Hi all-
I'm hoping for some advice. I'm making some windchimes and and in the process of finishing. The wood is spalted maple, that was stained a cinnamon red color and has turned out very nice to this point. I'm down the final finishing and am stumped.
So I sanded the wood 120-150-220 and the surface was great. Did the stain, no issues. Now for finishing, I am using General Finishes 450 exterior, which I got at Rockler based on their recommendation. According to store personnel, it is/was their premium.
It is a water based finish, which I haven't really worked with. My problem is I can't seem to get the finish to "flow" out. When it dries, it leaves brush marks/ridges. I have tried natural bristle brushes and foam brushes, light coats, heavy coats, heavy strokes, light strokes. Nothing seems to help. I was finishing in my basement and though maybe the temp at 66-67 was too cold for it flow, so I tried letting it dry in the main area of the house---no better result. On top of that, I let it dry for 24 hours (even though it claims 2-4) and then lightly "scuff" with 320 between the coats and it knocks nearly all the finish off. So far, I'm very dissapointed, especially given the Rockler recommendation. I have finished many projects with poly and traditional varnish with no issues at all and they have come out fantastic, so on this one I am stumped. I tried to read up on thinning, but not much out there.
My fault for not going with my gut on this one.
3M flexible sand paper review to follow...
Any thoughts are appreciated.
I'm hoping for some advice. I'm making some windchimes and and in the process of finishing. The wood is spalted maple, that was stained a cinnamon red color and has turned out very nice to this point. I'm down the final finishing and am stumped.
So I sanded the wood 120-150-220 and the surface was great. Did the stain, no issues. Now for finishing, I am using General Finishes 450 exterior, which I got at Rockler based on their recommendation. According to store personnel, it is/was their premium.
It is a water based finish, which I haven't really worked with. My problem is I can't seem to get the finish to "flow" out. When it dries, it leaves brush marks/ridges. I have tried natural bristle brushes and foam brushes, light coats, heavy coats, heavy strokes, light strokes. Nothing seems to help. I was finishing in my basement and though maybe the temp at 66-67 was too cold for it flow, so I tried letting it dry in the main area of the house---no better result. On top of that, I let it dry for 24 hours (even though it claims 2-4) and then lightly "scuff" with 320 between the coats and it knocks nearly all the finish off. So far, I'm very dissapointed, especially given the Rockler recommendation. I have finished many projects with poly and traditional varnish with no issues at all and they have come out fantastic, so on this one I am stumped. I tried to read up on thinning, but not much out there.
My fault for not going with my gut on this one.
3M flexible sand paper review to follow...
Any thoughts are appreciated.
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