Hello folks,
My SWMBO and I recently started making country craft type things together
in my woodshop. You know, "home is where the heart is" signs, and things
of that nature.
The problem is, we haven't been able to figure out what to use for a finish
coat on these projects. We want something clear and flat, that will seal
well enough that a little rain won't destroy the projects if they're
displayed outside. I checked with the Borg, etc., and they don't have
anything flat. You can have any finish from them you want... as long as
it's gloss or satin polyurethane. :-) I know that some folks who make
things in this style use acrylic matt medium, available in artist supply
and craft stores, but I checked that out, and boy is it expensive (like $20
for a *pint*.) Is there anything more conventional available that's flat,
transparent, and at least reasonably waterproof? Maybe like a
polyurethane, varnish, shellac or something similar?
I know that I could use something satin and knock down the shine with
sandpaper or what not, but that seems like an awful lot of work. We're
really looking for something that we can either brush or spray on and be
done with.
Thanks in advance for any tips!
- Jeff
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Wed, Oct 15, 2003, 5:13am (EDT+4) [email protected]
(Jeff=A0Morris) claims:
<snip> We want something clear and flat, that will seal well enough that
a little rain won't destroy the projects if they're displayed outside.
<snip>
Well, going to a real paint store, instead of the Borg, would
probably help, for a start.
However, I've always found that reading the can labels usually
tells me what I want to know. If that doesn't do it, calling the
manufacturer, at the 1-800 number they so conveniently provide on the
label, does.
JOAT
I find the best approach is to take life as it comes.
- Death
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 13 Oct 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
Jeff Morris asks:
>You can have any finish from them you want... as long as
>it's gloss or satin polyurethane. :-) I know that some folks who make
>things in this style use acrylic matt medium, available in artist supply
>and craft stores, but I checked that out, and boy is it expensive (like $20
>for a *pint*.) Is there anything more conventional available that's flat,
>transparent, and at least reasonably waterproof? Maybe like a
>polyurethane, varnish, shellac or something similar?
Go to UGL.com. Check out their polys. I'd direct you more closely, but my modem
seems to be affected by the wind and damp, so is slower'n a dog with 2 broken
hind legs this morning. They have spray polys I am reasonably sure come in
flat, as well as brush ons that I know for sure do. Problem with spray flat in
a can is the additional goop added to the poly to flatten the finish, so it is
weightier. You may be stuck with brush-on.
Charlie Self
"The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf."
Will Rogers
The first link talks about flattening a finish. The other 2 are for products.
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Creating_a_deadflat_finish.html
http://www.lancopaints.com/english/products/Technical%20Data%20Sheet/3-Wood/4-Lacquers/Flat%20Lacquer.pdf
http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/05/polygloss.html
"Jeff Morris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
:
: Hello folks,
:
: My SWMBO and I recently started making country craft type things together
: in my woodshop. You know, "home is where the heart is" signs, and things
: of that nature.
:
: The problem is, we haven't been able to figure out what to use for a finish
: coat on these projects. We want something clear and flat, that will seal
: well enough that a little rain won't destroy the projects if they're
: displayed outside. I checked with the Borg, etc., and they don't have
: anything flat. You can have any finish from them you want... as long as
: it's gloss or satin polyurethane. :-) I know that some folks who make
: things in this style use acrylic matt medium, available in artist supply
: and craft stores, but I checked that out, and boy is it expensive (like $20
: for a *pint*.) Is there anything more conventional available that's flat,
: transparent, and at least reasonably waterproof? Maybe like a
: polyurethane, varnish, shellac or something similar?
:
: I know that I could use something satin and knock down the shine with
: sandpaper or what not, but that seems like an awful lot of work. We're
: really looking for something that we can either brush or spray on and be
: done with.
:
: Thanks in advance for any tips!
:
: - Jeff
:
:
: --
: ==========================================================================
: Please remove "ziggzigg" from my e-mail address if replying by email.
: Spam filter in use.
: ==========================================================================
Jeff Morris wrote:
> and craft stores, but I checked that out, and boy is it expensive (like
> $20> for a *pint*.) Is there anything more conventional available that's
Yeah, that stuff is ghastly expensive, isn't it?
flat,
> transparent, and at least reasonably waterproof? Maybe like a
> polyurethane, varnish, shellac or something similar?
FWIW, if it were me, I'd just leave the paint raw and let the buyers figure
out what to do about it in a few years when it fades.
Matte or gloss, you aren't going to be able to do an outdoor finish that
will stand up to time without spending a lot more than it's probably worth
for goofy signs like that. I'm sure the boat builders could tell you about
something good, like maybe a true spar varnish or some kind of epoxy or
something, but I don't imagine that would be the cheap or easy way to go.
Poly is worthless IMHO as an outdoor finish. I covered a bench with that
Helmsman stuff, and I have to re-do the stupid thing every single year. I
painted a carved mailbox with artist acrylics, and top coated it with that
junk. A year later, I had big yellow sheets of stuff flaking off, and no
way to re-do it without stripping the whole thing down to bare wood and
painting it from scratch. I'll never use it again. Much easier to deal
with paint without having to figure out how to get the corrupt poly off
first.
I can't speak of any other finishes first-hand, so I'll leave it at that.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
Check www.tartgetcoatings.com to see what they have. If needed ask on
their forum.
On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 05:13:36 GMT, Jeff Morris
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I know that some folks who make
>things in this style use acrylic matt medium, available in artist supply
>and craft stores, but I checked that out, and boy is it expensive (like $20
>for a *pint*.) Is there anything more conventional available that's flat,
>transparent, and at least reasonably waterproof? Maybe like a
>polyurethane, varnish, shellac or something similar?