The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
Pass the spray over the spot several times and do not hesitate long enough to flood the surface as this will make a conspicuous place on an open-pore surface. Be sure that the edges are feathered out so that there is no perceptible edge when finished.
How io Dull Sprayed Patches.—It has been found difficult to make a spot of the same dullness as the surrounding surface without using the same material for dulling the spot as was used originally on the entire surface. Steel wool has proved to be a very effective means of smoothing a spot that has been sprayer with lacquer, but requires much care in its use to prevent cutting through the feathered edges. A fine grade should be used, not coarser than 2/0, finishing with 3/0. Coarser wool will scratch the surface.
Pumice stone and oil on a felt rubbing block is an effective means of rubbing down a spot of lacquer and will usually match the other surface in dullness, but it is necessary to clean off the spot frequently to know just when the proper amount of rubbing has been done.
Sanding a spot of lacquer with dry or waterproof paper and water may be satisfactory in some instances, but the operation is more or less difficult. Waterproof garnet paper used with water is liable to cut through on the feathered edge, raise the grain and remove the water stain. Dry garnet finishing paper will heat the spot and thus prevent smooth sanding unless the surface is very hard. Furthermore, dry paper used on spots makes it very difficult to level the spot without cutting through around it.
"Regardless of which method one may use to level the spot with the surrounding surface, it is necessary to slush the spot with FFF pumice and oil and wipe off to match the oil rubbing on the rest of the surface. Sometimes a little rottenstone must be added to the slush to brighten the polish.
Rubbed Through Places on Varnish or Shellac.—The French polishing method has been developed to surpass all other methods in patching damages on all varnish or shellac surfaces. Formerly it was thought necessary to refinish any piece that was damaged to the extent of having all the varnish, stain, and even part of the wood removed. Now it is possible to repair any kind of rubbed through place to match exactly the surrounding finish, and the only reason for refinishing any of the surfaces damaged is because refinishing will consume less valuable time than would be consumed in patching. Of course the number and extent of the damages to a piece determine whether it is to be refinished or patched.
