Woodworker's Journal 2011-35-Winter, страница 54

Rubbing Out A Satin Finish

Here's how to give your topcoats a

velvety finish with careful waxing.

conversion varnish and water-based coatings. Some may take more "elbow grease" and some are easier, but all are candidates. What's important is to wait until the finish is cured before you rub. For example, you can usually rub shellac or lacquer to satin just a couple of days after the last coat has dried, but oil varnish may need a week or more to get hard. You can even rub very thin coatings, like oil finishes or very thin wipe-on varnishes, but it takes a lighter hand so that you don't wear through the finish.

While you can rub too soon, there is no limit in the other direction. For example, you could rub the finish on an old tabletop to bring back its original sheen, feel and beauty. Simply clean off any dirt, wax or grease on the surface with a TSP solution or mineral spirits, then rub just as you would a new finish. The only limitations are that the finish must be thick enough so that you don't wear through, and in good shape with no areas that are peeling or lifting. After all, rubbing is an abrasive process, and as such it can dislodge any loose finish.

Would you like to know the secret to a smooth professional finish that cries out to be touched? It's rubbing out, a simple process that you'll want to do on every piece that you finish. Whether you brush or spray, it seems that no matter what you do to avoid it, you'll always get some bits of dust, air bubbles, brush marks or orange peel in the last coat. A good rub-out is the solution.

What is Rubbing Out?

Rubbing out, or simply "rubbing," is the process of smoothing the surface of a finish after the last coat has dried. Done right, it leaves the surface looking uniform, but more important, it imparts a smoothness that is a delight to the touch. Rubbing can remove small nibs or bits of dust, smooth overspray, reduce orange

peel or brush marks, or even up irregularities in sheen — the measure of how shiny or dull the surface looks. This process is most important on surfaces that are easily seen or touched, like the tops of tables, desks or sideboards, but you can rub any and all areas of a piece if you like.

Technically speaking, you can change the sheen by rubbing, but it is not a good idea. You can take a gloss surface and rub it down to satin, and you can rub a matte surface up to satin, but it is a whole lot easier to start with a satin finish if that is what you want the final rub to be.

Which Finishes Get Rubbed

Contrary to popular belief, any type of finish can be rubbed, including shellac, lacquer, oil varnish, polyurethane,

Rubbing to Satin

The object in a satin rub is to leave a uniform set of fine scratches on the surface of the finish — something like the look

With just a few basic supplies you can rub a finish to a smooth satin sheen that is silky to touch.