Stripping and refinishing......

[Kea5]

G'day all.

Here's the question:

I have some pieces of work that I have made over the 'earlier' days of the 'learning to turn' process that aren't too bad. What really lets them down is the finish that I amateurishly applied....i.e...brush marks in Danish Oil that I applied too thickly and without wiping off the excess.

Now that I've discovered what CAN be achieved by applying the stuff properly, I wouldn't mind going back and 'refinishing' a few of my earlier bits and pieces. It breaks my heart to see beautiful bits of wood ruined by my ham fisted ministrations.

Any thoughts, ideas, magical concoctions would be a great help.

So far the only thought in my head is attacking said pieces with 240/320 grit sandpaper until the offending marks are gone then reworking from there.....idiot? Yes or No?

[rsser]

Yeah, no probs. I've done it - starting as coarse as is needed. The oil soaks in but all other things equal (like differential light effects) you won't need to sand to below it.

Key thing is whether you left anything to rechuck with.

Also, keep in mind the piece will prob have gone more out of round so just spin at slow speed and sand with a light touch. Swap to clean paper often.

If not too badly out of round, return them if you like. Raffan had a piece on this in an AWR. I've just done two.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

If it's too far out of round to be practical to sand on the lathe, or can't be mounted without serious effort, the little 2"(ish) rotary sanders (http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_by_category?category_id=1107144922) for drills will soon clean it up well enough that there's minimal hand-sanding.

What? You don't have one? You really should because they also do a damned fine job of sanding pieces on the lathe.... :wink:

(BTW, I reckon sanding is your best option. Don't bother mucking around with strippers, 'cos they always seem to stain, blotch or otherwise change the "colour" of the wood. :()

[Kea5]

Thanks guys...


Had a bash at it this afternoon and am DELIGHTED with the way it's working out.

Actually went with some reasonably coarse steel wool and that worked a treat. I could probably have used finer wool because I had to work out a few scratches, but all in all I couldn't be happier.

Of course I've now opened a gigantic can of "refinishing" work....oh well.

[rsser]

Good one Kea.

... just watch you don't pick up steel wool fibres in open grained timber. Can be hard to see 'til you get the piece out of the shed.