Using a sealer before Polyurethane

[Qweaver]

I grew up in a family of painters.  Dad, Grandfather, Uncles.  All painters.  I think its the main reason that I went to college.  I did NOT want to be a painter.  Dad could varnish and hand rub cabinets so slick that a fly could not land on them.  These were the days before Polyurethane.

We have 1100 22" pieces of T&G poplar to finish.  I've just been putting 2 coats of urethane on all of the poplar and that works OK, but it takes 3 days to do that.  I'm thinking that a fast drying sealer and then a coat of urethane would let me finish one day and install the next.  Finding the space to lay 1100 pieces flat is another problem.
We have agile BIL Ron coming in to nail these boards up on the cealing and I need to provide him with a steady supply of finished boards.
I guess I'll just try the sealer and one coat of urethane and see how it works.
Also, will finishing just one side cause a cupping problem?  These boards will nail up right against foam board insulation so there will be very little air movement around them.
I appreciate your input.
Quinton

[Qweaver]

Problem solved.  Brushing Lacquer will do the job.  Dries in 30 minutes.  2 coats in an hour.  I'm off to Lowes.  It's not as tough as Poly but ceilings don't get much foot traffic.
Quinton

[Gary_C]

You're welcome. Any time we can be of help again, just ask. :D :D

The only thing you might have to worry about with that method is yellowing with age. You could put a good polyurethane on after installing.

[Warbird]

That's what I was thinking.  Apply a coat or 2 of poly after installation, if the house it is installed in allows for it.

[Larry]

I've put down a bunch of Valspar brushing lacquer over the years with no problems.

To speed up production more HF sells a HVLP conversion gun that does a great job...think I paid something like $20 for my gun maybe 4 years ago.  It is a little air hungry though.

[Qweaver]

I sawed the lumber for my friend's ceiling last year and he used the Lacquer to finish it.  I called him this AM to get that info.  The lacquer I bought says "non-yellowing",  and Larry said he has used it a lot with no problems.  I'd hate to try to put an overhead coat on the ceiling with a brush and spraying would require a complete cover up of everything below.
I try to remember what happened to my " it's just going to be a basic cabin" thinking.  :
Quinton

[isawlogs]

Poplar it self won't yellow , it will stay white as the day you sawed it . It being put on the ceiling I dont think the sun beating on the finish would be an issue .
  I am holding out here for a pic of that ceiling once you get her up .  8)

[Qweaver]

Our final solution:
We are using shellac as the sealer coat applied to the boards just as they came off the plainer, then first coat of lacquer and then a light sanding and a final coat of lacquer.  I know this is old school but with our limited space to lay boards out these fast drying finishes give us the best production.  The boards finish with a smooth light sheen.  Dad would approve.  Gonna look great on the ceiling.
Quinton

[Qweaver]

We are just about half way done and we love the way it is looking.  It actually looks better than the picture shows.  I'll be making 3/4" half-round tomorrow that will give it a neater look also.  This is really a lot of work.  I'll get a better picture when the scaffold boards are out of the way.