Well, hi!

One question we get asked here at the studio all the time by our customers is:

“How do I apply a super protective finish to my painted pieces without it looking streaky?”

Don’t worry—here is a quick step by step guide to working with the polyurethane Table Top Finishes from the Mango Paint line!

First of all, one very important question to answer right off the bat is “what areas of a piece of furniture do you recommend applying the Table Top Finish instead of the Natural Beeswax finish"?

Well, it’s called Table Top Finish for a reason—the only places that will really need the extra durability of a poly finish is any high traffic flat surfaces (dining table tops, desk tops, coffee table tops…). The Mango Paint Beeswax Furniture finishes will do the trick on all other areas!

Now, with that in mind let’s get into it:

1. Pick Your Sheen Of Choice

The Mango Paint line has two beautiful Table Top Finish formulas available; Satin or Flat.

The Satin finish seal your piece with a very subtle sheen, whereas the Flat finish will keep the integrity of the matte finish of the Mango Paint while still adding extra durability.

2. Stir & Pour

Once you’ve given your can of Table Top Finish a good stir (yes, stir—NOT shake) we recommend pouring the it into a shallow, wide-mouth container to work out of.

3. Apply (cloth technique)

There are two ways in which we suggest applying the Table Top Finish to your surfaces—all depending on the overall size of your project!

First up, is the cloth technique—this works the best on smaller surfaces like side table tops or kitchen chair seats.

Simple dampen a lint free cloth with a little bit of water, then roll it up into a tight bundle with a wrinkle free flat bottom.

Next, dip that flat bottom into your container of Table Top Finish and offload the excess onto the lip of the container—you don’t want your rag to be super drippy!

Then, start wiping the Table Top Finish onto the surface of your piece. We suggest starting your first stoke a couple of inches away from the edge to avoid any buildup or drips, then moving back toward the edges once you’ve spread the product across the surface a little bit.

Continue applying the Table Top Finish with gentle pressure across your surface, reloading your rag as needed.

4. Apply (brush technique)

For larger projects such as dining table tops or desk tops, you may find the 3” or 4” Mango paint Ultra Soft brush much easier to work with.

Dip your brush, offload on the lip of the container then brush gently in long stokes across your surface.

5. Be Patient

Your 1st coat of Table Top Finish may look a little scary and streaky—but don’t be afraid! Let it look crazy…subsequent coats will even out the look!

Like any water-based poly, the Mango Paint Table Top Finish dries very fast, which means you will want to work pretty quickly to cover your surface.

We always recommend applying 2-3 thin, gentle coats to build up the protection and durability gradually rather than slathering on 1 thick, uneven & messy coat. Just be patient—it’s totally worth it!

And just in case you need a little extra advice—be sure to check out this super quick and helpful Mango Paint Table Top Finish video tutorial as well!