Hello,
I have run into a finishing problem and am seeking the group's advice.
I am restoring an old stereo cabinet and on the doors I have glued
alternating strips of bookmarked veneer. The veneer in use is
mainly ash with 2 strips of 1 inch wide cocobolo for contrast.
I am using real varnish (not varathane) for the finish. The first
coat I put on was from an old can and was thinned slightly with
turpentine. The second coat was from a fresh can and not thinned.
Here is my problem: while the ash is drying fine, the cocobolo is
still quite sticky, and it has remained so for a week. I know that
cocobolo is significantly denser than ash, but IMO over a week to
dry is excessive.
Any suggestions?
The doors are currently sitting inside a heated cabinet (heated by
a 100 watt light bulb inside) in the hopes of accelerating the
drying process.
Dean Hummel
Dean Hummel wrote:
<snip>
> I am using real varnish (not varathane) for the finish. The first
> coat I put on was from an old can and was thinned slightly with
> turpentine. The second coat was from a fresh can and not thinned.
>
> Here is my problem: while the ash is drying fine, the cocobolo is
> still quite sticky, and it has remained so for a week. I know that
> cocobolo is significantly denser than ash, but IMO over a week to
> dry is excessive.
>
> Any suggestions?
I'm not sure what your definition of "real varnish" is but from the
problem you're having I suspect it is tung oil based. If this be the
case, on the ash, the oil is being absorbed. Cocobolo is naturally oily
and won't absorb much of the tung oil. Tung oil can take weeks to
polymerize, especially when applied to wood like cocobolo.
> The doors are currently sitting inside a heated cabinet (heated by
> a 100 watt light bulb inside) in the hopes of accelerating the
> drying process.
Tung oil cures by reacting with oxygen. Once the solvent carriers have
dried off, the heat from the light bulb will have no effect. It will just
take time to cure.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
On Tue, 07 Oct 2003 01:10:08 GMT, Dean Hummel <[email protected]> wrote:
>H
>Here is my problem: while the ash is drying fine, the cocobolo is
>still quite sticky, and it has remained so for a week. I know that
>cocobolo is significantly denser than ash, but IMO over a week to
>dry is excessive.
>
it may or may not dry on the cocobolo. but really you would be better off
removing the finish and sealing the cocobolo with shellac. it would save you a
lot of grief.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
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