Stirring, Flatting, and Sheen
Inconsistent sheen in a finish job could be related to insufficient shaking, stirring, or mixing of the material. October 18, 2012
Question
I purchased 2 gallons of 10 sheen lacquer from vista. The first gallon went well, and I was almost done with everything. I had to open the second gallon to finish the job. I sprayed the remaining 3 doors with the new gallon, and what do you know? It looks 10 times flatter than the other doors, like there's no sheen at all. I sprayed it again. Same thing. What can I add to the gallon I have in the gun to add some sheen, without having to buy more finish? Or will I have to spray the entire job again? Crap like this always happens right when I am almost done. Supposed to install Monday or Tuesday. Not looking good now.
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
From contributor M:
Usually this is caused by not shaking/stirring a can thoroughly before using (the flatting agent is actually very fine sand which settles on the bottom of the can).
You can add gloss to the flatter two doors by using very fine steel wool and softly buffing, or you can let the second can of finish sit for a couple of days and then spray the two doors without shaking/stirring the finish beforehand.
From contributor I:
Either let the finish in the new can settle, then take some off the top and the gloss should be greater, or retard your new mix and that will kick up the gloss. Normally high gloss is because it did not get agitated correctly. Likewise, as you get lower in the 5, the gloss will drop. But it would not have been the first time the factory screwed something up.
From contributor R:
I usually have our vendor shake the daylights out of products we order. This includes coatings as well as pigmented color mediums. Course we also agitate the coatings real well prior to using them, but the industrial shaker our vendors use gives us a good head start.
From the original questioner:
Thanks. I stirred the dickens out of both cans, and dragged the stir stick along the bottom so I could see how much of the flattening agent was still un-dissolved. I will give it some settling time and respray. Problem is I am using an airless with a hopper, so whatever settles will be the first through the hose. Wish me luck on this one.
From contributor L:
Spray the other stuff with the newer flatter stuff.
From contributor P:
Good luck, indeed. The flatting agent affects the clarity of the finish, so different numbers of coats with/without the flatting agent may not come out the same.
