Replies

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Apr 07, 2004 12:05am | #1

   Ken,

   Did you take the Abralon through the grits up to 4000? Did you use a worn 4000 pad and a little water for the polish? The "Surbuf" pad is an option for polishing with a random orbit in place of the Abralon.

   By the time you get to polish, there shouldn't be any visible swirl marks.

   Paul

1. 
   dovetail3 | Apr 07, 2004 01:44am | #2

   Paul:

   Yes I used the grits to 4000. I spoke to Waterlox

   and they suggested the product is best left as is

   and suggested if I'm disappointed to re-coat. The finish

   isn't bad and feels great to the touch but I'd prefer the high

   gloss it had before the rub-out. What kind of polisher is best

   orbital or circular?

   Thanks.Ken

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Apr 07, 2004 02:39am | #3

   Ken,

   Using a random orbit sander for rubbing out is fine, it's just slower than a high speed buffer and you don't run nearly as much risk of burning through or melting the finish.

   I understand why Waterlox doesn't really recommend rubbing out their varnish; it's not nearly as hard (brittle) as lacquer, shellac, or a short oil varnish (like Behlen's "RockHard). It's kinda soft for the rubbing process. If you let it cure for at least a month, it will rub out better than it does when it's "fresh."

   Paul

1. 
   dovetail3 | Apr 07, 2004 03:47am | #4

   Paul:

   Thanks. I did let it cure for a month. I think I'll clean

   the polish with ammonia and water like the Waterlox

   advisor suggested  then re-coat. Maybe this time there

   will be fewer dust spots.

   Ken

1. 
   Tao | Apr 07, 2004 07:00pm | #5

   I don't have any personal experience with Waterlox, and I haven't done a lot of rubbing on waterborne finishes.  The ones I have worked with responded pretty well to dry buffing with a lambs wool bonnet on a 7" polisher running 1100 or 1200 RPM.  Speed and touch are very important because you have to generate enough heat to make the finish flow a little bit, but not enough to make it burn and catch.  Practice before you try it on good stuff, and always keep the rotation running off of edges, not into them.  When I polish, I generally let only half of the disc contact the surface so I can control the direction of the polishing stroke.  I only tilt it a little bit; tilt too much and the edges will burn.

   Anything that gives you the right speed should be OK.  I haven't been very happy with the results I've gotten trying to polish anything with a RO sander, even with Abralon, but I do know pros who say they get good results.  Maybe it's because I have lots of practice with a straight line sander and a buffer and am more used to it.

   Michael R.

2. 
   dovetail3 | Apr 07, 2004 08:05pm | #7

   Michael:

   Waterlox is a tung oil finish. Are you saying I can buff to

   a high gloss without using a polish? Any thoughts on the

   Milwaukee polisher-sander?

   Thanks Much

   Ken

3. 
   Tao | Apr 07, 2004 08:24pm | #8

   Oops!  Well, there's no point in being ignorant unless you show it once in a while.  At least ignorance is curable with a little effort.

   I have had good results dry-buffing softer finsihes as I described.  I don't know whether it will work on Waterlox, but it might.  In my experience, soft finishes will only polish so far with abrasives.  After that point, dry buffing will heat the surface just enough that the scratch pattern on the surface flows together and gives you a higher polish.  Worth a try in my opinion, but practice on scrap before you try it on the good stuff.

   If you are a pro, I could recommend a lot more suitable finishes for a bar top, but they are not really suitable for occasional finishers.

   I have a 7" porter cable variable speed right angle sander / buffer that I paid about $220 for if memory serves.  If you are going to do much polishing a variable speed buffer is a good investment.  I think Milwaukee makes a similar unit, and their tools are generally quite good.  Makita makes one, too.  I'd just buy the one you can get the best price on; I don't see much difference among them.

   Michael R.

4. 
   dovetail3 | Apr 07, 2004 09:30pm | #9

   Michael:

   I will definitely take your suggestion seriously.

   Thanks Again

   Ken

2. 
   RevTed | Apr 07, 2004 07:21pm | #6

   I thought this thread had something to do with the demise of Luca Brasi.