Replies

1. 
   goldhiller | Aug 02, 2002 04:51am | #1

   Todd,

   Again, this is a hard call without seeing the piece in question, but here goes anyway.

   I doubt that you’re going to have much influence on the stains with lacquer thinner, but you don’t have much to lose, in general, by trying it. You may find that if you choose your initial color appropriately, you won’t have to change to a darker color to get hiding capability as every coat you add will build color and hiding capability. But, as with most everything in life, there is a compromise or trade off; the more coats you layer, the more you will obscure the grain. Then again this is what you’re after in order to hide the offending stains with colored lacquers.

   One other potential approach to this stain-hiding attempt is to strip the panels on the sides of the desk and then dye ( not stain) them a color at least as dark as the stains. This way, no real grain obscuring takes place. You would then seal with clear coats.

   Lots of potential approaches to the desired result. Which one is most likely to work the best is impossible to say without seeing the piece.

2. 
   goldhiller | Aug 02, 2002 04:53am | #2

   Todd,

   Forgot to mention.............I doubt that you have anything to gain by masking the stains.