Project Log -- Update 05/02/15 -- Cherry Dining Room Table



 So somehow I managed to not get pictures of this table before I started working on it. It's a nice piece, but it has seen some serious damage over the years.  The frst pic is the worst of the scars.  This is deep into the wood and stained.  I'm not sure how much of this I can get out, without creating a hollow in the table.

Below is the experimenting I did with color matching.  On the left is the original, my matched piece is on the right.
Here are the small pieces with the first coat of glaze on them
One of the leaves, drying after the second coat.


 and the main surface also with two coats.  You can see the scarring in the foreground.  I got most of it out, the rest should be pretty well hidden by the finish.  I expect it to take about 5 coats of glaze to match the original color.



When the color coating is done.  This baby is getting 6-10 coats of high gloss varnish and a hand rubbing.  It is going to glow!

UPDATE 04/05/15

So I'm starting to build up the finish coats.  The process is:

  1. Apply finish and allow to dry 24 hours
  2. Lightly wet sand with 220 grit
  3. Wet sand with 400 grit
  4. Remove all remaining inperfection with 000 Steel Wool and Abrasive Pad
  5. Smooth with 3000 grit wet sanding pad
  6. Repeat 8-10 times
That's how I get my results





Partway through the process after the first two finish coats

These pieces are drying in my spray room

I think this after about 6 coats of finish.  It's getting there
Below is coat number 9, I don't think another coat is going to be necessary, but I'll know after I run through the process, again.  If it's ready, I begin the hand buffing through various grades of polish.
I delivered this piece today 05/02/2015.  The customer was out of town for a few weeks, so I just let the finish set up and harden.  Then with a week to go, I started the hand polishing.  When I cycled through the various levels of polish grit I ended up with a beautiful gloss finish.
The hard part about high gloss finishes is that EVERY little flaw stands out like a sore thumb.  That's where the hand polishing comes in.   You just have to muscle through any flaws in the finish.  It a lot of work, but the results . . . well, see for yourself

This one is in the can and another satisfied customer/

Comments

Unknown said…
Nice!!! Looking forward to seeing it and having it back.
Norm and Ron Selander-Carrier
April 7, 2015 at 3:57 AM
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