Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Basics for refinishing furniture
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forgop
07-30-08, 06:52 PM
Years ago, I worked for a family construction company and spent a number of days doing nothing but making trim. I recall staining it, sanding it, and then putting a coat of varnish on top of it that would leave it as smooth as glass.
Fast forward to the present, I have a nice oak kitchen table that I sanded down to some gouges in the surface. I've applied a coat of stain 24+ hours ago and sanded down with a 180 grit sandpaper. For some reason, I thought I recalled using something like 320 grit sandpaper, but 180 was the highest I could find at the local Menards. I've applied another coat of stain this evening.
What do I specifically need to do to get a much smoother surface? I don't necessarily need it to be as smooth as glass, but something that will be relatively smooth and have a nice shine and be protectant of liquids obviously. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Fast forward to the present, I have a nice oak kitchen table that I sanded down to some gouges in the surface. I've applied a coat of stain 24+ hours ago and sanded down with a 180 grit sandpaper. For some reason, I thought I recalled using something like 320 grit sandpaper, but 180 was the highest I could find at the local Menards. I've applied another coat of stain this evening.
What do I specifically need to do to get a much smoother surface? I don't necessarily need it to be as smooth as glass, but something that will be relatively smooth and have a nice shine and be protectant of liquids obviously. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Just Bill
07-31-08, 04:48 PM
Smooth as glass before you apply a finsh is not good, nothing for the finish to grab on to. 180-220 is about as fine as I go for the first coat or so, then 320, 400, even 600, or a Scotchbrite pad. I am in the process of restoring a 36 Plymouth woody, and the first door is done, like glass. About 9-10 coats of marine poly, sand after each coat, spray thinned coats at the end/beginning.
marksr
07-31-08, 05:44 PM
Rarely is it a good idea to apply multiple coats of stain. Usually 1 coat of stain is applied with the excess wiped off and then a sealer applied when dry.
The trim you worked on yrs ago probably was stained and then sealed with sanding sealer followed by sanding and 2 coats of varnish. Poly dries to a harder finish than varnish but most shouldn't be applied over sanding sealer. With poly, the 1st coat over the stain is thinned slightly, sanded when dry, repeat.
I usually do my intial sanding with 180 grit and the final sandings with 220.
The trim you worked on yrs ago probably was stained and then sealed with sanding sealer followed by sanding and 2 coats of varnish. Poly dries to a harder finish than varnish but most shouldn't be applied over sanding sealer. With poly, the 1st coat over the stain is thinned slightly, sanded when dry, repeat.
I usually do my intial sanding with 180 grit and the final sandings with 220.