Some years ago I cleaned off this door handle with an alcohol that was too high in % and now I’ve got this white stain to show for my tomfoolery.
How do I go about correcting this? I’m not sure what the original finish is on the door, but I imagine I need to scuff it up with maybe a yellow green sponge scrubber then do a spray (can) finish on top…aiming for less than a high polish sheen.
Any ideas on correcting this mistake or what spray finish I should use?
Thanks.
Replies
There is a very good chance, given the color of the door and the apparent age of it, that the finish was shellac. My father used to finish many a door with shellac, unfortunately shellac is literally dissolved in alcohol to create a brush or spray able finish and even after curing will continue to do so. The white haze is probably caused by the alcohol you used having been diluted with water causing the finish to blush. Fortunately shellac is an easy finish to repair and should only require a light sanding to remove the blushing and a recoating of shellac. To achieve a uniform color. If after this cures and you decide you want a more durable finish you can topcoat it with just about any finish you prefer.
+1. Off the shelf Zinsser Amber shellac might be a perfect match.
Blush. Someone, Behlen maybe? has a spray can called blush remover. You can get it on Amazon. Spray a little on and wait. Easy does it. Repeat if needed.
Learn something new every day!
Looks like StewMac sells it easily... https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/supplies/finishing-supplies/finishes-and-solvents/blush-eraser/
I wish I knew about it years ago. I was in a rush to finish a coffee table, put on too thick a coat of shellac in a basement shop on a humid summer day, and half an hour later the top looked like it had a coat of white paint on it. It doesn't look great on birdseye maple.
I wish I knew about the blush remover. But since it was before Amazon (or the internet) existed, I stripped the new shellac.
Tip: Old shellac straps better than recent. And never put on any finish too thick.
Try the solvent jar solution.
A bit of solvent soaked onto a rag (needs very little) stuffed into a jar, then applied over the bloom. You don't want drips or the rag to touch your piece.
Alcohol fixes shellac though is a bit unreliable.
If it is laquer, which it may well be then acetone will fix it.
It's worth trying to sand it down, but you may have to repaint the door completely.
I would try Blush Eraser first anyway and then try sanding or shellac.
Well, alcohol screwed up my marriage, so consider yourself lucky.
:) ha!