HI THERE LADS,
I have a bit of a problem. i built a counter out of Acacia flooring as the was no economic alternative. i fixed it onto 3/4″ ply. i then sanded off the finish and sanded down to remove the v grooves that are in all flooring here. but when i tried to finish it with a satin poly varnish i got hundreds of small air bubbles in the finish. i tried another finish to no avail also. any body out there got any suggestion’s about whta i might be doing wrong.
regards,
duffsaw, ireland
Replies
A little more info would help. Was this pre-finished solid wood flooring? How thick?
About the varnish you used. What brand was it, and how did you apply it? Did you thin it? What did you do to the first finish before you applied the next one you tried? What was it?
Thinning is almost always required on oil-based varnishes, so that may be your main problem, but I do have other questions.
First, did you shake, or briskly stir, the finish? That will put air into solution in the finish, and it will then make lots of little bubbles as it dries. Varnish needs to be gently stirred to avoid air bubbles.
Second potential problem, is air coming out of pores in the wood, and/or the joints. Try flooding the surface with a diluted varnish mixture, or a shellac seal coat, to seal the pores so the air can't come out. I'd probably do the diluted varnish, unless you happen to have some shellac handy.
Third, but least likely, the surface has become contaminated with silicone or stearates. A good wipe down with mineral spirits should flush those away it they are there.
So: wipe down the surface with mineral spirits; do a wash coat with thinned down varnish; and, then make sure your final finish hasn't been stirred, or shaken, enough to get air bubbles in it.
Try sanding back to bare wood, cleaning the surface with acetone, and then applying a coat or two of dewaxed shellac. Then scuff sand and apply the poly varnish.
The acetone wash will remove the woods natural oils from the surface and promote adhesion of the finish (shellac). Shellac will seal it and provide a good base for the poly varnish. Dewaxed shellac is recommended for use with poly varnish to improve adhesion. The varnish over the shellac will give you the durability needed for a counter surface.
http://www.finishwiz.com
Did you allow for the differential in the seasonal movement of the wood as opposed to the plywood?
Joe
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