I hoping someone can help me in determining the cause of a problem I'm
having finishing the top of a recently completed table. The top consists of
a solid bubinga frame around a figured maple veneer center panel.
Specifically, I'm having trouble getting a uniform finish on the figured
maple veneer. For some reason small portions of the veneer appear to have
a different, (for lack of a better word) coarser texture. This change in
texture is especially noticeable along the edges of the veneered area, where
it almost looks unfinished. I should also point out that this area feels
smooth to the touch; you can't actually feel any difference when you run
your fingers across it.
The veneer was vacuum pressed over an MDF core using urea resin glue and
sanded to 320 grit. The finish is General Finishes Arm-R-Seal satin, buffed
between coats with 4 OT steal wool. Application is pretty much as
recommended by GF, even thought I have also tried a method recommended by
David Marks, which is to apply the finish, let it absorb for a minute and
then wipe it nearly dry with a soft cloth.
On another top, where I had similar problems, I tried applying heavier coats
in an attempt smooth out the finish and although that helped, it really
started to look like a heavy film finish, which is not what I'm aiming for.
I definitely want the character of the wood to show through and I
absolutely don't want to lose the figure.
Any help / ideas would really be appreciated. The following link shows a
photograph of the problem, which might be a bit clearer than my description.
At the point the photo were taken, the top had four coats of finish,
including the sealer coat (Seal-A-Cell).
<http://home.earthlink.net/~jahod/images/Veneer.jpg>
Thanks.
Joel
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I hoping someone can help me in determining the cause of a problem I'm
> having finishing the top of a recently completed table. The top consists
> of
> a solid bubinga frame around a figured maple veneer center panel.
> Specifically, I'm having trouble getting a uniform finish on the figured
> maple veneer. For some reason small portions of the veneer appear to
> have
> a different, (for lack of a better word) coarser texture. > Any help /
> ideas would really be appreciated. The following link shows a
> photograph of the problem, which might be a bit clearer than my
> description.
> At the point the photo were taken, the top had four coats of finish,
> including the sealer coat (Seal-A-Cell).
>
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~jahod/images/Veneer.jpg>
>
Looks like you got bubinga dust into the end grain. A real problem with
sanding of differentially-colored woods. Since the curly presents end grain
in the areas that are darker in your picture, it's pretty sure that you've
stuffed dark dust into them. Use a sanding sealer on the lighter wood
before sanding the darker and see if that doesn't help on future projects.
Better yet, use a fine-edged scraper. Does unbelievable things for curly
maple.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I hoping someone can help me in determining the cause of a problem I'm
> having finishing the top of a recently completed table. The top consists
> of
> a solid bubinga frame around a figured maple veneer center panel.
> Specifically, I'm having trouble getting a uniform finish on the figured
> maple veneer. For some reason small portions of the veneer appear to
> have
> a different, (for lack of a better word) coarser texture. This change in
> texture is especially noticeable along the edges of the veneered area,
> where
> it almost looks unfinished. I should also point out that this area feels
> smooth to the touch; you can't actually feel any difference when you run
> your fingers across it.
>
The one time I used quilted maple, I found it didn't look particularly good
until I got about 8 coats of wiping varnish on it. Now it is spectacular.
YMMV