The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
The test tor surfacing second coats will be to press the palm of the hand heavily on the surface for at least one minute, and if no impression is made, you can safely sand or rub the surface with any material with the possible exception of oil and pumice, The oil has a tendency to soften a green varnish.
SURFACING SECOND COATERS
Shellac or Spirit Varnishes.—Sanding with dry garnet finishing paper, grade 5/0 or 6/0. is the proper way to surface this material if another coat is to be applied. Refer to the paragraph on dry sanding in Chapter VI for method of sanding. If this is to be the last coat, refer to the next paragraph on surfacing lacquer finishing with pumice stone FF and rubbing oil. It is assumed that a satin or dull finish is desired with a two-coat finish in shellac or spirit varnishes. Oil and pumice rubbing is about the only way shellac is finished.
Lacquer Material Rubhing.—If another coat of lacquer is desired after the second coat, use a waterproof garnet finishing paper, about 5/0, and do a smooth, quick job. This paper cuts off a surface quicker than any known abrasive and is very effective in skilled hands. A sponge and chamois with plenty of water are necessary when surfacing in this manner. Dip the sponge in water and cover a small surface at a time with water. Place a piece of the paper between the little and third finger and with the hand flat on the surface sand systematically with the grain of the wood, overlapping each stroke and working from one side of the surface to the other, keeping plenty of water under the paper at all times. Clean off the surface with the sponge and wipe off with the chamois to inspect. The operator can tell, after practice, when he has sanded sufficiently without wiping off, but frequent inspections are necessary for anyone not habitually at this kind of work, as the hand is not trained to feel a smooth surface. Much care should be exercised in sanding with waterproof paper, and above all, keep away from the edges until you learn how much pressure can be put on the paper when near the edge. Little pressure need be put on this paper for water sanding—it cuts fast. If the gloss is worn off the surface it is usually sanded enough.
Pumice stone FF and water can be used for a second coat of lacquer material provided the coat is to be extremely dull or another coat is desired, and the same method of use, as described in the following paragraph on oil rubbing with pumice stone, except water causes it to cut quicker. With water and pumice a sponge should be used to clean the surface and a chamois to wipe dry for testing.
