Here we go again!!

[Cutting Cathy]

Well, once again I'm having trouble with my finishing!! I am making another playing card box and I can't get the finish all the way around the inside of the box. Also it doesn't get in all the frets and the wood looks "wooly"!! I used aspen for this and I have since read that it is a fibrous wood. I don't recall having this much trouble with the first one!! I tried to take pictures, but I don't know if you can see it. The inside of the middle compartment is where I'm having major problems. I started with Deft Sanding Sealer spray and of course I can't get the spray in that area. Should I use something else?? Something that I could brush in?? If so what??It just looks so "raw".

February 15, 2009 008.jpg

February 15, 2009 027.jpg

In the bottom picture you can see it looks like fuzzies. But it doesn't matter how much I sand, I can't get rid of them. The spray doesn't get into the frets which I think would help.

February 15, 2009 013.jpg

Any ideas out there?? Finishing really takes all the fun out of scrolling for me!! I really struggle with it! Thanks for any help!!

[lucky788scroller]

Try spraying on a few coats of Deft gloss finish. Put it on fairly thick on the box innards, and right after spraying it on, use a small artists paintbrush to smear a little into the corners. And, spray the fretwork part a couple times as well, and after that finish dries, then try to lightly sand off the fuzzies, them lil suckers should be stiff and come off ok.After you get the fuzzies cleared up, and a light sanding on the whole thing, spray it again with semi gloss to give it its final coating. On this piece, since it is aspen, I would have really literally filled those compartments with danish oil and let it soak up into all of that endgrain, and believe me, it would have soaked up a lot! Dont cuss, and dont throw that project against the wall in a fit of rage just yet, theres still hope for it yet. Aspen isnt a very scroller friendly wood, I assume you chose it for its light color??? It doesnt have much strength to it, so fretwork things tend to be relatively fragile if made of aspen.

[Forester21]

Aspen is really a difficult wood for me to finish. I think because there are so many varieties of "Aspen" trees that are all named the same when it comes to the wood. I have some rough cut Aspen that is very fiborous and a pain to finish.

When I do use the aspen, I use a brush on water based finish. I get it in the craft department of walmart. Brush on a coat, let dry over night, and sand. Repeat this a few times until the "fuzzies" are not there. My last sanding is done with a brown paper bag.
Then, if you want, you can spray with the final coat of finish.

T

[tomsteve]

as stated by theresa, many varieties of aspen, as well as other wood( many varieties of red oak,maple, etc.) for the fuzzies, b4 ya spray a finish, how about trying a torch to burn them off? i do this on portrait work and it works pretty good. i wood suggest practicing on scrap first. doesnt take much flame to burn them off and the torch must be moving at all times and not too close to the wood.

[Wood Dog]

Cathy I think you've gotten great suggestions, and may I compliment you on your cutting. Nice straight cuts on the box.
By the way they do sell brush on Deft if you wanted to brush it on. I got some at Lowe's.
It will come out just fine after you try these tips.
Personally I have never tried the paper bag thing.....thanks for that tip Terry.

[Cutting Cathy]

Dale, I have to tell you, my husband asked me if anyone had replied to my post and when I told him Dale did, he said "now which one is he?" When I told him he's the "slobber it on" guy, he knew right away!!

I sent Theresa a pm to ask a little more about her finish process. I should have asked her on the board as I forget I may not be the only one that needs help!!

Tom, I haven't had the nerve to try the torch idea yet!! I don't know if I would be too comfortable with that! However, I will keep that in mind, maybe some day I shall try it!!

Wood Dog you made me stop and think..... I have the brush on Deft!! I use it on my piggy banks with the paper bag!! I just might run out and try that!! I have to finish a bank for a friend's daughter that just had a baby so now would be the time!!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll keep you all posted!!

[Wood Dog]

Cathy what do you mean you "used it on your piggy banks with the paper bag" ?
Am I to assume you applied it on the wood with a paper bag, or did the piggy bank have a paper bag? I'm a bit dense today!

[Cutting Cathy]

Sorry WD, I brush it on the banks and when it's dry, I use the brown paper bag to "sand" it. It comes out very smoooooth!!


This is what the sheep banks look like:

Sheep2.jpg

Sheep bank from the top.jpg

Sorry I confused you!!!

[steveh]

I have never heard of "paper bag sanding", can someone explain? Does it mean you use paper from a brown bag instead of very fine sandpaper as a flat sheet, crumpled or on a sanding block. I think I am denser than WD, above, on this...
Steve

I must have been composing while you were posting the above reply. I think I understand now but if you want to expand I would appreciate it...

[Cutting Cathy]

Steve, I just use a piece of brown paper bag flat, like a piece of sandpaper. It really does work for me!!