Replies

1. 
   Andy_Charron | Aug 11, 1999 08:52pm | #1

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   How you rub out a water-based finish depends on several things. What kind of finish is it? How was it applied? How many coats did you apply? And, most importantly, what look are you trying to create? (ie--satin, gloss or a really high "piano finish" gloss?) I would like to help but need to no more.
   Andy Charron

1. 
   mike_maglio | Aug 12, 1999 06:53am | #2

   *Andy, I'm putting a finish on a desk I recently made. I brushed on 4 coats of water based polyurethane (hi-gloss) over a waterbased stain. I would like to achieve a high-luster satin finish. Any suggestions?

1. 
   Andy_Charron | Aug 12, 1999 09:09pm | #3

   *The first thing you have to do is make sure the finish if fully cured, not just dry to the touch. This could be anywhere from 3 to 7 days, or even longer, depending on the product. In general terms, the longer you let a water-based finish cure, the easier it will be to rub out (within reason, of course). Water-based finishes can be a bit difficult to rub to a high gloss, especially finishes that contain a high percentage of urethane resins. Fortunately rubbing to a satin finish is easier:1--Sand the surface flat so there are no ridges, brush marks, depressions, dust specks, etc. I use wet/dry paper and a wood block to do this. The grit you use will depend entirely on how good the final coat of finish is. You'll know the surface is flat when it appear dull, with no shiny spots. 2--Continue sanding with progressivly finer grits. For a satin finish I stop at 600.3--Rub the entire surface with 0000 steel wool. If you want you can use water, oil or wool lube as a lubricant to make the rubbing easier. The steel wool will give you a soft, satiny shine.Just be careful when you start the sanding process that you don't cut through the top coat. Some water-based products bond, or melt-in, between coats while others simply lay one coat on top of the next. If this is the case and you cut through the top coat, you will be left with witness lines. The only way to get rid of them is to apply another coat and start over. Hope this is of some help. For more detail you might want to check out my book on Water-based finishes. Good luck,Andy Charron