Folks,
I am having a tough time doing a dining room table. The ends of the table are book matched, highly figured, white oak. The width is divided in quarters and the grain runs diagonal across the panel. The leaves are diamond shaped glue ups. It is a very nice piece of veneer work.
I stripped it, stained it and have been trying to pad on shellac as a seal coat. I am padding down the length of the table. This leaves streaks that I can’t avoid. I’ve rubbed stuff out carefully and am using a 1 1/2 lbs cut. I’ve padded alot of shellac and never had this problem. I realized tonight the streaks are because I am going across the grain.
I was going to next pad on a thinned poly, but this is just going to make things worse.
I think this is a piece that is likely going to require a sprayed finish. I have a buddy wirth a cabinet shop and may ask him to spray on a couple of coats of lacquer. Does anyone have any other ideas.
Thanks,
Frank
Replies
Frank,
Why are you padding? IME on a large surface a brush works much better. I can brush faster than I can pad, so I can keep a wet edge even on large panels. I've never had the kind of troubles you describe. I've found shellac to be pretty much bullet proof; brushing at an angle to the grain has never caused me any trouble.
Obviously, use the biggest and best quality brush you have. A three inch wouldn't be too big. I use good quality China bristle brushes with shellac, and I've been very pleased with the results.
As you know, you can use a 0000 steel wool pad and some alcohol to fix some or all of the bad spots you now have. Or if you want, you can use more shellac instead of alcohol.
I also brush varnish. I use badger-fitch brushes and I don't thin my varnish (I never use poly). I've not run into any problems whatever, even on large areas with different grain orientation, such as your table.
Alan
Alan,
Of curse you are right. The ugly truth is that I am a total slob when it comes to brushed finishes.
However, I just bought a gallon of laquer and a pricy brush and intendto give it a whirl. I have always wanted to do brushed laquer, but have been afraid to try. I have an old book that talks about tipping on etc, so I will practice a bit and give it a try.
Frank
Frank,
Please let me and the others how it goes. I'd like to know how to brush lacquer. Maybe you can pass on the right technique and any tricks you pick up.
I've tried brushing lacquer two or three times--which was two or three times too many. Daring lacquer, you're a better man than I.
Alan
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