Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: walker_tr9 on May 26, 2012, 09:42:58 am
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This is not arcade related, but is a good wood working question. I have tried googling this, but have not found a good clear description of what to do.
How do the furniture guys get that super-smooth finish? I have brushed on varnish, and it looks fine but it doesn't quite have that nice finish. Is this a spray thing? I'm going to make an armoire, and I'm not looking forward to varnishing it. (Note: this is a lingering project I'm doing so that I can justify buying tools; that way when I build the arcade cabinet, I don't need to include the cost of the tools!)
Anyway, spray seems faster, but I don't want to buy some fancy sprayer for it. If I do it with a can, I guess I should be outside because of fumes? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Don't know what the "furniture guys" will say, but I have had great success with Polycrylic. Brush on w/4" brush as slowly as you can go. Light sanding between coats. I did about 5 coats on my pinball playfield and it turned out awesome (I did a final buff out with Novus 2, then a couple coats of a good canuba wax.
Anyway, might not be the best method and I know little, but maybe an alternative. Have fun or you're not doing it right.
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I did the wood trim in my bathroom many years ago and I just brushed it on and sanded with increasingly high grit paper in between coats. I think I did three. It came out pretty close.
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You have to do multiple coats. To get the smooth rubbery/plastic feel on my workbench it took 3-4 coats and sanding in between. The brush method is the best IMO because you have a "feel" for how it's going on. With sprays I often times feel disconnected and can't quite get it right.
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I only use tung oil with steel wool in between coats. Maxing out at 0000 steel wool.
The finish i put on the bed is more of a satin finish, but you can get gloss. This is only 4 coats but it's a beautiful finish.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7314708772_2494e2b8b6_z.jpg)
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That bed looks pretty good! So how much sanding is necessary? What I have done before is use steel wool 0000 after each coat for 3-4 coats. Should I be using rougher sand paper at first?
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I believe that i sanded it to 300+ before the tung oil and steel wool process. Between coats, make sure that you remove all steel wool and dust remnants. I found that pressurized air works quite well. Wear a dust mask. Inhaling steel wool is not advised :)
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So I found this page:
http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Painting/Painting-Techniques/how-to-get-a-smooth-polyurethane-finish (http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Painting/Painting-Techniques/how-to-get-a-smooth-polyurethane-finish)
And I think I may use this technique for a TV cabinet I just finished staining. But I have only applied poly with brushes before. Has anyone else used this paint roller method? Does it work well?