Ok.. I am nearing completion of my first project. Yeah! I put off finishing the project for a long time for fear I would screw it up. The staining seemed to go well. I am now using a gel varnish to put the final coats. I should mention I am making a bed The two side rails went fine. I just put the first coat of varnish on the footboard and notice lint balls from my lint-free cloth. So what do I do now. I guess wait until it dries and then what?
"Stacey" wrote in news:boqdnd1Qh snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
I've used gel varnish, and had decent results from it, but this last project, I tried a standard trick with a wiping varnish. Flexner's book has it, but most of the finishing gurus have written about it.
4 oz McCloskey's oil based varnish, 2 oz naptha, in a lidded squeeze bottle, and padded on in a manner not unlike one would use for shellac. No runs, no drips, no errors, dries comparatively quickly. Were you to use this, I'd recommend using a brushing varnish from the same family as the gel varnish you've been using so far, thinned for wiping.
My best lint free cloths are old cloth baby diapers, well washed over their term of use. Old dish towels & t-shirts work well too. When my mother passed away a couple of years ago, my sisters brought me 6 large bags of such cloths, enough to last me nearly forever, I should think.
Some gurus clain to be able to wipe varnish with Viva paper towels. I've not personally tested that theory...
If you're rubbing lightly between varnish coats with 0000 steel wool, the lint should not present a problem.
Stacey, You may want to try pieces of old panty hose (if you've got a spouse that generates it) to wipe on varnish. No lint and you can get those final coats on real smooth. Steve
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.