I'm nearing completion (I hope) of my first finishing project, an
alder table that I bought unfinished. I stained it with a gel stain
and finished it with Behlen's Rockhard varnish. The first coat of
varnish was thinned 50/50 with mineral spirits. After determining
that unthinned varnish left too many bubbles, I brushed on 2 coats
thinned with 15% mineral spirits with 3 coats on the tabletop. I
scuff sanded between each coat except for the tabletop which I
completely smoothed and leveled with 000 steel wool before the final
coat.
I have started rubbing out the finish after letting it dry for about 3
weeks and am having a problem getting an even sheen. I am starting my
rubbing using 000 steel wool without lubrication. For the most part,
it does a good job. However, there are shiny areas on the wood that I
can't seem to dull. These aren't the little dots from the bubbles
that popped, I can rub those out. These are larger areas that almost
seem to get shinier as I rub them.
Am I somehow softening the finish as I rub it which is creating the
shine? Should I be starting out with something more aggressive such
as 0 or 00 steel wool?
Thanks,
Andy
The leveling should have been done with something flat like backed
sandpaper. I always apply at least two coats, scuff sanding between to also
remove any bubbles, dust nibs, etc., before I level. I always plan on
leveling through the top coat so I expect to have to apply at least one more
coat before I start rubbing out.
Good Luck.
"Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm nearing completion (I hope) of my first finishing project, an
> alder table that I bought unfinished. I stained it with a gel stain
> and finished it with Behlen's Rockhard varnish. The first coat of
> varnish was thinned 50/50 with mineral spirits. After determining
> that unthinned varnish left too many bubbles, I brushed on 2 coats
> thinned with 15% mineral spirits with 3 coats on the tabletop. I
> scuff sanded between each coat except for the tabletop which I
> completely smoothed and leveled with 000 steel wool before the final
> coat.
>
> I have started rubbing out the finish after letting it dry for about 3
> weeks and am having a problem getting an even sheen. I am starting my
> rubbing using 000 steel wool without lubrication. For the most part,
> it does a good job. However, there are shiny areas on the wood that I
> can't seem to dull. These aren't the little dots from the bubbles
> that popped, I can rub those out. These are larger areas that almost
> seem to get shinier as I rub them.
>
> Am I somehow softening the finish as I rub it which is creating the
> shine? Should I be starting out with something more aggressive such
> as 0 or 00 steel wool?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andy
>
>
I find that I always cut through the top coat while leveling no matter
how careful I am. I decided to stop being too slow and careful. I no
longer worry about cutting through the top coat. Once leveled, the next
coat hides the witness lines and barely requires leveling. The little that
is required is part of the initial rubbing out process.
"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The leveling should have been done with something flat like backed
> > sandpaper. I always apply at least two coats, scuff sanding between to
> also
> > remove any bubbles, dust nibs, etc., before I level. I always plan on
> > leveling through the top coat so I expect to have to apply at least one
> more
> > coat before I start rubbing out.
> >
> > Good Luck.
> >
>
> Since this is a finish coat Baron, why bother adding a topcoat after
> leveling? Your best finish is going to be obtained by rubbing out the
> leveled coat. Adding coats on top of leveling is going to introduce new
> areas that aren't level. Have you tried buffing out your leveling? Just
> curious why you add a coat after leveling.
> --
>
> -Mike-
> [email protected]
>
>
Upon further review, I think that I'm rubbing through the top layer of
varnish. I know that the only way to really correct this is to apply
another coat.
I'm finding this rubbing to be one of the most frustrating things I've
ever done. On top of the issue of rubbing through the top layer, I've
rubbed through several edges with steel wool and am having great
difficulty in building back up any sheen, even with pumice and then
rottonstone.
I'm seriously considering scrapping it and just wiping on a satin top
coat of some sort and being done with it.
Andy
On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 16:54:35 -0700, Andy <[email protected]> wrote:
>I'm nearing completion (I hope) of my first finishing project, an
>alder table that I bought unfinished. I stained it with a gel stain
>and finished it with Behlen's Rockhard varnish. The first coat of
>varnish was thinned 50/50 with mineral spirits. After determining
>that unthinned varnish left too many bubbles, I brushed on 2 coats
>thinned with 15% mineral spirits with 3 coats on the tabletop. I
>scuff sanded between each coat except for the tabletop which I
>completely smoothed and leveled with 000 steel wool before the final
>coat.
>
>I have started rubbing out the finish after letting it dry for about 3
>weeks and am having a problem getting an even sheen. I am starting my
>rubbing using 000 steel wool without lubrication. For the most part,
>it does a good job. However, there are shiny areas on the wood that I
>can't seem to dull. These aren't the little dots from the bubbles
>that popped, I can rub those out. These are larger areas that almost
>seem to get shinier as I rub them.
>
>Am I somehow softening the finish as I rub it which is creating the
>shine? Should I be starting out with something more aggressive such
>as 0 or 00 steel wool?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Andy
>
"Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The leveling should have been done with something flat like backed
> sandpaper. I always apply at least two coats, scuff sanding between to
also
> remove any bubbles, dust nibs, etc., before I level. I always plan on
> leveling through the top coat so I expect to have to apply at least one
more
> coat before I start rubbing out.
>
> Good Luck.
>
Since this is a finish coat Baron, why bother adding a topcoat after
leveling? Your best finish is going to be obtained by rubbing out the
leveled coat. Adding coats on top of leveling is going to introduce new
areas that aren't level. Have you tried buffing out your leveling? Just
curious why you add a coat after leveling.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]