Out of necessity I am using Deft lacquer spray out of a can. It will go on a tight grained hardwood with not stain. I intend on polishing it to a semi-gloss. I did a test piece using a 6″ RO sander and 2600 paper. Lacking anything for a lubricant other than mineral spirits I went ahead and used that. The small test piece came out great. My question is, what do I use as a libricant? I tried some stuff call Wool something some time ago with a RO and it turned foamy. Would rottenstone and pumice work in the hard to get places?
Thanks, Jerry
Replies
Jerry,
If the mineral spirits and 2600 grit "came out great" then you've answered your own question as to what to use as a lubricant.
You can really use anything that works well. Mineral spirits works. I hope you are using the low odor variety. I HATE the smell of the regular stuff. It gives me a violent headache, even with plenty of ventilation - as out doors.
I like to use soap and water. Just a few drops of dishwahing detergent in a glass of water is all you need. Yes, it will foam a little. Much nicer to use than petroleum.
Be careful with a ROS for finish work. It can be very aggressive. I like to finish by hand, but if you can control it, that's fine.
Did you start off with 2600? I would start with 600, 1000, 1500 then higher if you need it. For hand work in the tight spots, I think that pumice is about the same abrasiveness as what you're using. Rottenstone is finer.
VL
Thanks for the reply. The more I think about it the more I think I will use pumice/rottenstone. I have a flat panel that I will use the RO on. One moment too long on the smaller pieces and I would make have to count to ten in Roman Numerals.
Jerry
Edited 11/11/2003 5:20:48 PM ET by Jerry
I would not use a RO for polishing. The slightest piece of debris will mark the piece. I hand sand. If you want to go to the Nth degree, hand sand to 1500 then buff with a slow speed car polisher and 3M finesse II. Pumice and rotenstone are extremely messy and very hard to clean up not to mention the elbow greese needed. For lubricant, a drop or two of dishwashing liquid in a pint of water, soak the paper. Be careful of water with laquer. If I was going to put that much effort into a piece, I would not start with an aerosol can of Deft that's for sure!
That is all I have access to at the moment. It is all going into the "Brain Bank." When I get a compressor and a conversion gun then I will get other products. As a matter of fact I dropped into a store today that has several different kinds of lacquor and the man was very helpful and full of info.
Jerry
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