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Alan Noel Wood finishing
seminar |
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October 2000 |
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Recipe for
DIY dye using tar |
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Can be used as both a
stain and a glaze. Thin Non-fiber tar (asphalt) with mineral spirits
(paint thinner). Make consistency of regular stain. 1 quart of tar makes
about 2 gallons of stain. NOTE: Any oil base can mix to tar. This
"stain" does a very rich job of enhancing the wood grain and
leaves a very rich finish look. |
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Roll paint on first
then brush it out with a brush |
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Finish sand from 180
to max of 220. |
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Prior to finishing,
add a yellow dye color to enhance the light color of the wood. Placing a
red object next to the wood help to determine the hue of the wood, and
which shade of yellow to be used. The lightest part of the wood will
either have a red or green hue, as these are the two primary colors that
make up the color brown. Use an appropriate color stain to enhance this
hue. Minwax "Puritan pine" is on the red side of yellow, while
Minwax " Golden Oak" is on the green side of yellow. These two
"stains" can be used, as they are really dyes and not stains.
Stains have pigment in them and are semi-transparent. What they really are
weak paints and are not recommended. Dyes have no pigment and are a clear
concentrated color. Dye's go from clear to black as you add layers. Pick
the appropriate color based on the hue of the wood. |
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On Maple use puritan
pine for pre-stain and mix with mineral spirits for just a pinch of yellow
look. Always mix in something white so you can see how much of a yellow
cast you have. The lighter color in walnut has a reddish hue so you would
use puritan pine. You can also use very thinned tar for your pre-stain.
With Mahogany you can use tar to cut down on the red color. Mahogany looks
good with puritan pine. Potassium Dichromate on mahogany helps look but
must make sure you get it all washed off afterwards. Pine has an orange
hue. Cherry has a yellow hue. |
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Oxcilic Acid can be
used to remove the black rings caused by water damage and once you use it
make sure you wash it off with water using gloves and make sure you get
all of it off. It is bad on your lungs. |
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After pre-stain put on
lacquer sanding sealer then a coat of glaze which could be tar or any dye
you choice to enhance woods color. You can do this several times. Do not
sand after sanding sealer. Then put on coat of lacquer and this is where
you will sand between coats of lacquer. Use paste wax on wood to polish
not regular spray polishes since they do nothing to protect the wood.
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There are three types
of finishes: |
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Non-reversible finishes such as Oils, Varnishes and polyurethane,
all of which are very durable |
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Reversible finishes such as shellac and lacquer |
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Shoe wax (black or
brown) can be used to polish furniture and it is much cheaper than regular
paste wood wax. |
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Non-reversible
finishes are varnishes. Must sand between coats of varnish or polyurethane
since each coat needs something to bind to. Polyurethane is nothing more
then regular varnish with a few drops of polyurethane added. Regular
varnish has a softer look than polyurethane. Any oil finish or varnish
begins to set up as soon as the can is opened and exposed to oxygen.
Should throw it away once you have used it since deteriorates once it is
opened. |
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A reversible finish
uses alcohol to re-melt or dissolves the previous coat, thus allowing
scratches and other surface blemishes to be repaired invisibly. |
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Shellac will stick to
almost anything. Use shellac when you want to put a finish on a lathe
turning. It dries real fast. |
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Lacquers can be used
over varnish if the surface is ruffed up. Lacquer is one of the most
forgiving finishes. Mineral oil can be added to lacquer to slow down the
drying process during hot weather. Alcohol dyes can be mixed with lacquers
to add color if desired. Always use same brand of lacquer and lacquer
thinners. Once you have established how much thinner to mix to the lacquer
to either slow or speed up drying it will always be consistent when using
the same brand. When weather is hot put in ½ teaspoon of
mineral spirits to make lacquer lay out smooth. In winter use automotive
type fast flash thinner. Use only pre-catalyzed lacquer not post
catalyzed, post is added pre is all ready added for you. |
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You may want to French
polish either old furniture or new. You can French polish over shellac,
lacquer and varnish. |
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You can not polish
over sanding seal lacquer. French polish uses shellac thinned with mineral
spirits. The brand Mohawk "Loc French" is special formulated for
French finishing. To finish, ball some cotton within a cloth rag. Soak the
cotton with Mohawk Loc French shellac as well as the rag so that if you
tap the ball on you hand, it leaves a light film. Not so much it will run.
Apply by tapping and stroking over the surface. Do not rub on. You must
always be moving cloth on furniture do not stop. |
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French Polishing gives
furniture a patina look, but should not be used on table tops since finish
would be too soft. It is well suited for use on chairs etc. |
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Keep your French
finishing pad in a covered jar when not in use. |
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Take mineral spirits
and with steel wool (0000) clean wood you are going to use. If new wood
primer with something like auto red primer so wood is smooth. Brush your
background color on which should be black, red or white. Use quick drying
varnish called gold seizer. Apply varnish to wood in a light coat. Let dry
35 min. to an hour. If it gets too dry before you get back to it just
reapply. It should be slightly tacky to the touch. Lay gold leaf over wood
and use brush or cotton to smooth. You can use make up brush to put leaf
on. Use cotton to polish gold leave. Wipe a mix of very thin tar over gold
leave to age and can also use Van Dykes Brown brushing glaze on it made by
Masters Magic. Once done spray a coat of lacquer on the project. You can
touch up gold leaf with bronze powder and shellac. Mix a little shellac
with the bronze powder. Apply with brush and can use to fix cracks etc.
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Can use gold leaf
mixed with shellac to highlight your projects such as stripes on chairs
etc. But remember less is best. You can touch up projects with clear
finger nail polish since it is lacquer. Must use spray over glazes can not
brush over glazes since will smear. |
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Alkaline Dye will
absorb through skin so always wear gloves. Shellac least toxic of
finishes. Do not us automotive lacquer on wood since not flexible. Use
catalyzed lacquer where you want a hard finish. Always bevel inlays.
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You will need to
colors of paint with a good contrast between them. Paint white latex on
your project and work with brush or roller until very smooth. Let paint
dry. Put hide glue (Tite-Bond) on over paint and let it get almost dry
(tacky). The thicker the layer of glue will produce wider cracks. Put your
second paint on when glue is tacky and brush only in one direction as
quick as possible. Do not use roller for this step only brush. Crack will
develop as the glue sucks the moisture out of the final layer of paint. If
you want to paint a picture on your project then varnish while paint is
still wet and then paint with acrylics or watercolors. |
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"Understanding
Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish" by Bob
Flexner, is considered the bible for wood finishing. "Classic Wood
Finishing" by George Frank is also a good book. |
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Wood Finisher Supply
in Atlanta is a source for supplies at 770-429-5656 |
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These notes are the
combination of Barb Keen & Jim del Toro |