The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
The application of the finishing coat is the same as any of the preceding coats with the exception that more care must be exercised in spraying or brushing. Every spot must be covered and there must not be any sags, runs, laps or flooded places. There is no question as to whether it is best to brush or spray the finish coat, as the spray method always will produce the more even finish, eliminating the brush marks attending the brushing of spirit varnishes, and giving a better covering. However, if the spray cannot be used, brushing can be accomplished with good results if the material is thinned and great care and speed used when applying it. Coat from top to bottom, and if using a spray on horizontal surfaces, start at the edge closest to you and work away to prevent overspray covering the finished work. "With either brush or spray a good wet glossy surface must be had to be sure to have sufficient material on for a good rubbing.
BOBBING SHELLAC FINISH COAT
Shellac is a hard material to surface, and it is literally hard. Some object to using shellac because of this, but there is little difference from rubbing lacquer. It is better to sand with finishing paper of a fine grade, or rub with steel 'wool, to knock off the high places, if the finish coat has been applied with a brush. After the preliminary sanding use FF pumice stone and rubbing oil on a felt pad either attached to an oscillating rubber or use by hand, rubbing back and forth on the straight surfaces until you have produced the desired results. "Wipe off the surface at intervals to see if the surface is rubbed sufficiently.
If rubbing cabinets that are paneled, rub the panels first and afterward the frames. All carvings and inaccessible places must be rubbed with a regular rubbing brush and little rubbing is necessary in places of this kind. Dip the brush into a mixture of oil and pumice and rub over the carvings briskly but very little in one place. "When you have covered the surface twice, clean off and inspect. Benzine or naphtha are excellent for cleaning off pumice and oil and should be brushed on and wiped off with waste or rags. The rags or waste should be very clean and not contain any material that will scratch the surface. Wipe off with the grain when possible.
Wipe off straight surfaces with the grain, and under no circumstances wipe or rub in careless circles or across the grain. Remember the little mark or scratch made with the grain does not show, but across the grain is plainly visible, and so all rubbing must be done with the grain. It will require a great deal of rubbing with oil to get the same results as can be obtained with water, but water is not generally used on the last coat as it produces too dull a surface. Oil with pumice stone gives the satin finish.
