I've used a melamine lacquer finish on an oak table top; unfortunately
it is too glossy and shows up small sanding hollows where I had to
deal with grain tear out. Also, it was not very expertly applied,
which means there are some bits with more lacquer than others.
How to make it matt? I've tried fine steel wool but it doesnt seem to
have any effect -- if anything it makes it shinier. Am I perhaps using
too fine a grade? What about wet and dry paper (sorry, don't know the
American terminology for this)?
On 28 Oct 2003 08:18:43 -0800, [email protected] (J Jenkins) brought
forth from the murky depths:
>I've used a melamine lacquer finish on an oak table top; unfortunately
>it is too glossy and shows up small sanding hollows where I had to
>deal with grain tear out. Also, it was not very expertly applied,
>which means there are some bits with more lacquer than others.
Keep spraying and level it with a cabinetmaker's scraper. It will
take the high spots off first. Scrape off the new finish leaving
the finish in the tearout divots. Pretty soon, you will have the
hollows built up with finish and can continue on to deglossing,
though I've never heard of a melamine lacquer. I prefer hand-applied
finishes exclusively.
>How to make it matt? I've tried fine steel wool but it doesnt seem to
>have any effect -- if anything it makes it shinier. Am I perhaps using
>too fine a grade? What about wet and dry paper (sorry, don't know the
>American terminology for this)?
If 0000 steel wool isn't matte enough for you, try 280/320 grit
wetordry paper with paste wax. It leaves a nice low sheen.
"J Jenkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've used a melamine lacquer finish on an oak table top; unfortunately
> it is too glossy and shows up small sanding hollows where I had to
> deal with grain tear out. Also, it was not very expertly applied,
> which means there are some bits with more lacquer than others.
>
> How to make it matt? I've tried fine steel wool but it doesnt seem to
> have any effect -- if anything it makes it shinier. Am I perhaps using
> too fine a grade? What about wet and dry paper (sorry, don't know the
> American terminology for this)?
Put a couple of coats of a satin lacquer on top of the gloss. Typically
this is what's done for satin finishes otherwise the grain of the wood tends
to go away due to the solids in the satin finishes.
Gary
if you are using 0000, try 000 instead
J Jenkins wrote:
> I've used a melamine lacquer finish on an oak table top; unfortunately
> it is too glossy and shows up small sanding hollows where I had to
> deal with grain tear out. Also, it was not very expertly applied,
> which means there are some bits with more lacquer than others.
>
> How to make it matt? I've tried fine steel wool but it doesnt seem to
> have any effect -- if anything it makes it shinier. Am I perhaps using
> too fine a grade? What about wet and dry paper (sorry, don't know the
> American terminology for this)?