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Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
Finishing on a coffee table
One of my students – (a budding luthier by the way) built a coffee table for me, which really is to hold a big TV, and so it won’t get much wear. It is made of inch and three quarter solid maple! 60X30. Must weigh at least 150 pounds. No stain - natural color.
Anyway, he gave it three coats of oil based polyurethane, but it has a matte finish, and I wanted a glossy finish. I don’t want any more poly, (because it’s liable to ask for a cracker) really because I have fumes already, but I would like to make the top glossy. I’m thinking of clear wax (clear furniture wax?) and buff it. Can I do that over poly? If so, any brand recommendations, and how to apply? I have pieces of flannel and some old tee shirts.
Can I get a high gloss finish? Appreciate any help and advice. Any caveats?
Also I would hope to be able to use some kind of wax that cleans up without too much in the way of chemicals.
RE: Finishing on a coffee table (in reply to Ramon Amira)
All poly based finishes start as gloss and something gets added in the factory or in the field to make it matte, in other words I don't think you'll have any luck buffing it to gloss. Your best bet would be to strip it with acetone or mechanically and start over. Putting different finishes on top of other finishes is a recipe for unexpected outcomes, things don't bond to each other, chemical reactions happen, I've seen some goofy stuff. As far as what to use after you get it stripped I think any brand of oil based lacquer is ideal for furniture. Ideal application would be through a real spray gun but the spray cans would work as well. You may want to practice your technique on some scrap pieces till you get yourself a consistent finish.
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Finishing on a coffee table (in reply to Ramon Amira)
Thanks Len–
The table is already in a location where I can’t work on it, and it’s way too heavy to move. It’s just for a TV, so it doesn’t have to wear well or look perfect, just look shiny. As it is now, especially since it’s natural, it almost doesn’t look finished.
Is there some clear furniture wax that I can just put on and buff to give some reasonable kind of “wet” look or glossy.
Or would it be easier to just put on some clear furniture polish and be done with it? Would that give it a glossy look?
I can nearly guarantee that a regular wax, or anything water based will not bond well and will flake off or discolor. You can try it but it'll be a big mess to clean if it doesn't work.
RE: Finishing on a coffee table (in reply to Ramon Amira)
Ramon,
Yes, you can french polish on top of poly, there won't be any compatibility issues. In fact, shellac is the "go to" barrier coat amongst professional finishers. If there is any incompatibility in finishes, shellac is applied in between those two substances, solving compatibility problems. You can french polish your teeth, if you want, and it'll stick just fine! :) :)
If you use de-waxed shellac, there will be less concern about white rings left by a wet glass left on the surface, for example.
Happy holidays!
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Peter Tsiorba Classical-Flamenco-Guitars tsiorba.com
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Finishing on a coffee table (in reply to Ramon Amira)
carnuba wax might do the trick--sure makes cars look shiney. carnuba wax is the hard paste wax found in the auto supply stores. why not kill 2 birds with one stone. simoniz makes a product called liquid glass that received 100% 5 stars at amazon.
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Finishing on a coffee table (in reply to Ramon Amira)
Well, I bought something called HOWARD “Butcher Block Conditioner.” Ingredients – “Food grade mineral oil stabilized with Vitamin E; beeswax; and carnauba wax.” You “wipe it on, let it sit for twenty minutes, then wipe it off, and then buff.”
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Finishing on a coffee table (in reply to Ramon Amira)
ramon--the nice thing about wax is if it does not do the trick you can always take it to the car wash and run it through a few times and it will wash off --unlike those miracle products that can withstand 100 washes.
if the product says it produces a high shine you should be good to go.
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