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Rubbing Furniture Finishes:
Using a sanding block, always working with the grain, sand your piece to mirror flat. Start with 220 grit sandpaper and finish with 150 grit. I use a wood block for sanding.
Use wood filler to fill the pores creating a flat surface that will evenly absorb lacquer. Apply a thin coat of wood filler over the entire surface. Scrape off excess with a scraper, using firm pressure and scraping against the grain of the wood, to push the filler into the pores. Allow to sit for a few hours, be sure the filler is completely dry. Sand lightly along the grain of the wood, using 150 grit sandpaper until all filler on the surface is no longer visible.
Apply your stain and allow to dry completely.
Apply multiple coats of the finish product. (Lacquer or Polyurethane)
Wet sand at 400 grit, then 600, 800 & finally 1000. Make sure to wet wipe away all dust slurry between grits! Use clean rag for each wipe. T-shirt material works really well.
Now sprinkle the surface with pumice and water and rub along the grain until you have a nice satin finish. Add a bit more water if the material is drying out. Take care that you clean all traces of the pumice!
To bring the finish to a high gloss sprinkle rotten-stone over the surface and a sprinkle of vegetable oil. As you did with the pumice, rub the rotten-stone and oil until you reach the gloss level you prefer.
Finish up with a light coat of furniture paste wax and buff it out.
DONE!
Notes:
Rubbed finishes look much like a French Polish but are easier to achieve and more durable.
Lacquer is easiest to rub out. Polyurethane can also be rubbed and is more durable BUT one must take great care to avoid sanding or rubbing through any of the applied layers. That would ruin the finish!
I continue to use a wood block to sand right up until I get to the pumice stage.
Using a sanding block, always working with the grain, sand your piece to mirror flat. Start with 220 grit sandpaper and finish with 150 grit. I use a wood block for sanding.
Use wood filler to fill the pores creating a flat surface that will evenly absorb lacquer. Apply a thin coat of wood filler over the entire surface. Scrape off excess with a scraper, using firm pressure and scraping against the grain of the wood, to push the filler into the pores. Allow to sit for a few hours, be sure the filler is completely dry. Sand lightly along the grain of the wood, using 150 grit sandpaper until all filler on the surface is no longer visible.
Apply your stain and allow to dry completely.
Apply multiple coats of the finish product. (Lacquer or Polyurethane)
Wet sand at 400 grit, then 600, 800 & finally 1000. Make sure to wet wipe away all dust slurry between grits! Use clean rag for each wipe. T-shirt material works really well.
Now sprinkle the surface with pumice and water and rub along the grain until you have a nice satin finish. Add a bit more water if the material is drying out. Take care that you clean all traces of the pumice!
To bring the finish to a high gloss sprinkle rotten-stone over the surface and a sprinkle of vegetable oil. As you did with the pumice, rub the rotten-stone and oil until you reach the gloss level you prefer.
Finish up with a light coat of furniture paste wax and buff it out.
DONE!
Notes:
Rubbed finishes look much like a French Polish but are easier to achieve and more durable.
Lacquer is easiest to rub out. Polyurethane can also be rubbed and is more durable BUT one must take great care to avoid sanding or rubbing through any of the applied layers. That would ruin the finish!
I continue to use a wood block to sand right up until I get to the pumice stage.
, needless to say, it did not go well!!!
