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I am making over 30 picture frames for my wife out of poplar (don’t ask). The faces are very plain, I am just rabbeting out a space for the glass from 3/4″ stock and mitering the corners. She wants to have a flat black finish. I have been using flat black enamel spray paint and giving them several coats. Some of the frames have come out well, but others have a very rough finish. Questions:
* How fine a grade of sandpaper should I sand to?
* Do I have to sand between coats?
Since we have so many frames I am looking for a fairly simple approach.
– Don
Replies
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Don,
I don't know how your shop is set up or your definition of "simple". FWIW, if you are going to sand go down to 220 or 320, and use 320 or 400 between finish coats. You could also use a cabinet scraper or card scraper instead of sanding prior to finish. You still need to sand between coats, IMHO.
I, personally, avoid sanding like the plague and use a #80 cabinet scraper and/or card scraper in preparation to applying the finish. I always sand or use pumice and rottenstone between finish coats.
Ultimately, it is your call based on your own standards of quality.
Dano
*Don, try raising the grain with water before finish-sanding the wood.
*I have done a fair bit of painting with black. My best results were with black laquer paint. Sand the wood to 220g, then apply laquer sanding sealer. Scuff it with 600g or 800 g paper and then spray the color. It's almost fool proof. Sherwin Williams carries both products.
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