how do you polish laquer?

Re: how do you polish laquer?

William R. Duffield on the Cohansey

>For rubbing out lacquer, I use rottenstone in mineral oil in a soft all cotton knit cloth (ex-T-shirt) and rub with the grain, by hand.

Re: how do you polish laquer?

Jonathan Ronnow, Sweden

>Do I understand you right if I take it as you always get some scratches, and that you should rub along the grain to "disguise" them? That would of course solve my problems...

Jonathan

Re: how do you polish laquer?

Sam simpson

>Hi Y'all,

Jonathan, it sounds like you have produced a fine finish. Small scratches will always be in a rubbed out finish. They will be the size of whatever was used as the final rubbing compound. There is one final step you can do to eliminate the problem. From the same supplier that you purchased the auto rubbing compound, you should be able to purchase a product called "final glaze" (3M Imperial -05991) This is available as a machine glaze or a hand glaze. You should choose according to your method of application. The final glaze is designed to fill those tiny little scratch marks. (Awful things lurk for those who use a machine to apply hand glaze.) Read and follow the instructions, shake well, not in full sun, apply to cloth not directly to finish. These products are funky and normally used by professionals only. But I have no doubt, that if you have gotten this far, you can go all the way.

Regards Sam Simpson.

Re: how do you polish laquer?

Jonathan Ronnow, Sweden

>Ok, I will try to get that product. Meanwhile Ill just pretend that the scratches arent there... Thanks!!

//Jonathan

why are you polishing?

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>If you want to be rid of all scratches then you need to abrade with successively smaller grits until the last grit leaves a acratch less than the wavelength of light deep and wide. I think this is about 20,000 grit or there abouts.

If you want gloss why are you abrading the surface to begin with? Once the surface is smooth, just shoot a final thin coat of gloss lacquer. For a gloss final finish I grind the next to the last coat smooth with 360 or 400 grit stearated paper and then shoot the final gloss coat. If I want something less than full gloss then I grind smooth and polish back to desired luster. Rottenstone leaves the finish almost full gloss. As described above, grain parallel strokes are normally used.

Re: how do you polish laquer? *LINK*

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>You already have gotten some good advice, but for general reference with respect to laquer finishing, you might want to review Russ Fairfields article here on WC. Russ wrote it for woodturners, but it is fully applicable for other woodworking as well. I has excellent information, and specifically the issue of rubbing out.


http://www.woodcentral.com/russ/finish11.shtml

Re: why are you polishing?

Jonathan Ronnow, Sweden

>Well... The thing is that I cant seem to get nitrocellulose laquer on evenly enough. Ive been polishing with a pad filled with sovent, and in deed gotten a flat, reflective surface, but the thing is that I have to wear a face mask while doing this. The solvent smells so bad, and I suspect that its not exactly healthy to get in my lungs. So I just get the coats on, sand them smooth and polish. I want some objects to have almost glass-like finishes. The less solvent involved the better....

Jonathan