removing scratches from black walnut with a BLO finish
Hello all,
I just applied a first coat of boiled linseed oil (cut with mineral spirits) over a bare black walnut coffee table top. I noticed some scratches on the surface after the application that I would like to sand out. What is the best way to go about this without ruining the quality of the finish? Can I spot sand or should I plan on re-sanding the entire top for the sake of continuity?
Also, the walnut top has a mild blotchy appearance in a couple areas that seems to disappear when viewed from different angles. Not sure if this is part of the character of the walnut or if this could be avoided on future projects with the use of a wood conditioner or pore filler? Thoughts.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Replies
Scratches
Pasty
If the scratches are deep in the wood and require sanding with wood paper - you should strip off the oil and start again.
SA
What are the chances ?
Can she steam the scratches out ? Wet the scratched area and apply a hot clothes iron. Does it still work with a light coat of thinned BLO ?
I don't have any experience with this and am curious. I recently steamed out a very minor set of scratches in some camphor wood that had a very thin coat of shellac applied over a year ago. It worked.
depends
on whether the so called scratch is a cut type scratch or a pushed in or dented type of scratch as to what the steam will do. with the cut it will bring the wood back to shape but will not repair the cut mark
ron
coffee table
Sanding with the same grit and pressure along with the finest grit will reveal scratches before you finish. I have missed scratches as well and I simply keep a sanding block in the finish area to remove the scratches even after I applied oil. I just take some naptha and wipe it the best I can and sand with the grit that will remove the scratches. I also remember to sand to the final grit I used on the rest of the piece. The sandpaper will load quickly because of the oil that seeped in, but just use a new piece of sandpaper and keep on going till the desired results appear. On oil finishes the key is sanding evenly because you arent using a varnish etc. to impart a sheen that hides imperfections, you are using the woods sheen to control the look depending on how many coats of finish you apply.
Ahhh the scratches may be sanding scratches
If so forget the steam then.
Sanding scratches . . .
Makes me appreciate my hand planes even more. From plane to finish ( no sanding ).
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