Thought I’d see if anyone has an answer to this one:
I wanted to apply a semi-gloss or gloss finish to a plate rack, but all I had was a can of satin finish. I opened it up and found that there was quite a bit of ‘settlings’ in the bottom, but the top finish looked very clear. So I applied the clear finish (thinned a bit with spirits) to finish the project. So here’s the question, will the clear finish near the top of a can of satin poly that has the silica settled out give you basically a semi-gloss/gloss finish?
Could this be a method that would allow one can to serve several needs? Of course, my can had set for quite some time since the last use. Thanks for your responses…
Replies
I'd say by tomorrow, you'll be able to tell us. My concern would be that along with the silica, the bottom of the can may be the resting place for other chemicals in the finish that do important things like allow it to harden, or resist UV, etc., but I'm no chemist.
You'll probably be okay on this Les but I wouldn't make it a habit. What you have left in the can is going to be flatter than normal satin now (assuming you mix it back up). Plus this is a rather experimental and unpredictable technique... just what you want to avoid when finishing fine projects that have lots of effort invested, even before you apply the finish.
Yes, I agree - this was a stop-gap procedure in which I used a small proportion of the total volume of the contents. BTW, I checked the results last night, and the finish seems to dry correctly and the result is fairly glossy in appearance. Thanks for the comments...
In addition to the flattening agents you left a lot of the solids on the bottom. So you probably applied a thin coat of oil. Not a bad thing, but I would never risk a week or more of work over the 10 hours untill the next morning when I can get what I need.
Pardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
What you did is perfectly acceptable and reasonable. The solids that settle are not vital to the drying or the formation of the film, they are flattening agents. You could conceivable get high gloss out of a lower sheen if ALL of the agents settle out but in real terms this is nearly impossible. The resins and oils stay in solution so don't sweat that.
I often use satin unstirred for higher sheens and save the more condensed leftovers for flatter varnish.
High gloss varnish does not need stirring. In fact it's best if you don't because of the air bubbles that stirring can cause.
Lee
Yes, it can. Satin has a flatting agent, which when stirred well and carefully into the liquid will produce the flat or satin finish, so using the liquid above the settled flatting agent will produce a higher gloss. No, to the other question about using it as a multi-purpose finish. The more "high gloss" you use off the top will result in an "out of proportion" mix so that you really won't know what finish is in the can.
T. R. Garner (Alan's dad and ex-hardware/paint store owner. I did a radio program for 20-years called Sawdust & Sandpaper and answered many questions of that nature.
The only difference between gloss and a non-gloss clear finish is the addition of flatteners. These flattens fall out of suspension accumulating in the bottom of the can. If you decant just the top material, you will have clear, gloss finish exactly the same as what you get in a can of gloss finish.
Les,
Hardwareman is my dad, T.R. 84 years old, and on the computer daily. Architect, but in his words he was too hyperactive to sit down long enough to draw a set of plans. So, he owned a hardware store, building supplies, did hvac subcontracting, etc., etc., etc. He did draw plans for close friends, or when someone needed something that no other local architect could do.
He grew up in his granddad's hardware store and I grew up and worked in my dad's hardware store through highschool and part of college.
Along with the hardware store Dad had a radio program 3 to 5 days a week called Sawdust and Sandpaper. When he retired and sold his store he had 35 to 40 years of scripts he had written. With those, he wrote a book called Sawdust and Sandpaper. Huge seller (regionally) with only a few left autographed for the great-grandkids.
I had several sales reps or manufacturing reps who sold to Dad tell me in later years that they learned more from Dad about the products they sold than they ever did from their company.
Sorry to get reminiscent and sentimental, but, regarding the satin -- what he said!
Thanks,
Alan - planesaw
Alan,
That's a nice story. No wonder you think you know so much! (I'm kidding!)
Really, thanks for sharing that story with us. He sounds like a great Dad. I would have been out of control if my Dad had a hardware store. I had to go to building sites and pick up all of the dropped nails just to have some. I would even pick up the bent ones and straighten them.
Hal
http://www.rivercitywoodworks.com
I straightened bent nails also as a kid, just to have some.
Just because "my dad owned the store" didn't mean a thing. In fact, I was always the lowest paid, and I didn't get any breaks, any different than any of the other employees. Like Frank Klausz talks about his dad.
And, if I know, I'll say I know; if I think it might be, I'll say I think (a qualifier, meaning I could be wrong); and if I don't know, I'll say I don't know and ask about it.
Alan - planesaw
That's okay Alan, I was just kidding about you knowing so much. It was a joke.
Hal
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled