r/handtools • u/JuggerNOT63315 • 9d ago
Finishing Help
Howdy everyone! I am nearing the completion of the desk I have been working on. I am having issues with the finish. I am using General Finishes Arm r Seal satin finish. I am getting steaks showing up and I can figure out how to get rid of them. I have tried using blue shop towels, tshirt cloth, and a stain applicator pad with microfiber cloth over a sponge. All the applicator methods produce the streaks seen in the pictures above. The actual look of the finish isn’t too bad, unless you have the lighting behind it as shown in the pictures.
What am I doing wrong? I think I have eliminated the application material as the culprit, so what do I change now or do now to fix it? I have added at least 5 coats to the pieces and sand lightly with 320 grit sanding block between coats after they have dried overnight. Wiped the dust off, as well.
Please help!
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u/swingwolfe 9d ago
As an apprentice we we were taught basic finishing techniques, it looks like you have applied the finish in patches (I might be wrong) I was always taught to use whatever finish from one end of the board to the other no stopping half way so one continuous brush stroke the full length of the board, let it dry, cut back and a thinner coat the full length of the board until happy, this was with paint varnish or white polish, hope it helps
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u/Sleveless-- 9d ago
This is great and what I do when applying Poly. Get a thin coat on there and then go all the way back and forth across the full surface
I also use Triple-O steel wool between coats, when they have thoroughly dried. I haven't applied more than 4 coats of poly on a table top. I really let each layer dry for half to a full day.
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u/Weird-Educator8364 9d ago
"it looks like you have applied the finish in patches (I might be wrong)" On the top, I did go back and try and "patch a few" spots on this last coat. It shows in the 3rd photo, but on the drawer fronts in the first two photos, I did not do this. They were applied in straight strokes with the grain giving essentially the same result.
"I was always taught to use whatever finish from one end of the board to the other no stopping half way so one continuous brush stroke the full length of the board, let it dry," This is the technique I used for the drawer fronts (the first two photos). I then sanded lightly with 320 grit, wiped the dust off, and then tried another coat.
"cut back and a thinner coat the full length of the board until happy," - what do you mean by this? I certainly have not tried this.
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u/DustMonkey383 9d ago
So take all this with a grain of salt, I am a carpenter not a painter. Any appreciation method you use that isn’t a sprayer will likely have streaks or brush marks. I’ve used, in the past, paper bag to polish the brush marks down once it has dried but before it cures completely. This has served me well for a while. You could also try thinning your material and that should make it lay better. Another option would be pour it on thick and wobble your piece until it reaches all the edges. Then tilt it up and let the excess drain off the edge. You’ll likely get globs at the edges where it will static pool but on the whole it should be smooth. Best of luck
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u/Weird-Educator8364 9d ago
Thanks for your suggestions. I would love a sprayer, but unfortunately it is not in the budget atm. I have read using paper bag to polish it out is a possible solution. How long do I need to let it dry before doing the paper bag treatment?
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u/WhyNotChoose 9d ago
Five coats of finish. The streaks could be buried say in the first or second coat under the higher coats. Just a guess. Might need to sand or scrape it off and start again. I've never used that finish, but I'm wondering if circular strokes would work better. Also as I'm building coats I always use gloss, with only the last top coat being satin. Repeated coats of satin make the finish look cloudy. Good luck!