Replies

1. 
   peter28 | Jun 11, 2008 04:25am | #1

   The depressions you described sound like fish eyes to me. At the outset were they little round areas that the finish wouldn't flow over?

   When you stripped the piece, did you wash it down afterwards with alcohol or mineral spirits? This would have cleaned all the residual stripper and possibly the wax in the formula.

   I think what is happening is there is some type of contamination on the surface of the wood that is preventing the lacquer from flowing out. Retarder doesn't help in these instances.

   I know this is hind sight but when they (fish eyes)  reared their ugly heads after the first coat of sealer, I would have sanded with 220, then given it a coat or two of shellac, sand it well and proceeded with the lacquer topcoats. The shellac would have locked everything down and provided a good base for the lacquer.

   If you have six coats of lacquer on now; let it sit for a bit, say a week or so. Rub down the surface with a sanding block and some wet dry paper (600-800) to level the surface well. Clean all the residue off and then re shoot it with a lacquer that is cut to be fairly thin. These a basically looked at as a flow coat. A couple of coats like this may just be the end of it.

   You didn't say what type of wood it was. You should also get some good karma points on this one.

   Who does it if she spills it again?

   Peter

1. 
   fgcook | Jun 11, 2008 05:22am | #2

   All great points and advise especially the part about who does it if it gets spilled on again.  I ended up restripping the piece and did wash it down with lacquer thinner this time and let it set a day.  I just came in from sanding it with 220 and then putting the stain back on.  I will hit it with sealer tomorrow night and check to see if I have any of the same issues, if so, I will follow up with the shellac.  Thanks for help. (I love to design and build, but have to admit I hate the finishing part...)