Hi,
I am finishing some 2″ x 2″ x 36″ bookcase legs and having a few problems with the urethane finish. I am using a foam applicator as it seems to work the best for me and does not leave lint residue behind.
So I have these legs laying horizontally and am applying the finish in a thin coat one or two sides at a time. I double check for any drips, but each time, after its all dried I find some. So the question is what’s the best way to clean them up after these drips have dried? if I sand them down, then I end up having to restain the wood (again) because the sanding removes some of the stain.
I know the best way would be to avoid them in the first place, but I’ve not been skilled in my craft enough to avoid them at this point. Perhaps I’d be better off to use a rag to apply the finish and try to do so more carefully and wipe down the other sides once the top side has its finish applied.
your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
‘mark
Replies
Mark,
They may be occurring because of your brushing technique. Always be sure to brush to an edge not pull your brush away from one.
When you do get a drip there are a few remedies;
A new razor blade will come in very handy. You can use it as a scraper. If you use it going in the direction of the drip it will scrape it. If go in the opposite direction it will slice it. If you do it like this be sure to use a light touch. Sometimes drips are dry on the surface but not so underneath. You could end up popping more of the finish than expected. To check for hardness press a fingernail into it. If it is too soft you'll need to let it dry a little more. Once you get most of it down a light sanding will finish it off.
If you are sanding it;
If you lay your sandpaper flat and sand in the direction of the grain until the "hill" of the drip is gone you've sanded through the thinner surrounding finish. This is what you are experiencing.
I'll take a small piece of sandpaper, say 320, and sand the head of the drip in a perpendicular fashion. I don't sand in a back and forth motion either, just on the push stroke. If 320 is not cutting it, go to 220. I prefer to use something less aggressive to start with. It's the old adage "first do no harm"
Do this lightly and keep checking the surface. Once the top of the "hill" is cut down fairly close to the surrounding finish, lightly go in the direction of the grain to finish off the sanding.
Like you said, it's better to avoid them if possible. A small adjustment in your application may be all that's needed.
Good luck
Peter
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