finishing & Polishing

[Cabinetmaker]

When using Danish oil finish, I have often been hard pressed to get that "mirror" gloss finish. Do I need to use a different finish? polishing method? Or is there something else I am missing? I do not wish to use poly's.

Any suggestions??

[Lou_williams]

You are using the wrong finish. For a mirror Glass type of finish I would use a stain followed with a French Polish of schelac. Make sure that the pores are filled and that the wood is capible of having a smooth finish.

The other option is to spray on lots of fine coats of lacquer with pore filler and sanding between coats. You can tint the lacquer to add debth of color and the kind of darker edges to some of the things you see in the furniture stores.

Danish oil is something that penitrates into the surface. It has a percentage of Varnish but, it will take lots and lots of coats to build up any debth if you can at all.

[Jonathan White]

Thanks for your response!!!

I appreciate the help tremendously!

Jonathan

[Jerry]

Go to Jeff Jewitt's site at http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/

He has a VERY comprehensive forum as well as detailed instruction on polishing a finish. Go see......you'll like it..

just IMHO..............

[Dick]

Thanks for the Jewitt page. I'm finishing challenged and I know he has the reputation. I was hoping that when I got married, the day before Thanksgiving, that my new wife would learn to finish. She is worse than me!

[Jonathan White]

Thanks! The site is a big help as well!

Jonathan