Hi everybody,
Well, I’ve finally pushed my luck just a bit too much. Despite being an amature I’ve never had any problems messing up a finish yet. BUT, all good things must come to an end, eh? I have a box that I’ve finished with pore filler, a couple of seal coats of dewaxed shellac, and then about 8 or 9 (I lost count) medium thickness brushed coats of lacquer. The brush, even though it was a really good one, left some pretty good brush marks. Even when I thinned out my last coat of lacquer. “That’s okay,” I thought, “I’m going to rub out to a high gloss anyway.” So, I started with my wet sanding with 600 grit paper. In two corner spots I sanded through the finish. These are very small areas, about the size of a quarter of a pinky fingernail.
My question, should I: 1)brush on more lacquer and start again. 2) Repair by blending in more lacquer now and then going lightly with 600 grit there then continuing on with the rest of the sanding/polishing schedual. 3) Finish sanding and/or finish sanding AND polishing (Menzerna products) the WHOLE project then GO BACK and repair the sand throughs (which may at that point be just a bit bigger) and bring the repairs up to the high gloss sheen of the rest of the project. ??
Thanks all, you’re a big help! I guess this is how I learn!
Erich
Replies
erich,
This is not that complicated. One of lacquer's merits is the ease with which it can be repaired. Although this is a new project, you are already at the repair stage.
Brush on more lacquer on the rub through, one layer at a time. Allow each new brushed layer to dry for about 2 hours and GENTLY level with 400-600 grit after 2 coats. You can get 2 coats down in a day, but wait 24-48 hours to level. Then apply 2 more and level again. Keep building to match the surrounding film thickness.
You should have been leveling after every 2-3 coats as you built the original lacquer film. The leveling would have gone very easily and the final surface would have been much flatter. That would have helped regarding rub-through.
Rich
Don't ever learn anything new. Rather than give you satisfaction that you know more than you did, it will only confirm you know less than you thought by opening horizons to things of which you had never dreamt and which you now must explore.
I have touched up with good success using Deft airosol cans, real quick and easy, it burns in perfectly.
I would suggest you buy a compressor and spray the lacquer.
The kit should cost about $150 and sand between each coat.
Spray at 40lb's.
I am quickly thinking that spray is the way! I'd gladly pay for it, but right now I don't have a real practical place to do it. Someday (said with a lilt of longing and hope in my voice!). Thanks everyone for the help, I'm going to go ahead and repair and then maybe lay down one more coat on the whole surface to help blend, the extra rub-out won't take that much more time. Again, thanks!
Erich
erich,
#1, pray that you did not cut thru the shellac, and into the pore filler. If you did, the color will not match after you build up the lacquer again. If it looks at all lighter than the rest of the top,you might want to apply some of the filler over that area, and wipe, for color, before going on with your repair schedule.
Regards,
Ray
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