Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 06, 2003 12:34am | #1

   Are swirl marks from the last sanding of the wood or from the sanding of the first coat?

   In either event, you should not be machine sanding either the last sanding or never for sanding in between coats. The last sanding of the wood should be by hand using the last grit of paper and sanding only in the direction of the grain. Any between coat sanding should be by hand again in the direction of the grain.

   At this point if the swirls are from the wood you will either have to live with them or strip the finish and resand. Same if the swirls are in the first coats of finish.

   Also, you have your finishing schedule backwards. If you plan to finish the finish, you should be applying thicker or full strength coats for the final coat. With thinned coats at the end, you risk sanding through the thin film and leaving witness marks.

1. 
   matthewlanebryan | Feb 06, 2003 12:47am | #2

   Thanks for the reply,

   I only machined sanded the wood to 220.  I hand sanded the rest.  I put the 50/50 brushed first coat as a base ( I will not do that again).  The thick coats are for build and the last two thined  coats were to finish the finish with no sanding in between. 

1. 
   ClancysBro | Feb 06, 2003 01:26am | #3

   MATTHEWBRYAN, keep trying! Sounds like a good combination to get where you want to be with a finish. Always go with the grain when you can. I like abrasive pads a little better then sand paper. They seem to work better and trap a lot of the dust within the pad itself.  

   Your thread caught my eye because recently I have been experimenting with polyshades. I achieved a very nice finish wiping on the polyshade and then letting it set for 5 minutes and then wiping the excess off with a clean cotton rag (with the grain). Let it sit for 24 hours. Then I took a very fine sanding pad and lightly scuffed with the grain also then  removed all dust with a cheese cloth. Repeat step 1. Let dry for 24 hours.

   The finish is still really soft at this point so becareful how you cut it if you have finished full sheets like this (interior parts). Takes quite a long time to cure but once it's complete- Man it looks good!! -cheers 

   Edited 2/5/2003 5:28:39 PM ET by protagora

2. 
   Gretchen | Feb 06, 2003 03:13pm | #4

   In the time you took to do the first 2 coats you could have wiped on 4 or more coats of 50/50--probably 4 hours apart.  It isn't necessary to sand between every coat of wipe on--maybe after 3or 4, then lightly sand.
   I might guess that the swirl marks are because you didn't wipe with the grain for final wiping.  I jsut make it a rule to always wipe with the grain like sanding.  Seems logical.
   I think you have made the wipe on method more complicated than it needs to be.  Also longer than it needs to be--no need to wait 24 hours between coats.  You also have only 4 thin coats (+the 75% dilution)  on your piece at this point.  You need more to finish the film.  As for the swirls, perhaps a good sanding to get rid of them and then just start over with the wiping--don't count what you have already done and wipe on 50/50 coats up to 8 coats not letting it fully cure between coats.

   Gretchen