Replies

1. 
   gdblake | May 21, 2013 08:09pm | #1

   Thinning will help a lot

   Adam:

   I have found that I get much better results with any kind of oil based varnish (polyurathane is a type of varnish) if I thin it with mineral spirits and rag it on rather than brushing.  Six thin coats take more time to apply but they yield a smoother finish than three thick ones for me.  Red oak is very porous and finishes better if sealed first.  Thinned polyurathane also works just fine for sealing.

   gdblake

2. 
   Adam_Can | May 21, 2013 09:34pm | #2

   Is it possible to still fix it at this stage? Sand it smooth and then wipe the varnish on? Now you brought something else to mind. Is thinning varnish like that considered a wiping varnish?

   Thanks for the help!

3. 
   Adam_Can | May 22, 2013 11:55pm | #3

   I tried thinning the varnish 3 parts to 1 part thinner. Still to thick. All I got was smaller bubbles (first picture) So I tried 3:2:1 thinner, varnish and linseed oil. Then after the first coat wiped off the excess. Looks nice so far (2nd picture).

   

   
4. 
   roc | May 23, 2013 09:20pm | #4

   Brushing :

   Hey, tell me . . . what is the first thing you do after you dip your brush ?

   Do you wipe it across the edge of the can of varnish or jar with the thinned stuff in it ?

   If yes try this; just touch the brush to the inside of the jar but don't drag it across the edge.

   Pulling it across the rim can cause cavitation and form bubbles in the bristles.

   Also never ever shake the container of varnish just stir.  But be sure to stir well especially if using semigloss because the matt component settles out fairly rapidly.

   The other thing I thought of . . . if you bring the work into the finish area from a colder room as the work warms up the atmosphere in the pores will expand as it warms and so can produce bumps in the finish at the pores in the wood if not fuller bubbles.

5. 
   roc | May 23, 2013 09:52pm | #5

   That is what I get for reading without first looking at the pics

   You said "fishes".  I think your spell checker was getting ahead of you but it may be trying to tell you something.  Or if you actually typed fishes then your subconcious may be trying to tell you something.

   Those anomalies in the very first photo look like fish eyes to me.  To prevent this problem in the future you may need to let the coats bellow the varnish dry longer before putting on the clear and or as gdblake was saying, seal the coats in with some very thin finish.

   Any chance you got some silicone over spray from some lubricant that you used near by etc., ?

   Silicone contamination is one of the main culprits of fish eyes.

   PS: The bumps in the second photo almost look like wipping the thinned varnish on is pulling up the gel stain or there is too much gel stain and the excess gel stain wasn't  rubbed off well neough after it was applied to start with before the varnish session.

1. 
   Westchester | May 24, 2013 06:24am | #6

   Culprit

   It's not fish eye - those are air bubbles.

   SA

1. 
   roc | May 24, 2013 09:33pm | #7

   Ah

   Well that is good news.   Easier to fix or prevent huh ?

6. 
   gdblake | May 25, 2013 07:57am | #8

   I usually use a one to one ratio to thin varnish

   Adam:

   I usually use a ratio of one to one when thinning varnish with mineral spirits.  And yes, that makes it into a wiping varnish.  Each coat gets rubbed in pretty vigorously, especially the first coat using a cotton rag.  Adding in some boiled linseed oil is fine, some believe it gives more depth to the finish.  I think it tends to soften the finish which might be a good thing on a piece that will have a lot of wood movement.  I let each coat cure for a day before recoating. 

   You might want to look up Bob Flexner.  The guy knows more about finishing than anyone else I've come across in 45 years of woodworking.  Bob has a book or two out that you should read.  He can help you take your finishing to a professional level.

   gdblake

7. 
   Adam_Can | May 26, 2013 10:16pm | #9

   Thank guys for the help. I am pretty sure last time I was out to the shop it was pretty clear of fishes. Although a few weeks ago I had a bucket of minnnows in there, but definetly no fishes and not a single fish on the wood for sure...

   I do think part of my problem was introducing bubbles by wiping on the lid edge. I will have to try it like you said and just touch the tip and not squish the brush. Also, you got me thinking when you said maybe it was pulling the gel stain up a bit and maybe it wasn't quite dry. I did run into that earlier, but I didn't realize it could cause something like that. My shop has been a bit cool here this spring so things haven't been curing/drying as fast so there is a good possibility on some of the earlier stuff I rushed it a bit. Thanks for the heads up I didn't know it could do that.

   gdblake  -  I read through Flexner on Finishing and I think I absorbed about 1/20th of what he said... I know what you mean when you say he has knowledge about finishing! I re-read through his how-to section on wiping varnish and did it pretty much like he said and it seems to be turning out good. I think now I am just getting dust nibs as its not really glass smooth. But if it is dust nibbs there isn't much I can do about it as I can only work in the space I have, but I like the results better. I am on my 3rd or 4th coat and it is turning out much better and building nicely. I will keep what you said in mind about adding oil to it and it making it softer. I noticed that in little puddles (where I filled containers) it drys slower than I thought it would so maybe part of that is the oil int it causing it to dry slower?

   Again thanks for the help. I will post some pictures after I am done here ina day or two.

1. 
   roc | May 27, 2013 06:33pm | #10

   I look forward to seeing photos of your project !

   Glad I / we could help.

   I got the tip about dabbing the brush on the side rather than wipe on the rim from Norm Abrams The New Yankee Workshop.

   Good Ol' Norm !

   He knows his stuff.

   One thing I was thinking when you said you need to finish in the space you have and dust nibs :

   Vacuum all you can ;  cealing too.  Then your clothes and hair or shower and change to clean clothes.

   Let dust settle.

   Then wet the floor down where you walk around to do the finishing to help keep any last dust on the floor.