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finishing

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finishing

#1

finishing

John Lucas

>This is probably for Mark or Russ but others will want to chime in I'm sure. I've been playing more with Marks system of using multiple coats of lacquer and buffing it out.

There was an article in an old Wood magazine,issue 90 page 12 by Arliss Boothe on finishing a jewelry box. His process is exactly like Mark's except after the first 4 coats he sands is smooth and coats it with a layer of shellac. He says this reduces the orange peel and leaves a smoother finish.

What do you guys think. I won't have time to play with this until after Christmas unless I'm just plain lucky.

Re: finishing

#2

Re: finishing

Fred in NC

>Interesting concept, being that shellac is considered the universal sealer. Most of my finishing problems have been due to not waiting until the previous coat is completely dry.

I use blonde shellac as a sanding sealer and base for most of my work, flat or round. Because of the low resistance to water and alcohol, I use other finishes on top. Otherwise I would just French polish them.

Re: finishing

#3

Re: finishing

Sam Simpson

>Hi Y'all,

John, the concept of final finishing a lacquer with a final step of shellac is a very sound one. I do it myself all the time. But the method of application for the shellac is all important.

Lacquer is normally applied by spraying. Therefore the leveling of the surface often requires some final rubbing out to yield that perfectly smooth gloss finish. It is normal to wet sand the surface smooth and then compound the surface back to a shine. The results are always amazing. But often they are so smooth and shiny as to be plastic like, reveling too much of the nitrocellulose film.

By wet sanding to a smooth surface and then padding the finish (French Polishing) back to a smooth finish, you will develop a slightly different look. The light will bounce back in a slightly softer way. Still shiny and smooth.

This system only works if you are adept at padding shellac or lacquer, so a little practice might be required.

My recommendation to up and coming finishers is to learn how to compound to a high finish first. That way you know what is possible and where to aim your expectations.

Regards Sam Simpson.