Question
I'm making the switch to water base finishing and would appreciate some pointers to reduce the grain raising I'm getting on red oak.
I'm used to spraying solvent lacquer and expect there to be some difference but I'm experiencing grain raising into the fourth coat; mostly on detail profiles. I only sand enough between coats to knock down the fuzz. It's for cabinet work, so I'm not aiming for a glass finish, but do want a good hand on drawer fronts and doors. Could any of you with water lacquer experience tell me your prep/finishing routine?
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor B:
Depending on how I'll be coloring the piece, I usually wet the surface with water prior to any finishing. Let dry and sand down raised grain at that point. After coloring, I'll seal either with shellac or a diluted coat of finish. I let that dry, do a light scuff sanding, and apply 3 coats in one day, with no sanding in between. After 24 hours, if any raised grain, I'll sand down and apply a final coat.
Depending on how and what you'll be using to apply color, the pre wetting and then sanding to remove raised grain can be an asset. If applying a pigment stain or color in any type of binder, wet surface, let dry and lightly sand diagonal to the grain with a 400 grit. This leaves a very smooth surface, with minimal scratching. It won't absorb much color, plenty of grain shows through, and it only needs 2 - 3 coats of finish to feel very smooth.
1. 1/2 lb cut of dewaxed shellac
2. stain
3. 1 lb cut of dewaxed shellac
4. light sand with 320
5. 2 coats of wb clear
6. sand 320
7. continue to build the wb clears
We do our builds with gloss and then last coat(s) with semi or satin.
* Sand the wood to at least 220 and keep the first 2-3 coats very light (dust coats) to seal the wood. Then a wet coat, sand, and spray the final.
* Or, take some fast dry oil-base varnish and reduce it 100% - 200% with naphtha and spray and wipe like a stain.
* Dye and/or stain the wood and let it dry. Then use a light coat to seal followed by a wet coat. Sand and spray the final.
Using 2-3 very light dust coats on the bare wood will seal it with minimal grain raise. It adds time to the job, though. Using shellac is place of the fast-dry varnish is an option. Either will warm up the color of the oak better than the water-base by itself and seal the wood to eliminate grain raise.
Just need to experiment with some of the techniques offered. The early wash coats with plenty of dry time before first sanding seem to make sense. I'll like also to try other products as well. The Target seems fine, but would like to compare to others.