When you talk about finishing you talk about polishing. What steps do you take to get that fine soft glowing finish.
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Replies
Polishing and finishing are the same thing of course; it just depends on if you are using British English or American English. Polishing is the term that we Brits use most often, although I also use finishing but to a lesser degree.
You've asked a question with quite a range of possible answers. Here are a few techniques that I use in my work. I like quick results; the reason for that is that my work has always been primarily driven by business priorities rather than perhaps more time generous hobby needs:
Here are a couple of techniques I haven't used as stand alone polishes for perhaps fifteen or more years that will give a low lustre. I don't use them because with just a few applications, 5- 10, they tend to protect fairly poorly and aren't very durable. To make them reasonably durable and protective you need multiple applications, ie, 2 or three dozen applications for boiled linseed oil or tung oil and this is too time consuming and therefore not cost-effective:
I hope I went some way to answering your question, but there are lots of other ways to "get that fine soft glowing finish" you asked about. With luck you'll get a few additional methods outlined for you that you might want to try. Slainte.
Richard Jones Furniture
Thank you very much that was just what I was looking for.
My pleasure, but I am slightly surprised noone else has popped in to offer alternative techniques you might experiment with. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture
Alright Richard old son, you've laid down a challenge:
To get a soft, not 'synthetic' appearance & with similar constraints in a commercial environment I have found that;
I) What Richard said.
II) For dining tables or bathroom vanities apply 2 pack sealer & 2 or 3 top coats at about 30% gloss (100% being car like) then after a suitable interval (usually an ale or 2 followed by a wee kip or even nigh-nighs) rub the bejesus out of it (sorry, should say rub In a circular motion, finishing with even strokes along the grain) with a locally produced beeswax/linseed/eucalyptus polish applied with 000 or 0000 steel wool, finishing with a soft cloth & several more beverages if it is a big table.
Don
Ok Don, I just need a little clarification here so the are a few questions. 1. What is a 2 pack sealer? 2. We don't produce any beeswax or eucalytpus oil locally? 3. What do I do if I don't drink?
2 Pack = 2 part polyurethane base /poliisocyanic hardner, I think sometimes called epoxy in US? This will give a near bullet proof sealer & top coat & is tougher than the single pack polys. Unless you have experience spraying 2 pack finishes talk to a tech at one of the major paint companies in your area for an alternative.
Any good furniture polish out of a flat tin should work, many will have beeswax or carnuba as a base. I prefer the flat tin variety over the more fliud types because I believe they are easier to apply & work up a better sheen.
And if you don't want to head down the path to damnation then don't start drinking, find a substitute. However if you should happen upon Richard & me when the Wallabies play the Lions at rugby it may be better to start drinking coz we will be:-)
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