12-03-2011, 05:06 PM
Hi,
You are most welcome Rob.
Here's a bit more information showing the TV cabinet I'm currently working on and have started to flat using abrasive paper and talcum powder this afternoon.
Flatting is a slow process and it's pointless trying to rush by using coarse abrasive paper or pressing too hard which only coats the paper. I used both 420grit and 600grit wet or dry paper mostly using oval movements taking my time. It's taken about two and a half hours to flat two cabinet sides.
The pictures show what the nine brush coats of shellac look like before flatting and what it looks like in close up after flatting. I like using talcum powder but only once this stage has been reached and the grain is fully sealed with shellac. The shiny flecks are where the shellac has filled the grain and it has sunk; to try to remove all these flecks would possibly take it back to bare veneer; I'm happy to see most of the flecks have now been flatted out and there is a vast improvement in the surface ready to accept more shellac; It won't take much more shellac at this stage to completely fill the grain then most of the hard work will be behind me and I will soon see the finish appear; once the cabinet is completely flatted I'll decide whether it requires more brush coats of shellac or if I can start to use the rubber. I hope the pictures are useful because this stage in finishing is not usually shown but it is most important to get it right.
Kind regards, Col.
[attachment=239][attachment=240][attachment=241][attachment=242]
You are most welcome Rob.
Here's a bit more information showing the TV cabinet I'm currently working on and have started to flat using abrasive paper and talcum powder this afternoon.
Flatting is a slow process and it's pointless trying to rush by using coarse abrasive paper or pressing too hard which only coats the paper. I used both 420grit and 600grit wet or dry paper mostly using oval movements taking my time. It's taken about two and a half hours to flat two cabinet sides.
The pictures show what the nine brush coats of shellac look like before flatting and what it looks like in close up after flatting. I like using talcum powder but only once this stage has been reached and the grain is fully sealed with shellac. The shiny flecks are where the shellac has filled the grain and it has sunk; to try to remove all these flecks would possibly take it back to bare veneer; I'm happy to see most of the flecks have now been flatted out and there is a vast improvement in the surface ready to accept more shellac; It won't take much more shellac at this stage to completely fill the grain then most of the hard work will be behind me and I will soon see the finish appear; once the cabinet is completely flatted I'll decide whether it requires more brush coats of shellac or if I can start to use the rubber. I hope the pictures are useful because this stage in finishing is not usually shown but it is most important to get it right.
Kind regards, Col.
[attachment=239][attachment=240][attachment=241][attachment=242]
