Answer
Mar 03, 2023 - 03:33 AM
We do not sell Varathane and have not had the opportunity to test that specific product so can't speak directly to Varathane, but that said, based on the info you've shared, there may be one of two things happening. (1) Varathane is water-based, and that water content may be reacting to or waking up whatever was on the cabinet surface or just below the surface. If you were applying the Varathane to raw wood, then this might be formaldehyde or another preservative or possibly an insecticide. If you were applying Varathane over an oil-based paint, or another sealer, there might be something in the combination that has created an unfortunate chemical cocktail. That's one possibility. (2) I do note the Varathane instructions do recommend 4 coats for best results. It�s possible not enough drying time was allowed between coats and/or the product was put on too thick. In both cases, the thing to do is make sure that whatever is happening now (chemical cocktail or not dry product) finishes before adding more layers to the mix. We'd recommend a dehumidifier, increased airflow, and carefully raising the temperature around the cabinet. After the cabinet surface is completely dry, we'd recommend sealing it with a couple of coats of AFM Safecoat Acrylacq. Acrylacq is formulated with cabinets in mind, and would be a better match for this project than Hard Seal. Acrylacq will help with off-gassing from chemical preservatives.
