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<DIV><FONT size=2>I've always used spar varnish. I like how it
looks. In this case I modified the technique given in the article =
a
bit. I sanded first to 220. Then a diluted the varnish 1:3 =
with
turpentine, saturated the wood, sanded it in with 320 and wiped off the
excess. Then I brushed on a heavier coat and let it dry as =
normal.
Afterwards, I sanded in one more coat using extra fine 3M synthetic =
steel wool
and wiped off the excess again. I just finished this coat and =
though it
leaves a really nice feeling surface, it is not the glossy finish that =
one would
have if you brushed the final coat. It is somewhere in between =
satin and
gloss. Rather nice actually. But the jury is still =
out. I may
brush on one final coat if I decide I want the glossy finish. =
There is
something about a glossy varnish finish on an old board that has a real =
richness
that I like. I just hate trying to work so dust free in my small
production shop.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bases-loaded@juno.com
href="mailto:bases-loaded@juno.com">bases-loaded@juno.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> January 10, 2002 5:34 =
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Varnishing =
Soundboards</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Hi David -</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A couple things come to mind...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There are numerous wiping oil blends (or make one yourself) that =
can
incorporate wet sanding, but have a longer "open" time, giving you =
more leeway
on something large like a soundboard. Surely, a soundboard =
doesn't
require marine-level (spar) protection anyway.... In Jeff =
Jewitt's "Hand
Applied Finishes" he gives an example of one part tung oil, one part =
mineral
spirits, and one part Waterlox transparent finish. You sand the =
wood to
320, apply a wet coat to the wood. Wait 20 minutes, then =
wet-sand the
finish with 320. Wipe off the excess. Allow to dry at =
least 24
hours, and repeat process, this time with 600 paper. Repeat til =
you get
the build you want. Sounds like it might be a more forgiving =
finish for
a large surface.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also, with all the sanding going on, and if you want to use spar, =
why not
just brush it on like usual, and sand out the inevitable dust and rub =
it out
to the desired sheen? Seems like less sanding overall and likely =
less
hassle.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Just a few thoughts on a rainy Thursday eve...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mark Potter</DIV>
<DIV><A =
href="mailto:bases-loaded@juno.com">bases-loaded@juno.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Mon, 7 Jan 2002 22:00:37 -0800 "David Love" <<A
=
href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">davidlovepianos@earthlink.n=
et</A>>
writes:</DIV>
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style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 =
2px solid">
<DIV><FONT size=2>There was a very interesting article in this =
month's Fine
Woodworking magazine that discussed a method of using spar varnish =
for
finishing furniture. It involved sanding the varnish into the =
wood in
successive coats using finer and finer sandpaper. The sanding =
created
a kind of slurry which acts to fill the grain of the wood. The =
excess
varnish is then wiped off and allowed to dry before the next finer =
grit is
used on the subsequent coat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I have always liked using varnish on soundboards =
for its
durability and look, but have found it a bit of a =
headache because of
the time it takes to dry and the problems with dust. This =
method
supposedly avoids that and creates a rather lustrous finish. =
Has
anyone tried this method? Any comments. The article =
mentions
that for large surfaces you may want to use two people. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV>
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