home use.
Quick-drying varnishes are another solution for busy ladies. This composition dries in no more than a minute, or even a few seconds. But they have disadvantages. Varnish coatings thicken faster than usual, resulting in longer drying times. You should avoid direct sunlight on your nails, otherwise they may acquire a yellowish tint. Durability can also fail, but this is more a question of the chosen brand.
It’s worth mentioning separately about shellac; it is a hybrid coating of varnish and gel that lasts for about two weeks. It is not difficult to make such a manicure; for this you need a base coat, color and top coat. It is also necessary to have an ultraviolet lamp, since shellac does not dry in air, but polymerizes under its rays for two to three minutes. If you choose an LED model, polymerization will take only 30 seconds.
The cost may put you off from this type of manicure, because the price of a good professional set is at least 10,000 rubles. But for your home, you can independently select a mini-lamp and several bottles of polymer, spending no more than three thousand. But you won’t have to repaint your nails several times a week, but do it a couple of times a month.
So, there are a lot of methods for quickly drying nail polish. You just need to choose the most suitable one and enjoy an excellent, dry manicure. Purchased products will help fashionistas in emergency situations, and if you pay attention to homemade tricks, you can also save money. But it’s best to plan your day, leaving little time for a manicure.
Source of the article: https://vseonogtyah.ru/manikyur/bystro-prosushit-pokrytie.html
Nitrovarnishes
Transparent nitro varnish is made from colloxylins, plasticizers, solvent and various resins. This type has good resistance to moisture, after application it dries to the touch in half an hour, a maximum of an hour. Nitrovarnishes are solutions characterized by the highest drying speed.
They dry to the final stage in about 3-5 hours. Although they have the shortest drying period, they are not environmentally friendly materials, since they contain a solvent that is toxic and harmful to humans. This varnish should not be applied in rooms where people live. Nitrovarnish has low stability and weak protective coating strength.
Polyurethane solutions
Polyurethane-based varnishes are often used to cover parquet floors, polymer and self-leveling floors. The polyurethane composition provides excellent resistance to aggressive substances and mechanical loads, and is also resistant to high humidity and water.
Many people are interested in how long it takes for parquet varnishes to dry? Before the first stage they usually dry out in about an hour, and before the final stage, category 3, 4-12 hours. Varnishes containing a hardener dry very quickly, but under different conditions they dry differently, this is influenced by many factors. Polyurethane mixtures can be applied to both wood and concrete; they dry equally well on them.
Water based
These solutions do not have any unpleasant odor when applied; water-based acrylic mixtures are the safest. However, they take longer to dry than other compounds. Complete polymerization requires 10-14 days. Such a long period is associated with the main component - water, which evaporates for quite a long time, compared to solvents.
Water mixtures are usually made on an acrylic basis; they do not withstand the negative effects of temperature changes, humidity, and mechanical stress. Many people are interested in how long does acrylic varnish take to dry? Touch-drying time is about 2-3 hours, and a layer of varnish usually has time to dry in 18-35 hours.
What it is?
Alkyd varnish is a mixture that contains various synthetic alkyd resins with organic solvents. The product has good adhesion and a high level of moisture resistance.
Alkyd varnishes are actively used for working with various types of surfaces.
End parquet. Alkyds do not allow the ends to stick to each other, so surface stress is eliminated;
When this varnish hardens, it forms a transparent and fairly hard layer. Many people say that alkyd products take a long time to harden. However, manufacturers have developed products with special additives, with the help of which they shortened the polymerization time. This means that the surface can be used after a short period of time.
After polymerization, a glossy or matte film is formed on the alkyd varnish, depending on the chosen product. The material that you will process with such a mixture will be provided with reliable protection against irritants of any type. Applying the alkyd mixture is quite simple, since the product has a thick consistency, due to which the product spreads well over the floor and other treated surfaces, creating a dense layer of film.
Alkyd solutions
They also contain organic solvents, are resistant to moisture, and create a durable, protective layer. It is best to apply varnish from an aerosol can. Many people ask how long does alkyd varnish take to dry? It takes about 4 days for it to dry completely, but if you add a hardener to the composition, this period will be reduced to one day.
They produce quick-drying alkyd solutions called alkyd-urethane varnish solutions. Due to the presence of urethane alkyds, the drying time is 10-12 hours.
Why do varnishes take a long time to dry, and how to speed up drying?
The compositions dry out for a very long time if they are of low quality. In addition, if you apply too thick a layer to a wooden product, then, of course, it will dry out for quite a long time. If you choose the wrong varnish mixture and it does not match the type of surface being treated, the drying process will be lengthy. In addition, if the varnished product is kept at a low temperature and high air humidity, drying will take quite a long time.
To speed up drying, you can heat varnished items with a regular or industrial hair dryer. For quick drying, you can use fast evaporators, or buy expensive, quick-drying varnish.
Reasons for prolonged drying
Unfortunately, even the highest quality and most expensive products are not a guarantee of success. Violations during the work process or the use of low-quality raw materials lead to the fact that the varnish not only takes a long time to dry, but also lies on the nail plate roughly and unevenly. As a result, bubbles, cracks and other defects appear.
Old products
Despite the huge variety of colors, it is sometimes difficult to choose the ideal shade for a specific image or style. This is why girls use their favorite polishes that have expired. This practice must be abandoned. Damaged products will not give positive results. It is highly undesirable to work with such consumables.
Oily surface
Some representatives of the fair sex make the same mistake - they apply enamel after using the cream. The greasy film formed by the cosmetic prevents the polish from drying quickly and covering the nail plate evenly. Before starting work, you should thoroughly wash your hands and be sure to use a cosmetic degreaser.
