Hey All - So I am applying the General HP over dewawed shellac and am getting mixed results. The work piece is a 9'x2' bench (Nakashima Conoid Bench), and I am applying with a painters pad, or possibly a deck stain pad purchased from Home Depot. I have been using the same pad, keeping it in a ziplock back and evacuating the air. Over the pad the I have a cheap nylon leg stocking - or footie - as recommend in the General finishing videos.
I realize it is large area to tackle with anything other than a sprayer, but what I don't understand is why some parts of the bench are turning out better than others.
My major problem initially was that the finish would dry with ridges in it, if looked as though the footie was being spread too tight, creating tighter sections that cut through the finish rather spreading it. Which really mucked it up.The ridges were quite noticeable to the touch. Not realizing what was leaving the ridges I thought I would try using more finish, to fill in the valleys, and it look though it was almost working. A really nice finish in areas where I thought that I had put to much on initially, (resisting the temptation to go back over it) which took quite a bit longer to dry, but in the end those areas that stayed wettest the longest turned out the best, almost perfect. But there would always be something on the surface which made me want to give it another , better coat. And so using even more, eventually what I got was a build up in the certain areas, the bench is a live edge that has a twist and so it is hard to have it perfectly level, which led to the excess all moving with the slope into one area. And so more ridges. The footie tightness is great lesson in getting a method down before heading to the finished product, which I avoided because I figured I would't be able to duplicate the scenario as I didn't have another massive finished slab lying around. But in retrospect I could have encounter that same problem on a 1x1.
Long story short, I scraped off the build up, making it look pretty bad in the raking light. But fine otherwise. And so after all that, I realize the bench is not going to be perfect in the raking light, but I would at least like it to feel smooth - and so I am wondering how I can get rid of any little bumps/bubbles following the final coat.
So the questions are
If I sand it bumps/bubble it seems to take away the sheen and make that area stand out - can I use a wax after wards to buff everything out?
Is there anything you can do to smooth out other than putting on a perfect last coat and leaving it?
Can I refinish the problem areas again and leave the good areas? It is almost 20sq so I am running out of finish, and theres a good chance I will just muck up the good parts.
Any advice to these questions or questions I haven't even thought of would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
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