Buffing

[Philip Johnson]

I have never buffed anything out. I now have a project I think I would like to try it on. It is finished with a wipe on poly satin finish. Can anyone point me in the right direction or a site that explains how to do it. I really don't have a clue where to start or what kind of buffer to get and when I do a search I find bits and pieces but not the whole how to do it.

thanks
Phil

[Joe Chritz]

Go to Homestead finishing's page and check articles. There is one on rubbing out finishes and is a good place to start.

Remember poly is specifically desgined to be abrasion resistant. It will likely be a bit of extra grease to rub it out.

I have also seen posts on here about people using a Festool sander for rubbing out large areas.

It is lots of work but looks great when done.

Joe

[Scott Holmes]

Poly is too tough to buff up like other "harder" varnishes. Alkyd resin and phenolic resin varnishes are both much harder than polyurethane resin varnish.

Think "plexiglas vs glass" tough and HARD respectively.

Poly is at the highest gloss it can be BEFORE it is buffed or rubbed out. Hard varnishes can be buffed to a higher gloss, than they start out.

[Rich Greinert]

This link has good information about the buffing process.

http://www.woodturnerruss.com/Wax/Wax-6-Buffing-b.html