Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | May 17, 2005 08:36pm | #1

   bj,

   Your description of the wood looking frayed, makes me wonder if you sanded with fine enough sandpaper.  Typically, I'll sand to 180 grit before staining.  Another thing, if the stain you used was a water based dye, it may have reacted with tiny steel wool particles, causing lots of little black dots.

   Regards,

   Ray

1. 
   bjbeejay | May 17, 2005 09:41pm | #2

   Ray...

       I used 400-grit sandpaper and then 0000 steel wool, tack cloth and prefinisher.  Should I get some 600 sandpaper?  Thanks for weighing in to help...BJ

1. 
   joinerswork | May 18, 2005 01:22am | #7

   beej,

   I can't imagine 400 grit paper leaving wood looking frayed.  I'm at a loss, sorry.

   Ray

2. 
   WillGeorge | May 17, 2005 09:49pm | #3

   I'd do what the other post stated.. But if that old could be just 'dry rot'..

   Who knows where it was stored.. Try a filler and start over..

   By the way.. Just me.. Who said the outside has to look like the inside..??

1. 
   bjbeejay | May 17, 2005 10:00pm | #4

       Well, the inside is lined with a fabric that prevents -- or at least retards -- silver tarnishing, much of it covering purposed designed slots to hold various knives, spoons, etc.  The less I do to the relatively small area of unlined wood, the less risk of damage to the lining, which would require a master reupholsterer to replace.

1. 
   WillGeorge | May 17, 2005 10:26pm | #6

   Well, the inside is lined with a fabric that prevents -- or at least retards -- silver tarnishing..

   I think you can still get that someplace.. I'm sure you can but I forgot where!

   the less risk of damage to the lining, which would require a master reupholster to replace.??  dang! 

   If you can cut wood you can surely cut felt!

   EDIT:

   Sort of funnin ya.. Unless trying to keep it antique.. Do what you think best... YOU CAN!

   Edited 5/17/2005 3:28 pm ET by Will George

   Edited 5/17/2005 3:30 pm ET by Will George

3. 
   Miami | May 17, 2005 10:23pm | #5

   I'm afraid joinerswork has it - was it water-based stain? 

   I did this once (to a piece of maple, where it really stood out), and now I mostly use the non-woven ScotchBrite-like abrasive pads instead of steel wool, for just this reason.

   Is it lots of tiny black specks, or is it a broader blotchy effect?  If the former, I'm afraid that it's the steel wool ... and I don't know a solution other than planing.  Got a picture for us?

   You might call and/or email a pic to Jeff Jewitt at Homestead Finishing for his advice - he's probably seen worse.

   Clay